Tactics / Chance creation

Attack the half-space

The half-spaces are the two channels between the middle and the wings. A player receiving there can pass, shoot or cross, and is hard to mark.

In possessionFrom 11v11Match moment: Get past their midfield

RIGHT HALF-SPACE68791011GK
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Why it works

In the half-space a defender is never sure whose job you are: the full-back's or the centre-back's. From there you can see the goal, the wing and the middle.

What players do

  • Picture the pitch in five lanes: two wings, two half-spaces, the middle.
  • Midfielders and inside forwards look to receive in a half-space, facing forward.
  • The winger stays wide, so the full-back cannot step inside.
  • From the half-space: a pass behind for a runner, a cut-back, or a shot.

Common mistakes

  • Wingers coming inside into the same lane as the midfielder.
  • Receiving in the half-space with your back to goal.
  • Forgetting the far half-space: the switch is often on.

With young players

Chalk or cone five lanes on the training pitch and play a game where a goal counts double if the pass before it came from a half-space.

Drawn on a 105 × 68 m pitch, showing the part where it happens. Orange attacks left to right and the other team is in blue; numbers are the usual shirt numbers for each position.

Put it into your own team's plan in the team builder, and see what it asks of each player.

Next: Fill the box

What it asks of each player

The same idea, from every line of the team. Set it up for your own team in the team builder.

  • GK
    Goalkeeper
    • Nothing new.
    • Play into the half-space when it is on.

    Position guide: Goalkeeper

  • DEF
    Defenders
    • Full-backs: hold the width if the winger comes in.
    • Look for the pass into the half-space.

    Position guide: Centre-back · Full-back

  • MID
    Midfielders
    • Receive in the half-space, half-turned.
    • Receive half-turned so you can see goal.
    • Pass, shoot or cross: you have all three.

    Position guide: Holding midfielder · Central midfielder · Attacking midfielder

  • ATT
    Forwards
    • Wingers: stay wide to pin the full-back. Striker: run between centre-backs.
    • Winger: if the full-back follows you inside, the half-space behind them opens.
    • Striker: when the ball reaches the half-space, run across the near centre-back.

    Position guide: Winger · Striker

Practices that train it

Start with the first, and build up to the game.