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This small-sided game focuses on a unit’s pressing shape when defending high up the pitch against the opposition’s build-up play.

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Methodology

The wheel symbolises the game, with each segment representing a specific aspect of it. The lightly coloured segments are included in the practice. The darkly coloured segments are emphasised. Lastly, the grey segments represent areas that are not practised.

The intention: What is practised?

This small-sided game replicates a high press against the opposition’s build-up from the goalkeeper, aiming to refine a team’s defensive shape in these scenarios. The defensive unit must organise their shape before the opposition have started their build-up, with some players pressing from the front and others covering the press and denying passes through the centre. The defensive unit can maintain a compact shape by coordinating which player/space will be pressed by each player. Due to the numerical disadvantage,



the defensive unit must communicate well to decide when to pass on a player and recognise when to shift across to cover the most dangerous areas. Once the defending team gains possession, they must play aggressively towards the goal and attempt to score.

The scale: For whom is this relevant?

This exercise revolves around the unit scale, focusing on defensive movement and positioning when pressing the opposition’s build-up using four players. The drill is particularly relevant to the first two lines of the high press, which could resemble a front three or a front two with central midfielders ready to spring forward from behind should the first line be broken. The scenario focuses on central areas – wingers and wide play are therefore irrelevant – although the requirements of players in both the press and in build-up play could make the exercise position-specific.

The practice type: How is the practice designed?

This exercise involves a small-sided game on a reduced-size pitch in the shape of a narrow channel between t

📌 4v4 plus 4 small-sided game: Pressing and defensive shape (India)
🏢 FIFA Training Centre
📍 India