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Page title without namespace (page_title) | 'Forward (association football)' |
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Old page wikitext, before the edit (old_wikitext) | '{{Short description|Association football position played near the opponent's goal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
[[File:Football in Bloomington, Indiana, 1996.jpg|thumb|The forward (no. 10, in red) is past the [[Defender (association football)|defender]] (no. 16, in white) and is about to take a [[Shooting (association football)|shot]] at the goal. The [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] will try to stop the forward from scoring a goal by preventing the ball from passing the goal line.]]
In the sport of [[association football]], a '''forward''' (or '''attacker''') is an [[Glossary of association football terms#O|outfield position]] which primarily plays further up the pitch than [[Midfielder|midfielders]] and [[Defender (association football)|defenders]]. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on being able to create space for attack.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michalak |first1=Joakim |title=Identifying football players who create and generate space |url=http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&c=30&af=%5B%5D&searchType=LIST_LATEST&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&query=&language=en&pid=diva2%3A1687971&aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&sf=all&aqe=%5B%5D&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&noOfRows=50&dswid=6728 |publisher=Uppsala University Publications |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players.
Attacking positions generally favour direct players who take on the defense of the opponent in order to create scoring chances, where they benefit from a lack of predictability in attacking play. [[Formation (association football)|Modern team formations]] normally include one to three forwards. For example, the common [[Formation (association football)#4–2–3–1|4–2–3–1]] includes one forward.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/09/03/fifa-2010-technical-report-summary/|title=FIFA's 289-page Technical Report on the 2010 World Cup – in 15 points|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=3 September 2010|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104193726/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/09/03/fifa-2010-technical-report-summary/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Less conventional formations may include more than three forwards, or sometimes none.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/19/barcelona-4-2-4-formation-guardiola-messi/|title=Is Barcelona's alternative shape really a 4–2–4?|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=19 March 2010|archive-date=21 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221152436/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/19/barcelona-4-2-4-formation-guardiola-messi/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/05/teams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007/|title=Teams of the Decade #5: Roma, 2007|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=5 March 2010|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726020823/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/05/teams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Centre-forward==
{{anchor|Centre forward|Center-forward|Center forward}}[[File: Ronaldo Real Madrid.jpg|thumb|right|Brazilian striker [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] (middle, in white) taking a shot at goal. A multi-functional forward, he has influenced a generation of strikers who followed.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smyth|first1=Rob|title=Ronaldo at 40: Il Fennomen's legacy as greatest ever No 9, despite dodgy knees|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/17/ronaldo-40-birthday-brazil-greatest-ever-striker|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 September 2016|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref>]]
The traditional role of a centre-forward is to score the majority of goals on behalf of the team. If they are tall and physical players, with good heading ability, the player may also be used to get onto the end of crosses, win [[long ball]]s, or receive passes and retain possession of the ball with their back to goal as [[Team sport|teammates]] advance, in order to provide depth for their team or help teammates score by providing a pass ('through ball' into the [[Penalty area (football)|box]]), the latter variation usually requiring quicker pace and good movement, in addition to finishing ability. Most modern centre-forwards operate in front of the second strikers or central attacking midfielders, and do the majority of the ball handling outside the box. The present role of a centre-forward is sometimes interchangeable with that of an [[attacking midfielder]] or second striker, however, especially in the 4–3–1–2 or 4–1–2–1–2 formations. The term centre-forward is taken from the earlier football playing [[Formation (association football)|formations]], such as the 2–3–5, in which there were five ''forward'' players: two [[outside forward]]s, two [[inside forward]]s, and one centre-forward. The term "'''target forward'''" is often used interchangeably with that of a centre-forward, but usually describes a particular type of striker, who is usually a tall and physically strong player, who is adept at heading the ball; their main role is to win high balls in the air, hold up the ball, and create chances for other members of the team, in addition to possibly scoring many goals themselves. However, the two terms are not necessarily synonymous, with the target forward having developed into a more specialised role, while the centre-forward description is more broad, encompassing many types of forwards.<ref name="targetManRef1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportslingo.com/sports-glossary/t/target-man/|title=Target Man Definition In Soccer - Meanings & Examples From SportsLingo.com|last=|first=|date=|work=|access-date=|language=en-US}}</ref>
When [[Squad number (association football)|numbers]] were introduced in the 1933 [[1933 FA Cup Final|English FA Cup final]], one of the two centre-forwards that day wore the number 9 – [[Everton F.C.|Everton's]] [[Dixie Dean]], a strong, powerful forward who had set the record for the most goals scored in a season in [[Football in England|English football]] during the 1927–28 season. The number would then become synonymous with the centre-forward position (only worn that day because one team was numbered 1–11 whilst the other was numbered 12–22).<ref name=sports.yahoo.com>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/mystery-solved--why-do-the-best-soccer-players-wear-no--10-052229677.html|title=Mystery solved: Why do the best soccer players wear No. 10?|publisher=Yahoo|author1=Khalil Garriot|date=21 June 2014|access-date=19 May 2015}}</ref>
==Striker==
[[File:Omar Batistuta.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Gabriel Batistuta]] holding his old number 9 [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] jersey. The number most associated with the position, he was an out and out striker.]]
The role of a striker is rather different from that of a traditional centre-forward, although the terms centre-forward and striker are used interchangeably at times, as both play further up the field than other players, while tall, heavy and technical players, like [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]], and [[Edin Džeko]], have qualities which are suited to both positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15115/10303502/zlatan-ibrahimovic-to-manchester-united-what-will-he-bring |title=Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United: What will he bring? | Football News |publisher=[[Sky Sports]] |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> Like the centre-forward, the traditional role of a striker is to score goals; strikers are therefore known for their ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the blind side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position, as typified by [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] and [[Thierry Henry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/luis-suarez-a-centre-forward-with-a-difference |title=News |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> They are typically fast players with good ball control and dribbling abilities. Shorter statured, more agile strikers like [[Michael Owen]], [[Kylian Mbappé]], [[Romario]], [[Dries Mertens]], [[Sergio Agüero]], and [[Paulo Dybala]] have an advantage over taller defenders due to their short bursts of speed.
Good strikers should be able to [[Shooting (association football)|shoot]] confidently with either foot, possess great power and accuracy, and have the ability to link-up with teammates and pass the ball under pressure in breakaway situations. While many strikers wear the number 9 shirt, such as [[Alan Shearer]], an out and out striker, the position, to a lesser degree, is also associated with the [[Squad number (association football)|number 10]], which is frequently worn by more creative deep-lying forwards such as [[Pelé]], and occasionally with numbers 7 and 11, which are often associated with wingers.<ref name="sports.yahoo.com" />
==Second striker==
[[File:Wayne Rooney 144855.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Wayne Rooney]], shown wearing the number 10 [[Kit (association football)|jersey]], was used at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] as a second striker on many occasions, playing behind the number 9.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704454304575081233778123888 |title=Wayne's World: Rooney Leads the Field |work=The Wall Street Journal |last1=Clegg |first1=Jonathan |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=21 January 2020 }}</ref>]]
Deep-lying forwards or second strikers have a long history in the game, but the terminology to describe their playing activity has varied over the years. Originally such players were termed inside forwards, creative or deep-lying centre-forwards ("sub forwards"). More recently, the role has occasionally been colloquially referred to as the centre-forward role, however, two more variations of this old type of player have developed: the second, or shadow, or support, or auxiliary striker and, in what is in fact a distinct position unto its own, the number 10;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afootballreport.com/post/9738165711/the-essence-of-the-number-10-a-beginners-guide|title=The Essence of the Number 10: A Beginner's Guide|website=Afootballreport.com|access-date=12 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Mancini: THE NUMBER 10">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertomancini.com/en/calciatore-2/il-numero-10.html|title=THE NUMBER 10|publisher=www.robertomancini.com|last=Mancini|first=Roberto|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="question"/> the former role is exemplified by players such as [[Dennis Bergkamp]] (who would play just behind the striker [[Thierry Henry]] at [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/thierry-henry-arsenal-most-premier-league-assists-season-200203-van-nistelrooy-golden-boot |title=Thierry Henry's assist record of 2002/03: how Arsenal's talisman reinvented the Premier League striker |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Haugstad |first1=Thore |date=25 October 2019 |access-date=21 January 2020 }}</ref> [[Alessandro Del Piero]] at [[Juventus FC|Juventus]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2006/agosto/23/Del_Piero_mezzo_Come_Baggio_ga_10_060823083.shtml |title="Del Piero è un 9 e mezzo" Come Baggio per Platini |trans-title="Del Piero is a 9 and a half" Like Baggio was for Platini |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Luca |first1=Curino |date=23 August 2006 |access-date=9 January 2020 }}</ref> [[Youri Djorkaeff]] at [[Inter Milan]],<ref name=musica>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/10/14/dribbling-tiro-la-musica-di-djorkaeff.html|title=Dribbling e tiro. È la musica di Djorkaeff|trans-title=Dribbling and shooting. This is the music of Djorkaeff|work=la Repubblica|last=Mura|first=Gianni|language=it|date=14 October 1996|page=36}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/agosto/04/Inter_esame_gioiellino_Owen_ga_0_9808041948.shtml|title=l' Inter fa l' esame al gioiellino Owen|trans-title=Inter tests the little jewel Owen|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=4 August 1998|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=coppia>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1998/03/03/ronaldo-djorkaeff-mai-la-stessa-coppia.html|title=Ronaldo e Djorkaeff mai la stessa coppia|trans-title=Ronaldo and Djorkaeff never the same pair|last=Piva|first=Gianni|work=la Repubblica|language=it|date=3 March 1998|page=50}}</ref> or [[Teddy Sheringham]] at Tottenham Hotspur.<ref name="Shed no tears for Teddy">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2401463/Shed-no-tears-for-Teddy.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2401463/Shed-no-tears-for-Teddy.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Shed no tears for Teddy|work=The Telegraph|last=Barclay|first=Patrick|date=11 May 2003|access-date=18 December 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Other creative offensive players who play further back, such as [[Diego Maradona]], [[Ronaldinho]], [[Kaká]], [[Rivaldo]], [[Michael Laudrup]], and [[Zinedine Zidane]] are often instead described as the "number 10", and usually operate as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]] or advanced [[playmaker]].<ref name="question">[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/aug/18/what-is-a-playmakers-role-in-modern-game "The Question: What is a playmaker's role in the modern game?"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 27 December 2019</ref>
The second striker position is a loosely defined and most often misunderstood description of a player positioned in a free role, somewhere between the out-and-out striker, whether the player is a "target man" or more of a "poacher", and the number 10 or attacking midfielder, while possibly showing some of the characteristics of both. In fact, a term coined by French advanced playmaker [[Michel Platini]], the "nine-and-a-half", which he used to describe the playing role of his successor in the number 10 role at Juventus, Italian playmaker [[Roberto Baggio]], has been an attempt to become a standard in defining the position.<ref>{{cite web |title=AdTech Ad Roberto Baggio:| 'Allenare l'Italia? Non si sa mai' |url=http://www.calciomercato.pro/news/roberto-baggio-allenare-l-italia-non-si-sa-mai-826328 |website=Calciomercato.pro|date=May 2011 |access-date=12 January 2015}}</ref> Conceivably, a number 10 can alternate as a second-striker provided that the player is also a prolific goalscorer; otherwise, a mobile forward with good technical ability ([[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills and ball control), acceleration, vision, passing, and link-up play, who can receive the ball and retain possession, in addition to being capable of scoring goals and [[Passing (association football)|creating opportunities]] for a less versatile centre-forward, is more suited to playing in the second striker role. This player should also be able to position themselves well in order to receive passes and subsequently either create or finish off a goalscoring opportunity. They should also be capable of finishing well with either foot as well as their head (which is less common, seeing as many second strikers are diminutive creative players),<ref name="alla Zidane"/> as this will lead to a good scoring percentage on attempts on goal and give their team an advantage offensively. Although they are often deployed in a free role, and given "licence to roam", and either run forward, or drop further back in order to pick up the ball in deeper areas, giving them more time and space in possession, second or support strikers do not tend to get as involved in the orchestration of attacks as the number 10, nor do they bring as many other players into play, since they do not share the burden of responsibility, functioning predominantly in a supporting role as [[Assist (football)|assist]] providers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197254.stm |title=Positions guide: Behind the striker |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=21 June 2008 |date=1 September 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/96186/rise-seconda-punta |title=Rise of the Seconda Punta |publisher=Football Italia |last1=Murray |first1=Greg |date=29 December 2016 |access-date=9 January 2020 }}</ref> In Italy, this role is known as a "rifinitore", "mezzapunta", or "seconda punta",<ref name="Platini: Baggio, Il Fu Nove E Mezzo">{{cite web|url=http://www.eatsport.net/2012/roberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo/ |title=Platini: Baggio, Il Fu Nove E Mezzo |language=it |access-date=16 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604152313/http://www.eatsport.net/2012/roberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo/ |archive-date=4 June 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://dizionari.corriere.it/dizionario_italiano/M/mezzapunta.shtml |title=mezzapunta |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |access-date=21 May 2020 }}</ref> whereas in Brazil, it is known as "segundo atacante"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Guimarães|first1=Levy|title=Segundo atacante: uma posição em desuso|url=http://doentesporfutebol.com.br/2013/06/segundo-atacante-uma-posicao-em-desuso/|website=Doentes por Futebol|access-date=13 August 2016|date=2 June 2013|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227011038/https://doentesporfutebol.com.br/2013/06/segundo-atacante-uma-posicao-em-desuso/|url-status=dead}}</ref> or "ponta-de-lança".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://footballsgreatest.weebly.com/second-strikers.html|title=The Greatest Second Strikers / Inside Forwards of All Time|access-date=5 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206074856/http://footballsgreatest.weebly.com/second-strikers.html|archive-date=6 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==Inside forward==
[[Image:2-3-5 (pyramid).svg|100px|thumb|right|2–3–5 formation: the inside forwards (red) flank the centre-forward.]]
