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Pressing traps

A pressing trap is a deliberate invitation: the defending team leaves a pass open on purpose, then closes in once the ball goes there.

The touchline is the best ally a press has, because a player near it can only go one way. Teams curve their pressing runs to show the ball wide, then trap it there with two or three players while the inside passes are blocked.

For the team in possession, the read is to recognise the bait. An easy pass to a full-back near the line is often the trap, and the better option is to switch or go back before the press closes in.

What to look for

  • A pass that looks too open, near the touchline
  • Curved runs that block the inside lane
  • How many defenders can reach the ball after it goes wide
  • The way out: a switch or a pass back before the trap shuts

The common mistakePressing straight at the ball so it can be played either way, instead of steering it into the trap.

Worked plays

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

  1. Play 1

    The situation
    Pinned in your own corner, two of them arriving, touchline at your back. Your centre-back is marked, the keeper way across.
    Best read
    Off the first man, take the throw-in
    Why
    Nothing on this board costs less than a throw-in, and it buys your side ten seconds to get out and re-set: a win, not a surrender. Rolling it across your own box is the pass that ends up in the net, because one interception is an open goal with the keeper off his line.
    The other options
    • Roll it across your box to the keeper Their man steps across, cuts it out and rolls it into the net.
    • Drop the shoulder and dribble out You turn into the second man and he takes it off you.
    • Hook it up the line and hope It cannons off the first man and drops loose in your corner.

  2. Play 2

    The situation
    Their right-footed centre-back is receiving a square ball on his left side. You’re the striker arriving.
    Best read
    Close his right side so it stays left-footed
    Why
    A ball travelling to a weak foot is a trigger, but your angle decides whether it stays there. Arrive across his right side and he can only play left-footed under pressure, into the touchline. Running straight at the ball lets him open his body onto his stronger foot; your midfielder already has the pivot.
    The other options
    • Run straight at the ball He opens onto his right foot and plays it past you.
    • Stand off and let him take the touch He takes a clean touch onto his right foot and plays forward.
    • Shift across and cut off the pivot The pivot is double-marked; he strides out onto his right foot.

  3. Play 3

    The situation
    Your team presses high. Short goal kick. Their pivot drops in: three against your front two. You’re the near striker.
    Best read
    Press the near CB from inside, force wide
    Why
    Two can’t cover three, so stop trying: pick a side and let the touchline be your extra defender. Arrive on his inside shoulder and the ball to the pivot is dead, leaving only the ball down the line, the longest, slowest pass he owns. Splitting the centre-backs presses neither of them.
    The other options
    • Split the centre-backs and cover both Neither is pressed; he steps in and finds the pivot.
    • Drop off; two can’t press three They play out through the pivot at their own pace.
    • Go straight for the pivot The centre-back carries it forward into the space you left.

  4. Play 4

    The situation
    Their full-back takes it by the touchline in the middle third. Their winger is already free down the line. You’re closest.
    Best read
    Come from outside and force him inside
    Why
    The touchline is usually your friend, but not when their winger is already free down it: show him that way and you’ve only passed the problem to your full-back. Come from outside and the one ball on is inside, into two midfielders who are set and facing the play.
    The other options
    • Show him down the line He slips the free winger in down the line, running at your full-back.
    • Stand off and hold your shape He takes a touch and finds the free winger down the line.
    • Dive in as the ball arrives He rolls past your lunge, with the winger free ahead of him.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    Your winger pins their full-back, who clips it to their winger checking in front of you. You’re the full-back, pressing high.
    Best read
    Jump out and press him against the touchline
    Why
    The back line is the last link in a press: refuse the jump and everything your winger earned is wasted. Go with him. He’s wide, facing the wrong way, the touchline halves his options and your centre-back has already shifted across. Dropping off is the instinct a pressing team can’t afford.
    The other options
    • Drop off and protect the space behind He turns and runs at you with the whole flank open.
    • Jockey and delay until your winger recovers He gets time to turn and plays it back out of the trap.
    • Tuck in and screen the pass inside He turns down the line and races into the space behind you.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    Full-back, ball arriving on the touchline. Their winger closes from behind your shoulder; your centre-back has stepped into space. First touch?
    Best read
    First time back to the centre-back
    Why
    A defender arriving flat out behind your shoulder has decided for you: one touch back and his momentum removes him from the next three seconds, leaving a centre-back facing the pitch with the far side open. Turning out is where he’s shepherding you; the touchline defends for him and the throw is theirs.
    The other options
    • Touch inside and drive into midfield The inside touch runs into their midfielder, with the winger on your back.
    • Turn out and go down the line The winger pins you to the touchline, and it’s their throw.
    • Clip it long into the channel Your winger chases it into the channel with his marker alongside.

Train it

Short untimed sessions with the reasoning after every answer.

Train Pressing traps

Test it

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

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