Footy Eye
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Getting in behind

Getting in behind means attacking the space between the opponents' last line of defenders and their goalkeeper.

Space in behind is the most dangerous space on the pitch: a player who gets there on the ball is usually through on goal. Back lines know it, so they push up, play offside and drop off when the passer has time to look up.

The read is about timing. A run that starts too early is offside; too late and the defender wins the race. The best runs start as the passer gets his head up and bend to stay level with the last defender.

What to look for

  • A passer with time and his head up
  • The last defender's position and which way he's facing
  • A high back line with a keeper who stays on his line
  • Bending the run to stay onside

The common mistakeRunning in a straight line before the passer is ready, and standing offside when the ball comes.

Worked plays

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

  1. Play 1

    The situation
    On the ball with time, middle third. Their full-back has pushed high; your winger leans into the channel behind him.
    Best read
    Clip it first time into the channel
    Why
    The door is open and their covering centre-half must turn and run forty yards to shut it, so the ball goes first time, while it exists. Playing the winger to feet hands their full-back a second chance to defend, facing the ball. Carrying is for when nobody presses; the reward here is behind them.
    The other options
    • Square to your partner, keep circulating Your partner has it, and their full-back gets back into place.
    • Winger’s feet, let him run at the full-back The winger stops for it, and their full-back gets back goal-side.
    • Drive forward and commit their midfield You draw their midfielder, but the full-back recovers and the channel shuts.

  2. Play 2

    The situation
    Head up in the middle third, ball at your feet. Your striker has gone early: a stride offside and still drifting.
    Best read
    Hold a beat, let him get onside
    Why
    The run is right, the timing wrong, and only the timing can be fixed: a beat on the ball lets him check back and start from behind their line, and the same pass becomes a chance rather than a free kick. Playing it now gives the ball away by rule, however well it’s struck.
    The other options
    • Play it now and trust the linesman The flag goes up for offside, and it’s their free kick.
    • Forget the run, give it to the winger The winger has it safely, but the run in behind is gone.
    • Touch forward and drive at their midfield Their midfielder steps across and nicks it as you drive.

  3. Play 3

    The situation
    A pass is coming and their centre-back is glued to your back. How do you lose him?
    Best read
    Check short, then spin in behind
    Why
    The check isn’t the run — it’s the bait. Drag him towards the ball with a hard show for feet, then spin off his front foot into the space he just left. Sitting on his shoulder gives him nothing to react to; one movement lies so the next can score.
    The other options
    • Sit on the last man’s shoulder He stays tight on your shoulder, and the pass has nowhere to go.
    • Come short and hold it up You get it with him on your back and have to play it back.
    • Drift into the wide channel He follows you wide, and you receive facing the touchline.

  4. Play 4

    The situation
    Your strike partner drops off the front line to show for it, and their centre-back follows him out.
    Best read
    Spin in behind into the space he’s left
    Why
    Two strikers work when they mirror each other — one drops, one spins. The second your partner pulls a centre-back out, the door behind him is open for barely a second. Attack it now: holding your line leaves you static and easy to mark, while opposite movement breaks a back four.
    The other options
    • Drop in beside him for the one-two Two of you crowd the same pocket, and the door behind shuts.
    • Pull wide to stretch the centre-backs You pull wide, and their other centre-back simply fills the gap.
    • Hold your line and wait The centre-back recovers his line, and you’re easy to mark again.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    Your line is squeezed on halfway and their midfielder clips it in behind. You’re the keeper.
    Best read
    Race out and clear it outside the box
    Why
    A high line is only as good as the keeper behind it: the space your defenders leave is yours to defend. Meet it outside your area and put it in the stand; the ball is closer to you than to him. Staying on your line hands them forty yards and a one v one.
    The other options
    • Set on your line for the shot Their striker runs onto it unchallenged and bears down on goal.
    • Come to your six-yard line and spread He gets there first and takes it round you as you spread.
    • Stay home, shout your centre-back to recover Your centre-backs can’t catch him, and he’s through on goal.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    Your teammate carries the counter centrally. You’re the second man, level with the ball; one defender can see you both.
    Best read
    Run beyond him into the channel
    Why
    A run level with the ball costs the defender nothing — he sees both of you and covers the pass standing still. Running beyond forces him to choose between the ball and the space behind. Coming inside crowds the carrier and gives him two for one; the pull-back is for an attack that has stalled.
    The other options
    • Stay level and offer the square pass He holds his ground and covers the square pass standing still.
    • Drift inside his lane and show for it You drift into his lane, and one defender now covers you both.
    • Drop behind the ball and offer the pull-back The counter slows, and their chaser gets back into line.

Train it

Short untimed sessions with the reasoning after every answer.

Train Getting in behind

Test it

Ten plays, twenty seconds each, one Football IQ from 60 to 140.

Take the Football IQ Test

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