The position of '''inside forward''' was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre-forward, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes. The role is broadly analogous to the ''[[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|"hole"]]'' or ''second striker'' position in the modern game, although here, there were two such players, known as '''inside right''' and '''inside left'''.
[[Image:Football Formation - WM.png|100px|thumb|left|WM formation: the inside forwards (red) occupy a more withdrawn position supporting the centre-forward and outside right and left.]]
In early [[Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid)|2–3–5 formations]] the inside-forwards would flank the centre-forward on both sides. With the rise of the [[Formation (association football)#WM|WM formation]], the inside forwards were brought back to become attacking midfielders, supplying balls to the centre-forward and the two attacking [[Winger (sports)|outside forwards]] – known as the ''outside right'' and ''outside left''. In Italian football jargon, the inside forward was initially occasionally known as a ''[[Midfielder#Mezzala|mezzala]]'' (literally "half-winger", not to be confused with [[wing-half]]); however, the use of this particular term to describe inside forwards is now obsolete, as the ''mezzala'' label was later reapplied to describe the role of offensive-minded [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central midfielders]] in Italian football, while the inside forward role was instead labelled as "interno" ("internal", in Italian) in Italian football in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/127534/just-what-mezzala |title=Just what is a mezzala? |publisher=Football Italia |last1=Tallarita |first1=Andrea |date=4 September 2018 |access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/italian-english/mezzala |title=English translation of 'mezzala' |publisher=Collins Dictrionary |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/alessandro-mazzola_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/ |title=MAZZOLA, Alessandro (Sandro) |publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002) |language=it |last1=Garanzini |first1=Gigi |access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref>
In today's game, inside forwards have been pushed up front to become either out-and-out attackers or [[#False 9|false-9s]], or out wide to wingers (in a [[Formation (association football)#4–3–3|4–3–3 formation]]), or they have even been switched to a deeper position in which they are required to drop back to link-up with the midfield, while also supporting another striker playing alongside them up front (in a [[Formation (association football)#4–4–2|4–4–2]] formation). Many teams still employ one of their strikers in this latter more withdrawn role as a support forward for the main striker, in a role broadly similar to the inside forward.
==Outside forward==
<!-- linked from redirects [[Outside forward]], [[outside left]], [[outside right]] -->
[[File:Metodo (ENG).png|thumb|[[Vittorio Pozzo]]'s ''Metodo'' system from the 1930s featured attacking wingers or outside forwards.]]
An '''outside forward''' plays as the advanced forward on the right or left wing – as an '''outside right''' or '''outside left''', typically as part of a [[Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid)|2–3–5 formation]] or one of its variants. As football tactics have largely developed, and wingers have dropped back to become [[midfielder]]s, the terminology has changed and "outside forward" has become a historical term. Many commentators and football analysts still refer to the wing positions as "outside right" and "outside left". Such players in the modern era have been labelled "wing forwards", particularly when the two wingers play high up the pitch in a 4–3–3 or similar formation, where the front 3 attacking players have 3 central midfielders behind them. A wing forward who is known for cutting inside and shooting can have the term "inverted winger" used interchangeably.
The responsibilities of an outside forward include but are not limited to:
* Scoring: their first option should be to shoot, while their second option should be to find another way to create a goal opportunity for the team.
* Passing: when they run into a shooting angle that is unlikely to become a goal, they must find a way to pass the ball to the middle of the penalty box area allowing the centre-forwards to finish the job.
* Crossing: a main job of outside players, or players in the wide areas, especially forwards is their ability to cross the ball to the middle of the field in front of the goal for the central players to score from
Due to these responsibilities some of the most important attributes include:
* Good dribbling and circumventing defenders
* Speed as a necessity to produce effective counter-attacks
* Technical ability to strike a ball
* Quickness in deception to pass a defender
* Striking technique to get on the end of crosses from wide players of the opposing side
==Winger==
{{main|Midfielder#Winger}}
[[File:Ronaldo vs. FC Schalke 04 (16854146922).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Cristiano Ronaldo]] has been deployed as an inverted winger.]]
A '''winger''' is an offensive player located in a wide position near the touchlines. They can be classified as forwards, considering their origin as the old "outside-forward" position, and continue to be termed as such in most parts of the world, especially in Latin and Dutch football cultures. However, in the British game (in which the 4–4–2 formation and its variants are most commonly used) they are usually counted as part of the midfield.
It is a winger's duty to beat opposing [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|full-backs]], deliver cut-backs or [[Cross (association football)|crosses]] from wide positions and, to a lesser extent, to beat defenders and score from close range. They are usually some of the quickest players in the team and usually have good dribbling skills as well. In Dutch, Spanish and [[Portugal|Portuguese]] usage, the defensive duties of the winger have been usually confined to pressing the opposition fullbacks when they have the ball. Otherwise, a winger will drop closer to the midfield to make themself available, should their team win back the ball.
[[File:Mohamed Salah Ghaly.jpg|thumbnail|left|160px|An inverted winger, [[Mohamed Salah]] plays on the right wing, a position which allows him to cut inside to his stronger left foot.]]
