Footy Eye
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Compactness and the defensive line

Compactness is keeping the distances between defenders, and between the lines, small enough that there's no space to play through.

A compact team defends a small area: the back line and midfield stay close together, and the whole block slides towards the ball. Opponents then have to play around it rather than through it.

The line moves together. It steps up when the ball goes backwards or nobody can play over the top, drops when a passer has time, and fills the gap when a teammate is pulled out of position.

What to look for

  • The gap between your back line and your midfield
  • A back pass, which lets the whole line step up
  • A passer with time, which means the line should drop
  • The hole a teammate leaves when he steps out to press

The common mistakeOne defender stepping up while the others drop, which opens a gap between them.

Worked plays

11 plays from Footy Eye's training pool, with the best read and why.

  1. Play 1

    The situation
    66th minute, 1–0 up with ten men. You’re the lone striker; their pivot drops in to build three-v-one.
    Best read
    Drop in and screen their pivot
    Why
    One man cannot press three, and a lone press played through hands them the whole pitch with a nine-man block behind it. Drop onto their pivot and your team defends with two proper lines. Staying high as an out-ball sounds like relief, but nobody in a deep block can reach you.
    The other options
    • Press the ball — force a mistake They pass round you to the pivot, and he runs at your midfield.
    • Stay high and central as the out-ball Their pivot turns freely, and your team can’t reach you up top.
    • Shuttle across and shadow the far centre-back The ball goes into their pivot behind you, and he turns.

  2. Play 2

    The situation
    The press is broken. You’re isolated and they have three free men ahead. What now?
    Best read
    Drop off, get compact, rebuild the block
    Why
    A press only works as a chain; one man chasing a settled team opens the door he’s meant to shut. When the shape is gone the brave-looking sprint is the mistake: drop, get compact, make them beat a block instead of a gap. Sometimes the smartest press is no press.
    The other options
    • Sprint out and press the ball alone He lays it off past you, and they’re three against your last defender.
    • Dive in and win it back now He knocks it past your lunge and they’re running at one defender.
    • Man-mark the nearest runner He carries it into the space you left, with two men still free.

  3. Play 3

    The situation
    Your team presses high. Your striker jumps out to press their centre-back. You’re the central midfielder behind him.
    Best read
    Push up behind him and kill the pivot
    Why
    One man pressing alone is just a man running. The striker’s jump only becomes a press if the line behind moves with him: step up, kill the pivot, and the centre-back has nothing but a long ball. Doubling up leaves the pivot free in the space you refused to close.
    The other options
    • Hold your position, keep the block still He bounces it off the pivot, and the striker’s press is beaten.
    • Sprint past and double up the centre-back He plays it into the free pivot, who turns into your half.
    • Drop back and protect the space behind The pivot receives in the space ahead of you and turns.

  4. Play 4

    The situation
    Your press forces their centre-back to roll it back to the keeper. You’re the centre-back on halfway.
    Best read
    Squeeze up while the ball travels back
    Why
    A backward pass is ten free yards: take them while the ball travels. Squeeze up and the keeper kicks into a compact block with his striker miles offside; the press in front only works if the line behind comes too. Hold your depth and you open a gap for the clipped ball.
    The other options
    • Hold your depth in case he goes long The keeper clips it into the gap behind your midfield.
    • Drop deeper, set for the second ball Their striker drops into the space and the keeper finds him.
    • Follow their striker and stay touch-tight Your line is ragged, and the keeper clips it through the gap.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    Their striker drops into the pocket and your centre-back steps out with him. You’re the holding midfielder.
    Best read
    Drop into the space your centre-back left
    Why
    A centre-back jumping out is only a press if somebody fills the line behind him. Drop in and the flick round the corner has nowhere to land; your other centre-back has already slid onto the runner, so tracking him too leaves the middle empty. Doubling the striker means nobody holds the line.
    The other options
    • Follow the striker and double up He flicks it round you both into the hole in your line.
    • Track the runner going in behind Two of you follow one runner; the flick lands in an empty middle.
    • Press the ball as it arrives He flicks it first time past you into the gap behind.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    Your counterpress is beaten. The carrier is in your half, you trail by ten yards, two runners beyond him.
    Best read
    Drop off and screen your back four
    Why
    A counterpress expires the second the ball goes through your first line — chasing after that only widens the hole behind you. Take the shortest line to the space in front of your centre-backs and their three-on-two is three-on-three. The foul from behind arrives late and is red as often as yellow.
    The other options
    • Keep chasing, get a foot in from behind You never catch him, and he runs at your two centre-backs.
    • Foul him as soon as you’re close You clip him from behind, and the referee reaches for a card.
    • Track the runner on your side home You pick up your runner, but the carrier drives through the middle unchallenged.

Train it

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