Tactics

A three-player move. The first player passes to the second, and the third times a run to receive the lay-off in space. Defenders watch the ball and the immediate receiver, so the third player sneaks away unnoticed. Getting the timing right takes practice and understanding between players. It's a sign of a well-drilled attacking unit when you see it happen smoothly.

The player who lies down behind the defensive wall at a free kick to stop the ball going underneath. As attacking players got better at hitting the ball under jumping walls, teams started putting someone on the ground to block that gap. It looks undignified but it works. You see it at almost every free kick near the box now, especially in the Premier League.

Pressing in a way that blocks passing lanes while closing down the ball. Instead of running straight at someone, you angle your approach to cut off their options and force the ball where you want it to go. If you're in someone's "shadow," the ball can't reach you. It makes pressing efficient because you don't need a player marking every possible receiver - one presser can cut off multiple passes with their body shape.

An attacking midfielder playing as the focal of the attack rather than an out and out striker. The main purpose of this is to have an extra creative player who can drop in to the midfield as required and give the opposition centre backs something different to think about. Should the centre backs choose to track the false 9, the leave space behind for the wingers to exploit. Should they choose to not track, they leave a creative attacking player with space to do damage.

Defending deep with two compact lines near your own goal. You give up territory but leave no space behind the defence and clog the middle. Success depends on staying organized, concentrating, and being ready to counter when you win the ball. Critics call it negative, but it works against better teams. The opposite of pressing high.