In British and other northern European styles of football, the wide-midfielder is expected to track back all the way to their own corner flag should their full-back require help, and also to track back their marker, as well as tucking into the midfield when the more central players are trying to pressure the opposition for the ball. This is a large responsibility for attack-orientated players, and particularly those like [[Joaquín (footballer, born 1981)|Joaquín]] (winger/wide midfielder), or [[Ryan Giggs]] (winger/striker), and [[John Barnes]] (winger/central midfielder), who lack the physical attributes of a wing-back or of a more orthodox midfield player. As these players grow older and lose their natural pace, they are frequently redeployed as "number 10s" between the midfield and the forward line, where their well-honed ball control, technical skills, ability to create chances, and improved reading of the game in the final third can serve to improve their teams' attacking options in tight spaces. An example is [[Inter Milan]]'s use of veteran [[Luís Figo]] behind one or two other attackers, either as a second striker or in a playmaking role as an attacking midfielder.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197228.stm |title=Positions guide: Wide Midfield |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=21 June 2008 |date=1 September 2005}}</ref>
In recent years there has been a trend of playing [[Inverted Winger|inverted wingers]] – wide players stationed on the 'wrong' side of the pitch, in order to enable them to cut inside and [[Shooting (association football)|shoot]] on their stronger foot and sometimes provide in-swinging crosses. This tactic was used by [[Frank Rijkaard]], who, whilst at [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], moved [[Lionel Messi]] from the left flank onto the right wing, initially against the player's wishes. This allowed him to cut into the centre and shoot or cross with his left foot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lionel Messi |work=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cfa0d296-8672-11e0-9d5c-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108185001/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cfa0d296-8672-11e0-9d5c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1xRQZ4Y00 |archive-date=8 January 2015 |url-access=subscription |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=12 January 2015 |date=27 May 2011 |last=Reng |first=Ronald }}</ref> Another example of a successful inverted winger partnership was [[Bayern Munich]]'s pairing of the left-footed [[Arjen Robben]] alongside the right-footed [[Franck Ribéry]], on the right and left flanks respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/ribery-alaba-aubameyang-mkhitaryan-de-bruyne-dost-telepathic-partnerships-472644.jsp |title=Robbery, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan and the Bundesliga's Top 10 telepathic understandings |publisher=Bundesliga |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>
A description that has been used in the media to label a variation upon the inverted winger position is that of an "attacking", "false", or "goalscoring winger", as exemplified by [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] and [[Gareth Bale]]'s roles on the left and right flank during their time at Real Madrid in particular. This label has been used to describe an offensive-minded inverted winger, who will seemingly operate out wide on paper, but who instead will be given the freedom to make unmarked runs into more advanced central areas inside the penalty area, in order to get on the end of passes and crosses and score goals, effectively functioning as a [[#Striker|striker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/club/real-madrid/86/blog/post/3418861/cristiano-ronaldo-evolving-into-an-effective-striker-for-real-madrid |title=Cristiano Ronaldo evolving into an effective striker for Real Madrid |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Dunne |first1=Robbie |date=14 March 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/ronaldo-vs-messi-case-ronaldo-worlds-greatest-player/ |title=Ronaldo vs. Messi: the case for Ronaldo as world's best player |publisher=Sportsnet |last1=Molinaro |first1=John |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/125639/cristiano-ronaldos-rise-real-madrid |title=Cristiano Ronaldo's rise at Real Madrid |publisher=Football Italia |last1=Driscoll |first1=Jon |date=2 August 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/club/real-madrid/86/blog/post/2824537/real-madrid-prepare-for-a-post-cristiano-ronaldo-era |title=Are Real Madrid ready for life without Cristiano Ronaldo? |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Goodman |first1=Mike |date=8 March 2016 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1839626/headline |title=Bale and Ronaldo comparisons not so ridiculous |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Laurence |first1=Martin |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> This role is somewhat comparable to what is known as the ''raumdeuter'' role in German football jargon (literally "space interpreter"), as exemplified by [[Thomas Müller]], namely an attacking-minded wide player, who will move into central areas in order to find spaces from which he can receive passes and score or assist goals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/thomas-muller-the-most-under-appreciated-player-in-football-raumdeuter-bayern-munich-9945 |title=Thomas Müller: the most under-appreciated player in world football |publisher=bundesliga.com |access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref>
The "false winger" or "seven-and-a-half" is instead a label which has been used to describe a type of player who normally plays centrally, but who instead is deployed out wide on paper; during the course of a match, however, they will move inside and operate in the centre of the pitch, in order to drag defenders out of position, congest the midfield and give their team a numerical advantage in this area, so that they can dominate possession in the middle of the pitch and create chances for the forwards; this position also leaves space for full-backs to make overlapping attacking runs up the flank. [[Samir Nasri]], who has been deployed in this role, once described it as that of a "non-axial playmaker".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog/name/93/post/1839728/headline |title=Roberto Soldado perfectly anchors AVB's 'vertical' football |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Cox |first1=Michael |date=6 August 2013 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/2998241/manchester-united-must-play-paul-pogba-in-his-best-position-to-get-the-most-from-him |title=Man United must play Paul Pogba in best position to get the most from him |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Cox |first1=Michael |date=18 November 2016 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/man-united-meet-henrikh-mkhitaryan-one-man-arsenal-wholl-give-your-attack-a-new-lease-life |title=Man United, meet Miki: The one-man arsenal who'll revitalise your attack |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Baldi |first1=Ryan |date=1 July 2016 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-england-liverpool-united/analysis-soccer-van-gaals-tactical-wits-edge-battle-of-the-bosses-idUKL3N0WN0AT20150322 |title=ANALYSIS-Soccer-Van Gaal's tactical wits edge battle of the bosses |work=Reuters |last1=Davis |first1=Toby |date=22 March 2015 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/long-read-guardiolas-16-point-blueprint-dominance-his-methods-management-and-tactics |title=The long read: Guardiola's 16-point blueprint for dominance - his methods, management and tactics |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Murray |first1=Andrew |date=16 August 2016 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@Discussion_Dave/julian-weigl-the-modern-day-regista-3586684bf2cc |title=Julian Weigl: The Modern Day Regista |publisher=Medium |last1=Ndiyo |first1=David |date=3 August 2017 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2511694-the-tactical-evolution-of-arsenal-midfielder-santi-cazorla |title=The Tactical Evolution of Arsenal Midfielder Santi Cazorla |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=McNicholas |first1=James |date=1 July 2015 |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref>
On occasion, the role of an offensive winger can also be occupied by a different type of player. For example, certain managers have been known to use a "wide target man" on the wing, namely a large and physical player who usually plays as a centre-forward, and who will attempt to win aerial challenges and hold up the ball on the flank, or drag full-backs out of position. [[Jostein Flo]] epitomizes this role so much so that a tactic was named after him – [[Flo Pass]]. [[Egil Olsen]], while managing the [[Norway national football team]], positioned Flo, usually a centre-forward, on the right flank to exploit the opposition full-backs' lack of aerial abilities. Another example is [[Mario Mandžukić]], a natural centre-forward, who was used on the left flank under manager [[Massimiliano Allegri]] at Juventus during the 2016–17 season, as well as the following season. Unlike wide target men of earlier eras, Mandžukić was also tasked with pressing opposing players.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-champions-juv-mandzukic/versatile-mandzukic-becomes-juves-secret-weapon-idUKKBN1860YF |title=Versatile Mandzukic becomes Juve's secret weapon |work=Reuters |last1=Homewood |first1=Brian |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> [[Romelu Lukaku]] has also been used in this role on occasion.<ref name="FM1">{{cite news |url=https://medium.com/@v_maedhros/understanding-roles-in-football-manager-and-real-life-part-1-73054cfbb303 |title=Understanding roles in Football Manager (and real life) (part 1) |work=Medium |date=13 May 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>
==False 9==
[[File:Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg|thumb|[[Lionel Messi]] (front, no. 10) has been a proponent of the false 9 position to much success in recent years.]]
A ''false 9'', similar to a more advanced attacking midfielder/playmaker role, is an unconventional lone striker or centre-forward, who drops deep into midfield. The purpose of this is that it creates a problem for opposing [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|centre-backs]] who can either follow the false 9, leaving space behind them for onrushing midfielders, forwards or wingers to exploit, or leaving the false 9 to have time and space to dribble or pick out a pass. The term comes from the traditional number for centre-forwards (nine), and the fact that normally a centre-forward traditionally stayed near the line of [[Defender (association football)|defenders]] until they got an opportunity to move past them toward goal.<ref name="thefalse9.com">{{cite web|title=Football Tactics for Beginners: The False 9|url=http://www.thefalse9.com/2013/09/football-tactics-for-beginnersthe-false.html|website=The False 9 – Football Tactics Simplified|date=20 December 2014 |access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref> Key attributes for a false 9 are similar to those of a deep-lying striker: dribbling ability to take advantage of space between the lines, good short passing ability to link up with the midfield and vision to play through teammates making runs from deep to goal.
The first false 9 in a World Cup was [[Juan Peregrino Anselmo]] in the [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay national team]], although he could not play the match against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in the [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930 World Cup]] due to injury. [[Matthias Sindelar]] was the false 9 of the ''Wunderteam'', the [[Austria national football team|Austria national team]], in 1934.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1641699-building-the-ideal-false-nine-for-the-modern-era |title=Building the Ideal False Nine for the Modern Era |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=16 May 2013 |access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref> In South America, in 1941, River Plate's [[La Máquina]] team started using the left winger [[Adolfo Pedernera]] as a man of reference. When Pedernera transferred to [[Club Atlético Atlanta|Atlanta]], a young [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] took his place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/pedernera-the-twinkle-toed-engine-driver-2604360 |title=The engine driver of La Máquina and El Ballet Azul |publisher=Fifa |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=12 May 2020|access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref> A false 9 was also utilised by [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] at the beginning of the 1950s, with striker [[Nándor Hidegkuti]] acting in the role as a deep-lying centre forward.<ref name="false9History">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1385356-9-best-false-nines-in-world-football-history |title=9 Best False Nines in World Football History |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="false9Best">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1802653-complete-guide-to-the-false-9-and-who-plays-it-best |title=Complete Guide to the False 9 and Who Plays It Best |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=8 October 2013 |access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref> In 1953, English football was astounded by the [[Hungary national football team|Hungarian]] team which beat [[England national football team|England]] [[England v Hungary (1953)|6–3]] at [[Wembley Stadium]]. The [[Revie Plan]] was a variation on the tactics used by the Hungarians, involving [[Don Revie]] playing as a deep-lying centre-forward. Revie started attacks by coming into the centre of the field to receive the ball, drawing the opposing [[centre-half]] out of position. The role can also be compared to the false role in which Hidegkuti operated. The system was first implemented by the Manchester City reserve team, who using the system went unbeaten for the last 26 games of the [[1953–54 in English football|1953–54]] season. Before the start of the [[1954–55 in English football|1954–55]] season, Manchester City manager [[Les McDowall]] called his team into pre-season training two weeks early to try the new tactic. Manchester City lost their first game using the system 5–0, but as the players became more used to the system it started to become more successful. Using the system Manchester City reached the [[1955 FA Cup Final]], but lost to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] 3–1. The following year City again reached the final where they played [[Birmingham City]], this time winning 3–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1841124/headline |title=A change of formation |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Smith |first1=Rory |date=19 February 2014 |access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/may/13/manchester-city-don-revie |title=The Revie final: how the Don glowed quietly for Manchester City |newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 May 2011 |access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/latest-leeds-united-news/30-years-leeds-united-legend-don-revie-remembered-pictures-480907 |title=30 years on - Leeds United legend Don Revie remembered in pictures |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |last1=Hay |first1=Phil |last2=Urquhart |first2=Joe |date=26 May 2019 |access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref>
Throughout his career, [[Johan Cruyff]] was often deployed in a free role as a centre-forward with Ajax, Barcelona, and the Netherlands in the 1970s in [[Rinus Michels]]'s fluid 1–3–3–3 formation, which was a key and trademark feature of the manager's ''[[Total Football|total football]]'' system; although Cruyff was a prolific goalscorer in this position, he also frequently dropped deep to confuse his markers and orchestrate attacks, or moved out onto the wing in order to create space for other teammates' runs, which has led certain pundits to compare this role retroactively as a precursor to the modern false 9 role.<ref name="false9History" /><ref name="false9Best"/><ref name="Turn">[https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jun/11/world-cup-stunning-moments-johan-cruyff-turn-1974 "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No25: the Cruyff Turn is born in 1974"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 11 June 2014.</ref>
[[Michael Laudrup]] was occasionally used as a lone centre-forward in Johan Cruyff's Barcelona ''Dream Team'', a role which was similar to that of the modern false 9 role.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brendan-rodgers-aims-follow-pep-2833794 |title=Rodgers aims to follow Guardiola on Johan Cruyff's path |work=Leicester Mercury |last1=Blackwell |first1=Jordan |date=5 May 2019 |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref>
[[A.S. Roma|Roma]] under manager [[Luciano Spalletti]] used [[Francesco Totti]], nominally an attacking midfielder or ''trequartista'', up-front in an innovative "4–6–0" formation in the mid-2000s;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1435904-great-team-tactics-francesco-totti-roma-and-the-first-false-nine |title=Great Team Tactics: Francesco Totti, Roma and the First False Nine |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref> this was met with a run of 11 consecutive victories.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2020/01/18/serie-a-vittorie-consecutive-record-lazio#02 |title=La Lazio continua a vincere: le altre serie di vittorie consecutive in A |trans-title=Lazio continues to win: the other series of consecutive victories in Serie A |work=Sky Sport Italia |language=it |date=18 January 2020 |access-date=21 November 2023 }}</ref>
At [[UEFA Euro 2012|Euro 2012]], [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] manager [[Vicente del Bosque]], although sometimes deploying [[Fernando Torres]] as a traditional striker, often used [[Cesc Fàbregas]] as a false 9 in several matches, including [[UEFA Euro 2012 Final|the final]]. By the end of 2012, the false 9 had gone "mainstream" with many clubs employing a version of the system. Barcelona's [[Lionel Messi]] has been an epitome of the false 9 position to much success in recent years, first under coach [[Pep Guardiola]] and later under his successor [[Tito Vilanova]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/dec/18/football-tactical-trends-of-2012 |title=5 The football tactical trends of 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> Brazilian forward [[Roberto Firmino]] was later also successfully used in the false 9 position under manager [[Jürgen Klopp]] at Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/what-makes-liverpool-tick-club-world-cup|title=FIFA Club World Cup 2019 – News – What makes Liverpool tick? – FIFA.com|last=FIFA.com|website=www.fifa.com|access-date=}}</ref>
One approach to stop false 9s has been to create congestion in the midfield by bringing several players back into a more defensive role in an attempt to deny them space needed to create plays, notably in [[José Mourinho]]'s "parking the bus" strategy.<ref name="thefalse9.com"/>
In Italian football jargon, this role is historically known as the ''centravanti di manovra'' (which literally translates to "manoeuvring centre-forward").<ref>{{cite news |url=https://torino.corriere.it/sport/19_dicembre_04/dopo-belotti-b-toro-berenguer-1668ae5c-16c9-11ea-b17e-02f19725a806.shtml |title=Dopo Belotti, la B del Toro è Berenguer |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |last1=Balice |first1=Nicola |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tuttosport.com/news/calcio/serie-a/2019/12/04-64146061/la_riscoperta_del_vero_n_9/ |title=La riscoperta del vero n.9 |work=Tutto Sport |language=it |last1=Vocalelli |first1=Alessandro |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
==Target forward==
[[File:Tymoshchuk Drogba.jpg|thumb|left|[[Didier Drogba]] (blue, no. 11), who often played as a target forward throughout his career, was known for his ability to hold up the ball, as demonstrated during the [[2012 UEFA Champions League final]] against [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]].]]
The term "'''target forward'''" or "'''target man'''" is often used to describe a particular type of striker or centre-forward whose main role is to win high balls in the air, hold up the ball, and create chances for other members of the team in addition to scoring goals themselves.<ref name="targetManRef1"/> These players are usually tall and physically strong, adept at heading the ball, and capable of playing with their back to goal in the final third of the pitch. Some of the most high-profile examples of this type of players in modern football include [[Olivier Giroud]] and [[Fernando Llorente]], both [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] winners, with the former having played the entire [[2018 FIFA World Cup|tournament]] as a starting line-up forward tasked primarily with pressing, counter-pressing, winning high or loose balls, and providing key passes to quicker and more agile teammates, namely [[Antoine Griezmann]] or [[Kylian Mbappé]]. Another example of a striker who played in this position is [[Didier Drogba]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1242375-didier-drogba-my-tribute-to-the-chelsea-fc-legend |title=Didier Drogba: Striker's Time in Chelsea Was Special |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Li |first1=Martin |date=30 June 2012 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1207048-didier-drogba-5-reasons-real-madrid-shouldnt-sign-the-ivorian |title=Didier Drogba: 5 Reasons Real Madrid Shouldn't Sign the Ivorian |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Nolan |first1=Ryan |date=6 June 2012 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/apr/30/didier-drogba-chelsea |title=The real Didier Drogba is back, mean and motivated for Chelsea |work=The Guardian |last1=Fifield |first1=Dominic |date=29 April 2011 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref> However, not any tall and/or physically strong player feels comfortable in the role of a "target man", despite having all the necessary features. Such forwards as [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]], [[Romelu Lukaku]], and [[Erling Haaland]] have all rejected the term when applied to specifically them, with Ibrahimović preferring to be described as an attacking all-rounder, while Lukaku and Haaland have said to favour poaching goals rather than physical play.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/haaland-fjortoft-interview-hat-trick-on-dortmund-debut-english-transcript-9401 |title=Watch: Erling Haaland's interview with Jan Age Fjortoft after his Borussia Dortmund debut hat-trick heroics |publisher=Bundesliga |access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref>
As stated above, the target forward is a player who does not run or look to make runs as compared to other forwards. Typically they are strong, tall, and physical players. Usually, the build-up play of a target forward will often consist of one of the following options: firstly, the goalkeeper will either launch a long kick or distribute the ball to a central defender or full-back. From there, the [[Defender (association football)|defender]] will play a long ball to the striker, either in the air or ground. The target forward usually has perfected their ability to provide first touches of the ball on all areas of the body. They will control the ball and provide holdup, which allows their teammates to transition forward. From here, they may create more opportunities such as passing the ball backwards and creating space by moving around defenders, making combination plays with a "false 9", midfielders, or wingers, or turning and facing the goal and attempting to score by dribbling or shooting.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Robyn |title=Soccer Strategies: Defensive and Attacking Strategies |last2=Tranter |first2=Tom |publisher=Library of Congress |year=1999 |isbn=1-890946-32-X}}</ref> Because of their strength and physicality, target forwards may be defended against by [[Marking (association football)|man-to-man marking]]. Sometimes the central defender of the opposing team will be of similar strength and height, which makes the matchup more evenly based. Due to this man-to-man marking, target forwards are often fouled and receive many calls from the referee.
==Striker combinations==
[[File:Mbappe Messi Neymar.jpg|thumb|right|[[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]'s MNM strike team of [[Kylian Mbappé]] (no. 7), [[Lionel Messi]] (no. 30) and [[Neymar]] (no. 10)]] [[File:Dzeko kickoff.jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[Edin Džeko]] (blue, no. 10) and [[Sergio Agüero]] (no. 16) duo for [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] (2011–2015) is a recent example of a striker partnership made up of a taller and more physically imposing player combined with a shorter and technically gifted partner.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/edin-dzeko-man-city-news-17275981 |title=Dzeko explains why he wasn't always happy playing for Man City |work=Manchester Evening News |last1=Banks |first1=Marcus |date=18 November 2019 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref>]]
Strike teams consist of two or more strikers who work together. The history of football has been filled with many effective combinations. Three-man teams often operate in "triangles", giving a wealth of attacking options. Four-man packages expand options even more. Strikers must also be flexible, and be able to switch roles at a moment's notice, between the first (''advanced penetrator position''), second (''deep-lying manoeuvre'') and third (''support and expansion, e.g. wings'') attacker roles.
Another example was the [[Total Football]] played by the Dutch team in the 70s, where the ability of their players, and in particular [[Johan Cruyff]], to swap positions allowed a flexible attacking approach which opposition teams found difficult to effectively mark.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150930160041/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=1043/profile.html "FIFA Classic Player: Cruyff. The Netherlands' Grand Master"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018</ref>
In a two-player front line, it is common for two forwards who complement one another to be paired together; for example, former Italy manager [[Cesare Maldini]] often used a large, physical, and prolific player as a traditional [[#Centre-forward|centre-forward]] – such as [[Christian Vieri]] – alongside a smaller, faster, creative and more technical player as a [[#Second striker|second striker]] – such as Roberto Baggio or Alessandro Del Piero.<ref name="alla Zidane">{{cite news|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,27/articleid,0550_01_1998_0161_0031_7340355/|title=Robi "alla Zidane"|last=Beccantini|first=Roberto|work=La Stampa|language=it|date=14 June 1998|page=27}}</ref>
[[File:Olympic women's soccer final 2012.jpg|thumb|right| [[Alex Morgan]] (no. 13) and [[Abby Wambach]] (no. 14); Morgan and Wambach combined for 55 goals in 2012 – matching a 21-year-old record set in 1991 by [[Michelle Akers]] (39 goals) and [[Carin Jennings]] (16 goals) as the most goals scored by any duo in [[United States women's national soccer team|U.S. women's team]] history.]]
Another similar example of an effective partnership at international level was that of [[Alex Morgan]] and [[Abby Wambach]] with the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States national team]], who scored a combined 55 goals in 2012, matching a 21-year-old record set in 1991 by [[Michelle Akers]] (39 goals) and [[Carin Jennings]] (16 goals) as the most goals scored by any duo in [[United States women's national soccer team|U.S. WNT]] history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/sports/soccer/alex-morgan-and-abby-wambach-renew-partnership-and-revive-us-hopes.html |title=Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach Renew Partnership and Revive U.S. Hopes |work=The New York Times |last1=Longman |first1=Jeré |date=15 June 2015 |access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2012/12/08/abby-wambach-alex-morgan-form-impressive-duo-for-us-women/ |title=Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan form impressive duo for US women |work=The Boston Herald |date=8 December 2012 |access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>
One of the most prolific forward combinations in the history of the game was the front three of Barcelona, [[Lionel Messi]], [[Luis Suárez]] and [[Neymar]], dubbed ''MSN''. On average they scored a goal every 45 minutes – two goals per game from the three forwards.<ref>{{cite news |title=MOTD Kickabout - 7 of MSN's most mind-boggling stats |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/findoutmore/messi-suarez-neymar-stats |access-date=2 August 2019 |agency=BBC}}</ref> The trio scored a record-breaking 131 goals in one season for Barcelona during [[2015–16 FC Barcelona season|2015–16]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Messi, Suárez and Neymar Jr end season with 131 goals |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2015-2016/messi-suarez-and-neymar-jr-end-season-with-131-goals |access-date=2 August 2019 |agency=FC Barcelona}}</ref> In 2017, [[Kylian Mbappé]], [[Neymar]], and [[Edinson Cavani]] scored a record-breaking number of goals for [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] group stage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2517555.html |title=Paris Saint-Germain smash group stage record |agency=UEFA |date=5 December 2017 |access-date=27 December 2019}}</ref> The next year, the [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] attacking quartet of [[Roberto Firmino]], [[Mohamed Salah]], [[Sadio Mané]] and [[Philippe Coutinho]], dubbed the "Fab Four" (in reference to [[the Beatles]]), contributed to a record-breaking 47 goals for a single Champions League season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Liverpool end season with Champions League goals record |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2554546.html |access-date=27 December 2019 |agency=UEFA}}</ref>
''MSN'' is known to be one of the most successful striker combinations in the history of football. However, ''BBC'' was often compared as the same elite level of forwards. The combination consisted of [[Karim Benzema]], [[Gareth Bale]], and [[Cristiano Ronaldo]]. During the height of their success with Spanish team [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], they were frequently compared to ''MSN.'' The two striker combinations played on long time rivals teams Real Madrid and Barcelona,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Castañer |first1=Marta |last2=Barreira |first2=Daniel |last3=Camerino |first3=Oleguer |first4=M. Teresa|last4= Anguera |last5=Fernandes |first5=Tiago |last6=Hileno |first6=Raúl |date=2017 |title=Mastery in Goal Scoring, T-Pattern Detection, and Polar Coordinate Analysis of Motor Skills Used by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=8 |page=741 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00741 |pmid=28553245 |pmc=5427849 |doi-access=free }}</ref> both of which are considered some of the best football clubs of all time. Of the prolific trio, [[Karim Benzema]] typically played the center forward position, while [[Cristiano Ronaldo|Ronaldo]] and [[Gareth Bale|Bale]] played as inverted or outside forwards, so they were able to cut into the center with their dominant side. Between the two trios [[Lionel Messi]] has won the most [[Ballon d'Or]] trophies, while [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] has won the second most of these trophies, at 5.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Andeson |first1=Christopher J. |last2=Arrondel |first2=Luc |last3=Blais |first3=André |last4=Daoust |first4=Jean-François |last5=Laslier |first5=Jean-François |last6=Van der Straeten |first6=Karine |date=2019 |title=Messi, Ronaldo, and the Politics of Celebrity Elections: Voting for the Best Soccer Player in the World |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/messi-ronaldo-and-the-politics-of-celebrity-elections-voting-for-the-best-soccer-player-in-the-world/36CB5CB44D4C06866305408163A49290 |access-date=15 October 2023 |journal=Perspectives on Politics|volume=18 |pages=91–110 |doi=10.1017/S1537592719002391 |s2cid=159085102 }}</ref> BBC rivaled MSN throughout the 2010s in the [[La Liga]], as well as the [[UEFA Champions League]].
== Defensive capabilities ==
Although the striker is mainly an offensive position in many cases, they still play critical roles for defense that are often overlooked. Strikers can be involved in tactics such as high-pressing, cutting out passing lanes, defending set pieces, and tracking back (mostly for wingers). For high-pressure, this tactic is employed when the opposing team without the ball will defend the team all the way to their back line of defenders so that they have little area to pass or perform play buildup. Strikers will usually be at the forefront of this high-pressing movement and will attempt to direct ball movement. As part of this high-pressing technique, they can also cut out passing lanes. This means that they will position their bodies in-between an outside defender and central defender or midfielders and center defenders so that the opposing player is not able to pass the ball or make a play. By performing this method, they can effectively force the opposing team to one area of the pitch and create better opportunities for the opposing team to turn the ball over. They are heavily used in the "delay, coverage, balance, and concentration principles of football" through a variety of methods. According to the delay principle of defense in football is the idea that players should disturb the ball holder and block passing lanes, which is done in high-pressing and closing down. Closing down is the ability of a player to very quickly start defending the opposing player with the ball. This usually falls under the concentration principle of football, so strikers must be able to start defending the opposing team very high up in the opposing half.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Matsuoka |first1=Hiroki |last2=Tahara |first2=Yasuhiro |last3=Ando |first3=Kozue |last4=Nishijima |first4=Takahiko |date=2020 |title=Development of Criterion-referenced Measurement Items for Soccer Defensive Tactical Play from Tracking Data |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jssfenfs/17/0/17_29/_article |access-date=15 October 2023 |journal=Football Science|volume=17 |doi=10.57547/jssfenfs.17.1_29 }}</ref> Although many believe strikers are not very involved in defensive strategies, they greatly help with "gathering defense to protect vital zones from progression of offensive actions, direct play to less vital zones, and allow for a regain of ball possession."<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mota |first1=Tomás |last2=Silva |first2=Rui |last3=Clemente |first3=Filipe Manuel |date=2023 |title=Holistic soccer profile by position: a theoretical framework |url=https://www.termedia.pl/Holistic-soccer-profile-by-position-a-theoretical-framework,129,45625,1,1.html |access-date=15 October 2023 |journal=Human Movement|volume=24 |pages=4–20 |doi=10.5114/hm.2023.110751 |s2cid=244650565 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
==See also==
{{cols}}
*{{Portal inline|Association football|}}
*[[Association football positions]]
*[[Association football tactics]]
*[[Defender (association football)]]
*[[Goalkeeper (association football)]]
*[[Midfielder (association football)]]
{{colend}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}
[[Category:Association football forwards| ]]
[[Category:Association football positions]]
[[Category:Association football terminology]]
[[Category:Association football player non-biographical articles]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | '{{Short description|Association football position played near the opponent's goal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
[[File:Football in Bloomington, Indiana, 1996.jpg|thumb|The forward (no. 10, in red) is past the [[Defender (association football)|defender]] (no. 16, in white) and is about to take a [[Shooting (association football)|shot]] at the goal. The [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper black nigger
], a '''forward''' (or '''attacker''') is an [[Glossary of association football terms#O|outfield position]] which primarily plays further up the pitch than [[Midfielder|midfielders]] and [[Defender (association football)|defenders]]. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on being able to create space for attack.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michalak |first1=Joakim |title=Identifying football players who create and generate space |url=http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&c=30&af=%5B%5D&searchType=LIST_LATEST&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&query=&language=en&pid=diva2%3A1687971&aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&sf=all&aqe=%5B%5D&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&noOfRows=50&dswid=6728 |publisher=Uppsala University Publications |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players.
Attacking positions generally favour direct players who take on the defense of the opponent in order to create scoring chances, where they benefit from a lack of predictability in attacking play. [[Formation (association football)|Modern team formations]] normally include one to three forwards. For example, the common [[Formation (association football)#4–2–3–1|4–2–3–1]] includes one forward.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/09/03/fifa-2010-technical-report-summary/|title=FIFA's 289-page Technical Report on the 2010 World Cup – in 15 points|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=3 September 2010|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104193726/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/09/03/fifa-2010-technical-report-summary/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Less conventional formations may include more than three forwards, or sometimes none.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/19/barcelona-4-2-4-formation-guardiola-messi/|title=Is Barcelona's alternative shape really a 4–2–4?|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=19 March 2010|archive-date=21 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221152436/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/19/barcelona-4-2-4-formation-guardiola-messi/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/05/teams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007/|title=Teams of the Decade #5: Roma, 2007|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=5 March 2010|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726020823/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/05/teams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Centre-forward==
{{anchor|Centre forward|Center-forward|Center forward}}[[File: Ronaldo Real Madrid.jpg|thumb|right|Brazilian striker [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] (middle, in white) taking a shot at goal. A multi-functional forward, he has influenced a generation of strikers who followed.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smyth|first1=Rob|title=Ronaldo at 40: Il Fennomen's legacy as greatest ever No 9, despite dodgy knees|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/17/ronaldo-40-birthday-brazil-greatest-ever-striker|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 September 2016|access-date=9 September 2018}}</ref>]]
The traditional role of a centre-forward is to score the majority of goals on behalf of the team. If they are tall and physical players, with good heading ability, the player may also be used to get onto the end of crosses, win [[long ball]]s, or receive passes and retain possession of the ball with their back to goal as [[Team sport|teammates]] advance, in order to provide depth for their team or help teammates score by providing a pass ('through ball' into the [[Penalty area (football)|box]]), the latter variation usually requiring quicker pace and good movement, in addition to finishing ability. Most modern centre-forwards operate in front of the second strikers or central attacking midfielders, and do the majority of the ball handling outside the box. The present role of a centre-forward is sometimes interchangeable with that of an [[attacking midfielder]] or second striker, however, especially in the 4–3–1–2 or 4–1–2–1–2 formations. The term centre-forward is taken from the earlier football playing [[Formation (association football)|formations]], such as the 2–3–5, in which there were five ''forward'' players: two [[outside forward]]s, two [[inside forward]]s, and one centre-forward. The term "'''target forward'''" is often used interchangeably with that of a centre-forward, but usually describes a particular type of striker, who is usually a tall and physically strong player, who is adept at heading the ball; their main role is to win high balls in the air, hold up the ball, and create chances for other members of the team, in addition to possibly scoring many goals themselves. However, the two terms are not necessarily synonymous, with the target forward having developed into a more specialised role, while the centre-forward description is more broad, encompassing many types of forwards.<ref name="targetManRef1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportslingo.com/sports-glossary/t/target-man/|title=Target Man Definition In Soccer - Meanings & Examples From SportsLingo.com|last=|first=|date=|work=|access-date=|language=en-US}}</ref>
When [[Squad number (association football)|numbers]] were introduced in the 1933 [[1933 FA Cup Final|English FA Cup final]], one of the two centre-forwards that day wore the number 9 – [[Everton F.C.|Everton's]] [[Dixie Dean]], a strong, powerful forward who had set the record for the most goals scored in a season in [[Football in England|English football]] during the 1927–28 season. The number would then become synonymous with the centre-forward position (only worn that day because one team was numbered 1–11 whilst the other was numbered 12–22).<ref name=sports.yahoo.com>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/mystery-solved--why-do-the-best-soccer-players-wear-no--10-052229677.html|title=Mystery solved: Why do the best soccer players wear No. 10?|publisher=Yahoo|author1=Khalil Garriot|date=21 June 2014|access-date=19 May 2015}}</ref>
==Striker==
[[File:Omar Batistuta.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Gabriel Batistuta]] holding his old number 9 [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] jersey. The number most associated with the position, he was an out and out striker.]]
The role of a striker is rather different from that of a traditional centre-forward, although the terms centre-forward and striker are used interchangeably at times, as both play further up the field than other players, while tall, heavy and technical players, like [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]], and [[Edin Džeko]], have qualities which are suited to both positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15115/10303502/zlatan-ibrahimovic-to-manchester-united-what-will-he-bring |title=Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United: What will he bring? | Football News |publisher=[[Sky Sports]] |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> Like the centre-forward, the traditional role of a striker is to score goals; strikers are therefore known for their ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the blind side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position, as typified by [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] and [[Thierry Henry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/luis-suarez-a-centre-forward-with-a-difference |title=News |publisher=FC Barcelona |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> They are typically fast players with good ball control and dribbling abilities. Shorter statured, more agile strikers like [[Michael Owen]], [[Kylian Mbappé]], [[Romario]], [[Dries Mertens]], [[Sergio Agüero]], and [[Paulo Dybala]] have an advantage over taller defenders due to their short bursts of speed.
Good strikers should be able to [[Shooting (association football)|shoot]] confidently with either foot, possess great power and accuracy, and have the ability to link-up with teammates and pass the ball under pressure in breakaway situations. While many strikers wear the number 9 shirt, such as [[Alan Shearer]], an out and out striker, the position, to a lesser degree, is also associated with the [[Squad number (association football)|number 10]], which is frequently worn by more creative deep-lying forwards such as [[Pelé]], and occasionally with numbers 7 and 11, which are often associated with wingers.<ref name="sports.yahoo.com" />
==Second striker==
[[File:Wayne Rooney 144855.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Wayne Rooney]], shown wearing the number 10 [[Kit (association football)|jersey]], was used at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] as a second striker on many occasions, playing behind the number 9.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704454304575081233778123888 |title=Wayne's World: Rooney Leads the Field |work=The Wall Street Journal |last1=Clegg |first1=Jonathan |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=21 January 2020 }}</ref>]]
Deep-lying forwards or second strikers have a long history in the game, but the terminology to describe their playing activity has varied over the years. Originally such players were termed inside forwards, creative or deep-lying centre-forwards ("sub forwards"). More recently, the role has occasionally been colloquially referred to as the centre-forward role, however, two more variations of this old type of player have developed: the second, or shadow, or support, or auxiliary striker and, in what is in fact a distinct position unto its own, the number 10;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afootballreport.com/post/9738165711/the-essence-of-the-number-10-a-beginners-guide|title=The Essence of the Number 10: A Beginner's Guide|website=Afootballreport.com|access-date=12 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Mancini: THE NUMBER 10">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertomancini.com/en/calciatore-2/il-numero-10.html|title=THE NUMBER 10|publisher=www.robertomancini.com|last=Mancini|first=Roberto|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="question"/> the former role is exemplified by players such as [[Dennis Bergkamp]] (who would play just behind the striker [[Thierry Henry]] at [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/thierry-henry-arsenal-most-premier-league-assists-season-200203-van-nistelrooy-golden-boot |title=Thierry Henry's assist record of 2002/03: how Arsenal's talisman reinvented the Premier League striker |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Haugstad |first1=Thore |date=25 October 2019 |access-date=21 January 2020 }}</ref> [[Alessandro Del Piero]] at [[Juventus FC|Juventus]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2006/agosto/23/Del_Piero_mezzo_Come_Baggio_ga_10_060823083.shtml |title="Del Piero è un 9 e mezzo" Come Baggio per Platini |trans-title="Del Piero is a 9 and a half" Like Baggio was for Platini |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Luca |first1=Curino |date=23 August 2006 |access-date=9 January 2020 }}</ref> [[Youri Djorkaeff]] at [[Inter Milan]],<ref name=musica>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/10/14/dribbling-tiro-la-musica-di-djorkaeff.html|title=Dribbling e tiro. È la musica di Djorkaeff|trans-title=Dribbling and shooting. This is the music of Djorkaeff|work=la Repubblica|last=Mura|first=Gianni|language=it|date=14 October 1996|page=36}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/agosto/04/Inter_esame_gioiellino_Owen_ga_0_9808041948.shtml|title=l' Inter fa l' esame al gioiellino Owen|trans-title=Inter tests the little jewel Owen|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=4 August 1998|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=coppia>{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1998/03/03/ronaldo-djorkaeff-mai-la-stessa-coppia.html|title=Ronaldo e Djorkaeff mai la stessa coppia|trans-title=Ronaldo and Djorkaeff never the same pair|last=Piva|first=Gianni|work=la Repubblica|language=it|date=3 March 1998|page=50}}</ref> or [[Teddy Sheringham]] at Tottenham Hotspur.<ref name="Shed no tears for Teddy">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2401463/Shed-no-tears-for-Teddy.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2401463/Shed-no-tears-for-Teddy.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Shed no tears for Teddy|work=The Telegraph|last=Barclay|first=Patrick|date=11 May 2003|access-date=18 December 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Other creative offensive players who play further back, such as [[Diego Maradona]], [[Ronaldinho]], [[Kaká]], [[Rivaldo]], [[Michael Laudrup]], and [[Zinedine Zidane]] are often instead described as the "number 10", and usually operate as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]] or advanced [[playmaker]].<ref name="question">[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/aug/18/what-is-a-playmakers-role-in-modern-game "The Question: What is a playmaker's role in the modern game?"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 27 December 2019</ref>
The second striker position is a loosely defined and most often misunderstood description of a player positioned in a free role, somewhere between the out-and-out striker, whether the player is a "target man" or more of a "poacher", and the number 10 or attacking midfielder, while possibly showing some of the characteristics of both. In fact, a term coined by French advanced playmaker [[Michel Platini]], the "nine-and-a-half", which he used to describe the playing role of his successor in the number 10 role at Juventus, Italian playmaker [[Roberto Baggio]], has been an attempt to become a standard in defining the position.<ref>{{cite web |title=AdTech Ad Roberto Baggio:| 'Allenare l'Italia? Non si sa mai' |url=http://www.calciomercato.pro/news/roberto-baggio-allenare-l-italia-non-si-sa-mai-826328 |website=Calciomercato.pro|date=May 2011 |access-date=12 January 2015}}</ref> Conceivably, a number 10 can alternate as a second-striker provided that the player is also a prolific goalscorer; otherwise, a mobile forward with good technical ability ([[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills and ball control), acceleration, vision, passing, and link-up play, who can receive the ball and retain possession, in addition to being capable of scoring goals and [[Passing (association football)|creating opportunities]] for a less versatile centre-forward, is more suited to playing in the second striker role. This player should also be able to position themselves well in order to receive passes and subsequently either create or finish off a goalscoring opportunity. They should also be capable of finishing well with either foot as well as their head (which is less common, seeing as many second strikers are diminutive creative players),<ref name="alla Zidane"/> as this will lead to a good scoring percentage on attempts on goal and give their team an advantage offensively. Although they are often deployed in a free role, and given "licence to roam", and either run forward, or drop further back in order to pick up the ball in deeper areas, giving them more time and space in possession, second or support strikers do not tend to get as involved in the orchestration of attacks as the number 10, nor do they bring as many other players into play, since they do not share the burden of responsibility, functioning predominantly in a supporting role as [[Assist (football)|assist]] providers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197254.stm |title=Positions guide: Behind the striker |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=21 June 2008 |date=1 September 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/96186/rise-seconda-punta |title=Rise of the Seconda Punta |publisher=Football Italia |last1=Murray |first1=Greg |date=29 December 2016 |access-date=9 January 2020 }}</ref> In Italy, this role is known as a "rifinitore", "mezzapunta", or "seconda punta",<ref name="Platini: Baggio, Il Fu Nove E Mezzo">{{cite web|url=http://www.eatsport.net/2012/roberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo/ |title=Platini: Baggio, Il Fu Nove E Mezzo |language=it |access-date=16 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604152313/http://www.eatsport.net/2012/roberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo/ |archive-date=4 June 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://dizionari.corriere.it/dizionario_italiano/M/mezzapunta.shtml |title=mezzapunta |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |access-date=21 May 2020 }}</ref> whereas in Brazil, it is known as "segundo atacante"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Guimarães|first1=Levy|title=Segundo atacante: uma posição em desuso|url=http://doentesporfutebol.com.br/2013/06/segundo-atacante-uma-posicao-em-desuso/|website=Doentes por Futebol|access-date=13 August 2016|date=2 June 2013|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227011038/https://doentesporfutebol.com.br/2013/06/segundo-atacante-uma-posicao-em-desuso/|url-status=dead}}</ref> or "ponta-de-lança".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://footballsgreatest.weebly.com/second-strikers.html|title=The Greatest Second Strikers / Inside Forwards of All Time|access-date=5 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206074856/http://footballsgreatest.weebly.com/second-strikers.html|archive-date=6 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==Inside forward==
[[Image:2-3-5 (pyramid).svg|100px|thumb|right|2–3–5 formation: the inside forwards (red) flank the centre-forward.]]
The position of '''inside forward''' was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre-forward, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes. The role is broadly analogous to the ''[[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|"hole"]]'' or ''second striker'' position in the modern game, although here, there were two such players, known as '''inside right''' and '''inside left'''.
[[Image:Football Formation - WM.png|100px|thumb|left|WM formation: the inside forwards (red) occupy a more withdrawn position supporting the centre-forward and outside right and left.]]
In early [[Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid)|2–3–5 formations]] the inside-forwards would flank the centre-forward on both sides. With the rise of the [[Formation (association football)#WM|WM formation]], the inside forwards were brought back to become attacking midfielders, supplying balls to the centre-forward and the two attacking [[Winger (sports)|outside forwards]] – known as the ''outside right'' and ''outside left''. In Italian football jargon, the inside forward was initially occasionally known as a ''[[Midfielder#Mezzala|mezzala]]'' (literally "half-winger", not to be confused with [[wing-half]]); however, the use of this particular term to describe inside forwards is now obsolete, as the ''mezzala'' label was later reapplied to describe the role of offensive-minded [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central midfielders]] in Italian football, while the inside forward role was instead labelled as "interno" ("internal", in Italian) in Italian football in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/127534/just-what-mezzala |title=Just what is a mezzala? |publisher=Football Italia |last1=Tallarita |first1=Andrea |date=4 September 2018 |access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/italian-english/mezzala |title=English translation of 'mezzala' |publisher=Collins Dictrionary |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/alessandro-mazzola_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/ |title=MAZZOLA, Alessandro (Sandro) |publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002) |language=it |last1=Garanzini |first1=Gigi |access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref>
In today's game, inside forwards have been pushed up front to become either out-and-out attackers or [[#False 9|false-9s]], or out wide to wingers (in a [[Formation (association football)#4–3–3|4–3–3 formation]]), or they have even been switched to a deeper position in which they are required to drop back to link-up with the midfield, while also supporting another striker playing alongside them up front (in a [[Formation (association football)#4–4–2|4–4–2]] formation). Many teams still employ one of their strikers in this latter more withdrawn role as a support forward for the main striker, in a role broadly similar to the inside forward.
==Outside forward==
<!-- linked from redirects [[Outside forward]], [[outside left]], [[outside right]] -->
[[File:Metodo (ENG).png|thumb|[[Vittorio Pozzo]]'s ''Metodo'' system from the 1930s featured attacking wingers or outside forwards.]]
An '''outside forward''' plays as the advanced forward on the right or left wing – as an '''outside right''' or '''outside left''', typically as part of a [[Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid)|2–3–5 formation]] or one of its variants. As football tactics have largely developed, and wingers have dropped back to become [[midfielder]]s, the terminology has changed and "outside forward" has become a historical term. Many commentators and football analysts still refer to the wing positions as "outside right" and "outside left". Such players in the modern era have been labelled "wing forwards", particularly when the two wingers play high up the pitch in a 4–3–3 or similar formation, where the front 3 attacking players have 3 central midfielders behind them. A wing forward who is known for cutting inside and shooting can have the term "inverted winger" used interchangeably.
The responsibilities of an outside forward include but are not limited to:
* Scoring: their first option should be to shoot, while their second option should be to find another way to create a goal opportunity for the team.
* Passing: when they run into a shooting angle that is unlikely to become a goal, they must find a way to pass the ball to the middle of the penalty box area allowing the centre-forwards to finish the job.
* Crossing: a main job of outside players, or players in the wide areas, especially forwards is their ability to cross the ball to the middle of the field in front of the goal for the central players to score from
Due to these responsibilities some of the most important attributes include:
* Good dribbling and circumventing defenders
* Speed as a necessity to produce effective counter-attacks
* Technical ability to strike a ball
* Quickness in deception to pass a defender
* Striking technique to get on the end of crosses from wide players of the opposing side
==Winger==
{{main|Midfielder#Winger}}
[[File:Ronaldo vs. FC Schalke 04 (16854146922).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Cristiano Ronaldo]] has been deployed as an inverted winger.]]
A '''winger''' is an offensive player located in a wide position near the touchlines. They can be classified as forwards, considering their origin as the old "outside-forward" position, and continue to be termed as such in most parts of the world, especially in Latin and Dutch football cultures. However, in the British game (in which the 4–4–2 formation and its variants are most commonly used) they are usually counted as part of the midfield.
It is a winger's duty to beat opposing [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|full-backs]], deliver cut-backs or [[Cross (association football)|crosses]] from wide positions and, to a lesser extent, to beat defenders and score from close range. They are usually some of the quickest players in the team and usually have good dribbling skills as well. In Dutch, Spanish and [[Portugal|Portuguese]] usage, the defensive duties of the winger have been usually confined to pressing the opposition fullbacks when they have the ball. Otherwise, a winger will drop closer to the midfield to make themself available, should their team win back the ball.
[[File:Mohamed Salah Ghaly.jpg|thumbnail|left|160px|An inverted winger, [[Mohamed Salah]] plays on the right wing, a position which allows him to cut inside to his stronger left foot.]]
In British and other northern European styles of football, the wide-midfielder is expected to track back all the way to their own corner flag should their full-back require help, and also to track back their marker, as well as tucking into the midfield when the more central players are trying to pressure the opposition for the ball. This is a large responsibility for attack-orientated players, and particularly those like [[Joaquín (footballer, born 1981)|Joaquín]] (winger/wide midfielder), or [[Ryan Giggs]] (winger/striker), and [[John Barnes]] (winger/central midfielder), who lack the physical attributes of a wing-back or of a more orthodox midfield player. As these players grow older and lose their natural pace, they are frequently redeployed as "number 10s" between the midfield and the forward line, where their well-honed ball control, technical skills, ability to create chances, and improved reading of the game in the final third can serve to improve their teams' attacking options in tight spaces. An example is [[Inter Milan]]'s use of veteran [[Luís Figo]] behind one or two other attackers, either as a second striker or in a playmaking role as an attacking midfielder.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197228.stm |title=Positions guide: Wide Midfield |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=21 June 2008 |date=1 September 2005}}</ref>
In recent years there has been a trend of playing [[Inverted Winger|inverted wingers]] – wide players stationed on the 'wrong' side of the pitch, in order to enable them to cut inside and [[Shooting (association football)|shoot]] on their stronger foot and sometimes provide in-swinging crosses. This tactic was used by [[Frank Rijkaard]], who, whilst at [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], moved [[Lionel Messi]] from the left flank onto the right wing, initially against the player's wishes. This allowed him to cut into the centre and shoot or cross with his left foot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lionel Messi |work=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cfa0d296-8672-11e0-9d5c-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108185001/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cfa0d296-8672-11e0-9d5c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1xRQZ4Y00 |archive-date=8 January 2015 |url-access=subscription |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=12 January 2015 |date=27 May 2011 |last=Reng |first=Ronald }}</ref> Another example of a successful inverted winger partnership was [[Bayern Munich]]'s pairing of the left-footed [[Arjen Robben]] alongside the right-footed [[Franck Ribéry]], on the right and left flanks respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/ribery-alaba-aubameyang-mkhitaryan-de-bruyne-dost-telepathic-partnerships-472644.jsp |title=Robbery, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan and the Bundesliga's Top 10 telepathic understandings |publisher=Bundesliga |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>
A description that has been used in the media to label a variation upon the inverted winger position is that of an "attacking", "false", or "goalscoring winger", as exemplified by [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] and [[Gareth Bale]]'s roles on the left and right flank during their time at Real Madrid in particular. This label has been used to describe an offensive-minded inverted winger, who will seemingly operate out wide on paper, but who instead will be given the freedom to make unmarked runs into more advanced central areas inside the penalty area, in order to get on the end of passes and crosses and score goals, effectively functioning as a [[#Striker|striker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/club/real-madrid/86/blog/post/3418861/cristiano-ronaldo-evolving-into-an-effective-striker-for-real-madrid |title=Cristiano Ronaldo evolving into an effective striker for Real Madrid |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Dunne |first1=Robbie |date=14 March 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/ronaldo-vs-messi-case-ronaldo-worlds-greatest-player/ |title=Ronaldo vs. Messi: the case for Ronaldo as world's best player |publisher=Sportsnet |last1=Molinaro |first1=John |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/125639/cristiano-ronaldos-rise-real-madrid |title=Cristiano Ronaldo's rise at Real Madrid |publisher=Football Italia |last1=Driscoll |first1=Jon |date=2 August 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/club/real-madrid/86/blog/post/2824537/real-madrid-prepare-for-a-post-cristiano-ronaldo-era |title=Are Real Madrid ready for life without Cristiano Ronaldo? |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Goodman |first1=Mike |date=8 March 2016 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1839626/headline |title=Bale and Ronaldo comparisons not so ridiculous |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Laurence |first1=Martin |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> This role is somewhat comparable to what is known as the ''raumdeuter'' role in German football jargon (literally "space interpreter"), as exemplified by [[Thomas Müller]], namely an attacking-minded wide player, who will move into central areas in order to find spaces from which he can receive passes and score or assist goals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/thomas-muller-the-most-under-appreciated-player-in-football-raumdeuter-bayern-munich-9945 |title=Thomas Müller: the most under-appreciated player in world football |publisher=bundesliga.com |access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref>
The "false winger" or "seven-and-a-half" is instead a label which has been used to describe a type of player who normally plays centrally, but who instead is deployed out wide on paper; during the course of a match, however, they will move inside and operate in the centre of the pitch, in order to drag defenders out of position, congest the midfield and give their team a numerical advantage in this area, so that they can dominate possession in the middle of the pitch and create chances for the forwards; this position also leaves space for full-backs to make overlapping attacking runs up the flank. [[Samir Nasri]], who has been deployed in this role, once described it as that of a "non-axial playmaker".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog/name/93/post/1839728/headline |title=Roberto Soldado perfectly anchors AVB's 'vertical' football |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Cox |first1=Michael |date=6 August 2013 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/2998241/manchester-united-must-play-paul-pogba-in-his-best-position-to-get-the-most-from-him |title=Man United must play Paul Pogba in best position to get the most from him |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Cox |first1=Michael |date=18 November 2016 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/man-united-meet-henrikh-mkhitaryan-one-man-arsenal-wholl-give-your-attack-a-new-lease-life |title=Man United, meet Miki: The one-man arsenal who'll revitalise your attack |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Baldi |first1=Ryan |date=1 July 2016 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-england-liverpool-united/analysis-soccer-van-gaals-tactical-wits-edge-battle-of-the-bosses-idUKL3N0WN0AT20150322 |title=ANALYSIS-Soccer-Van Gaal's tactical wits edge battle of the bosses |work=Reuters |last1=Davis |first1=Toby |date=22 March 2015 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/long-read-guardiolas-16-point-blueprint-dominance-his-methods-management-and-tactics |title=The long read: Guardiola's 16-point blueprint for dominance - his methods, management and tactics |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Murray |first1=Andrew |date=16 August 2016 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@Discussion_Dave/julian-weigl-the-modern-day-regista-3586684bf2cc |title=Julian Weigl: The Modern Day Regista |publisher=Medium |last1=Ndiyo |first1=David |date=3 August 2017 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2511694-the-tactical-evolution-of-arsenal-midfielder-santi-cazorla |title=The Tactical Evolution of Arsenal Midfielder Santi Cazorla |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=McNicholas |first1=James |date=1 July 2015 |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref>
On occasion, the role of an offensive winger can also be occupied by a different type of player. For example, certain managers have been known to use a "wide target man" on the wing, namely a large and physical player who usually plays as a centre-forward, and who will attempt to win aerial challenges and hold up the ball on the flank, or drag full-backs out of position. [[Jostein Flo]] epitomizes this role so much so that a tactic was named after him – [[Flo Pass]]. [[Egil Olsen]], while managing the [[Norway national football team]], positioned Flo, usually a centre-forward, on the right flank to exploit the opposition full-backs' lack of aerial abilities. Another example is [[Mario Mandžukić]], a natural centre-forward, who was used on the left flank under manager [[Massimiliano Allegri]] at Juventus during the 2016–17 season, as well as the following season. Unlike wide target men of earlier eras, Mandžukić was also tasked with pressing opposing players.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-champions-juv-mandzukic/versatile-mandzukic-becomes-juves-secret-weapon-idUKKBN1860YF |title=Versatile Mandzukic becomes Juve's secret weapon |work=Reuters |last1=Homewood |first1=Brian |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> [[Romelu Lukaku]] has also been used in this role on occasion.<ref name="FM1">{{cite news |url=https://medium.com/@v_maedhros/understanding-roles-in-football-manager-and-real-life-part-1-73054cfbb303 |title=Understanding roles in Football Manager (and real life) (part 1) |work=Medium |date=13 May 2018 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>
==False 9==
[[File:Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg|thumb|[[Lionel Messi]] (front, no. 10) has been a proponent of the false 9 position to much success in recent years.]]
A ''false 9'', similar to a more advanced attacking midfielder/playmaker role, is an unconventional lone striker or centre-forward, who drops deep into midfield. The purpose of this is that it creates a problem for opposing [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|centre-backs]] who can either follow the false 9, leaving space behind them for onrushing midfielders, forwards or wingers to exploit, or leaving the false 9 to have time and space to dribble or pick out a pass. The term comes from the traditional number for centre-forwards (nine), and the fact that normally a centre-forward traditionally stayed near the line of [[Defender (association football)|defenders]] until they got an opportunity to move past them toward goal.<ref name="thefalse9.com">{{cite web|title=Football Tactics for Beginners: The False 9|url=http://www.thefalse9.com/2013/09/football-tactics-for-beginnersthe-false.html|website=The False 9 – Football Tactics Simplified|date=20 December 2014 |access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref> Key attributes for a false 9 are similar to those of a deep-lying striker: dribbling ability to take advantage of space between the lines, good short passing ability to link up with the midfield and vision to play through teammates making runs from deep to goal.
The first false 9 in a World Cup was [[Juan Peregrino Anselmo]] in the [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay national team]], although he could not play the match against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in the [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930 World Cup]] due to injury. [[Matthias Sindelar]] was the false 9 of the ''Wunderteam'', the [[Austria national football team|Austria national team]], in 1934.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1641699-building-the-ideal-false-nine-for-the-modern-era |title=Building the Ideal False Nine for the Modern Era |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=16 May 2013 |access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref> In South America, in 1941, River Plate's [[La Máquina]] team started using the left winger [[Adolfo Pedernera]] as a man of reference. When Pedernera transferred to [[Club Atlético Atlanta|Atlanta]], a young [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] took his place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/pedernera-the-twinkle-toed-engine-driver-2604360 |title=The engine driver of La Máquina and El Ballet Azul |publisher=Fifa |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=12 May 2020|access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref> A false 9 was also utilised by [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] at the beginning of the 1950s, with striker [[Nándor Hidegkuti]] acting in the role as a deep-lying centre forward.<ref name="false9History">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1385356-9-best-false-nines-in-world-football-history |title=9 Best False Nines in World Football History |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="false9Best">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1802653-complete-guide-to-the-false-9-and-who-plays-it-best |title=Complete Guide to the False 9 and Who Plays It Best |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tighe |first1=Sam |date=8 October 2013 |access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref> In 1953, English football was astounded by the [[Hungary national football team|Hungarian]] team which beat [[England national football team|England]] [[England v Hungary (1953)|6–3]] at [[Wembley Stadium]]. The [[Revie Plan]] was a variation on the tactics used by the Hungarians, involving [[Don Revie]] playing as a deep-lying centre-forward. Revie started attacks by coming into the centre of the field to receive the ball, drawing the opposing [[centre-half]] out of position. The role can also be compared to the false role in which Hidegkuti operated. The system was first implemented by the Manchester City reserve team, who using the system went unbeaten for the last 26 games of the [[1953–54 in English football|1953–54]] season. Before the start of the [[1954–55 in English football|1954–55]] season, Manchester City manager [[Les McDowall]] called his team into pre-season training two weeks early to try the new tactic. Manchester City lost their first game using the system 5–0, but as the players became more used to the system it started to become more successful. Using the system Manchester City reached the [[1955 FA Cup Final]], but lost to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] 3–1. The following year City again reached the final where they played [[Birmingham City]], this time winning 3–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1841124/headline |title=A change of formation |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Smith |first1=Rory |date=19 February 2014 |access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/may/13/manchester-city-don-revie |title=The Revie final: how the Don glowed quietly for Manchester City |newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 May 2011 |access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/latest-leeds-united-news/30-years-leeds-united-legend-don-revie-remembered-pictures-480907 |title=30 years on - Leeds United legend Don Revie remembered in pictures |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |last1=Hay |first1=Phil |last2=Urquhart |first2=Joe |date=26 May 2019 |access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref>
Throughout his career, [[Johan Cruyff]] was often deployed in a free role as a centre-forward with Ajax, Barcelona, and the Netherlands in the 1970s in [[Rinus Michels]]'s fluid 1–3–3–3 formation, which was a key and trademark feature of the manager's ''[[Total Football|total football]]'' system; although Cruyff was a prolific goalscorer in this position, he also frequently dropped deep to confuse his markers and orchestrate attacks, or moved out onto the wing in order to create space for other teammates' runs, which has led certain pundits to compare this role retroactively as a precursor to the modern false 9 role.<ref name="false9History" /><ref name="false9Best"/><ref name="Turn">[https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jun/11/world-cup-stunning-moments-johan-cruyff-turn-1974 "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No25: the Cruyff Turn is born in 1974"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 11 June 2014.</ref>
[[Michael Laudrup]] was occasionally used as a lone centre-forward in Johan Cruyff's Barcelona ''Dream Team'', a role which was similar to that of the modern false 9 role.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brendan-rodgers-aims-follow-pep-2833794 |title=Rodgers aims to follow Guardiola on Johan Cruyff's path |work=Leicester Mercury |last1=Blackwell |first1=Jordan |date=5 May 2019 |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref>
[[A.S. Roma|Roma]] under manager [[Luciano Spalletti]] used [[Francesco Totti]], nominally an attacking midfielder or ''trequartista'', up-front in an innovative "4–6–0" formation in the mid-2000s;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1435904-great-team-tactics-francesco-totti-roma-and-the-first-false-nine |title=Great Team Tactics: Francesco Totti, Roma and the First False Nine |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref> this was met with a run of 11 consecutive victories.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2020/01/18/serie-a-vittorie-consecutive-record-lazio#02 |title=La Lazio continua a vincere: le altre serie di vittorie consecutive in A |trans-title=Lazio continues to win: the other series of consecutive victories in Serie A |work=Sky Sport Italia |language=it |date=18 January 2020 |access-date=21 November 2023 }}</ref>
At [[UEFA Euro 2012|Euro 2012]], [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] manager [[Vicente del Bosque]], although sometimes deploying [[Fernando Torres]] as a traditional striker, often used [[Cesc Fàbregas]] as a false 9 in several matches, including [[UEFA Euro 2012 Final|the final]]. By the end of 2012, the false 9 had gone "mainstream" with many clubs employing a version of the system. Barcelona's [[Lionel Messi]] has been an epitome of the false 9 position to much success in recent years, first under coach [[Pep Guardiola]] and later under his successor [[Tito Vilanova]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/dec/18/football-tactical-trends-of-2012 |title=5 The football tactical trends of 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> Brazilian forward [[Roberto Firmino]] was later also successfully used in the false 9 position under manager [[Jürgen Klopp]] at Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/what-makes-liverpool-tick-club-world-cup|title=FIFA Club World Cup 2019 – News – What makes Liverpool tick? – FIFA.com|last=FIFA.com|website=www.fifa.com|access-date=}}</ref>
One approach to stop false 9s has been to create congestion in the midfield by bringing several players back into a more defensive role in an attempt to deny them space needed to create plays, notably in [[José Mourinho]]'s "parking the bus" strategy.<ref name="thefalse9.com"/>
In Italian football jargon, this role is historically known as the ''centravanti di manovra'' (which literally translates to "manoeuvring centre-forward").<ref>{{cite news |url=https://torino.corriere.it/sport/19_dicembre_04/dopo-belotti-b-toro-berenguer-1668ae5c-16c9-11ea-b17e-02f19725a806.shtml |title=Dopo Belotti, la B del Toro è Berenguer |work=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |last1=Balice |first1=Nicola |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tuttosport.com/news/calcio/serie-a/2019/12/04-64146061/la_riscoperta_del_vero_n_9/ |title=La riscoperta del vero n.9 |work=Tutto Sport |language=it |last1=Vocalelli |first1=Alessandro |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
==Target forward==
[[File:Tymoshchuk Drogba.jpg|thumb|left|[[Didier Drogba]] (blue, no. 11), who often played as a target forward throughout his career, was known for his ability to hold up the ball, as demonstrated during the [[2012 UEFA Champions League final]] against [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]].]]
The term "'''target forward'''" or "'''target man'''" is often used to describe a particular type of striker or centre-forward whose main role is to win high balls in the air, hold up the ball, and create chances for other members of the team in addition to scoring goals themselves.<ref name="targetManRef1"/> These players are usually tall and physically strong, adept at heading the ball, and capable of playing with their back to goal in the final third of the pitch. Some of the most high-profile examples of this type of players in modern football include [[Olivier Giroud]] and [[Fernando Llorente]], both [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] winners, with the former having played the entire [[2018 FIFA World Cup|tournament]] as a starting line-up forward tasked primarily with pressing, counter-pressing, winning high or loose balls, and providing key passes to quicker and more agile teammates, namely [[Antoine Griezmann]] or [[Kylian Mbappé]]. Another example of a striker who played in this position is [[Didier Drogba]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1242375-didier-drogba-my-tribute-to-the-chelsea-fc-legend |title=Didier Drogba: Striker's Time in Chelsea Was Special |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Li |first1=Martin |date=30 June 2012 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1207048-didier-drogba-5-reasons-real-madrid-shouldnt-sign-the-ivorian |title=Didier Drogba: 5 Reasons Real Madrid Shouldn't Sign the Ivorian |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Nolan |first1=Ryan |date=6 June 2012 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/apr/30/didier-drogba-chelsea |title=The real Didier Drogba is back, mean and motivated for Chelsea |work=The Guardian |last1=Fifield |first1=Dominic |date=29 April 2011 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref> However, not any tall and/or physically strong player feels comfortable in the role of a "target man", despite having all the necessary features. Such forwards as [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]], [[Romelu Lukaku]], and [[Erling Haaland]] have all rejected the term when applied to specifically them, with Ibrahimović preferring to be described as an attacking all-rounder, while Lukaku and Haaland have said to favour poaching goals rather than physical play.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/haaland-fjortoft-interview-hat-trick-on-dortmund-debut-english-transcript-9401 |title=Watch: Erling Haaland's interview with Jan Age Fjortoft after his Borussia Dortmund debut hat-trick heroics |publisher=Bundesliga |access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref>
As stated above, the target forward is a player who does not run or look to make runs as compared to other forwards. Typically they are strong, tall, and physical players. Usually, the build-up play of a target forward will often consist of one of the following options: firstly, the goalkeeper will either launch a long kick or distribute the ball to a central defender or full-back. From there, the [[Defender (association football)|defender]] will play a long ball to the striker, either in the air or ground. The target forward usually has perfected their ability to provide first touches of the ball on all areas of the body. They will control the ball and provide holdup, which allows their teammates to transition forward. From here, they may create more opportunities such as passing the ball backwards and creating space by moving around defenders, making combination plays with a "false 9", midfielders, or wingers, or turning and facing the goal and attempting to score by dribbling or shooting.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Robyn |title=Soccer Strategies: Defensive and Attacking Strategies |last2=Tranter |first2=Tom |publisher=Library of Congress |year=1999 |isbn=1-890946-32-X}}</ref> Because of their strength and physicality, target forwards may be defended against by [[Marking (association football)|man-to-man marking]]. Sometimes the central defender of the opposing team will be of similar strength and height, which makes the matchup more evenly based. Due to this man-to-man marking, target forwards are often fouled and receive many calls from the referee.
==Striker combinations==
[[File:Mbappe Messi Neymar.jpg|thumb|right|[[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]'s MNM strike team of [[Kylian Mbappé]] (no. 7), [[Lionel Messi]] (no. 30) and [[Neymar]] (no. 10)]] [[File:Dzeko kickoff.jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[Edin Džeko]] (blue, no. 10) and [[Sergio Agüero]] (no. 16) duo for [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] (2011–2015) is a recent example of a striker partnership made up of a taller and more physically imposing player combined with a shorter and technically gifted partner.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/edin-dzeko-man-city-news-17275981 |title=Dzeko explains why he wasn't always happy playing for Man City |work=Manchester Evening News |last1=Banks |first1=Marcus |date=18 November 2019 |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref>]]
Strike teams consist of two or more strikers who work together. The history of football has been filled with many effective combinations. Three-man teams often operate in "triangles", giving a wealth of attacking options. Four-man packages expand options even more. Strikers must also be flexible, and be able to switch roles at a moment's notice, between the first (''advanced penetrator position''), second (''deep-lying manoeuvre'') and third (''support and expansion, e.g. wings'') attacker roles.
Another example was the [[Total Football]] played by the Dutch team in the 70s, where the ability of their players, and in particular [[Johan Cruyff]], to swap positions allowed a flexible attacking approach which opposition teams found difficult to effectively mark.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150930160041/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=1043/profile.html "FIFA Classic Player: Cruyff. The Netherlands' Grand Master"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018</ref>
In a two-player front line, it is common for two forwards who complement one another to be paired together; for example, former Italy manager [[Cesare Maldini]] often used a large, physical, and prolific player as a traditional [[#Centre-forward|centre-forward]] – such as [[Christian Vieri]] – alongside a smaller, faster, creative and more technical player as a [[#Second striker|second striker]] – such as Roberto Baggio or Alessandro Del Piero.<ref name="alla Zidane">{{cite news|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,27/articleid,0550_01_1998_0161_0031_7340355/|title=Robi "alla Zidane"|last=Beccantini|first=Roberto|work=La Stampa|language=it|date=14 June 1998|page=27}}</ref>
[[File:Olympic women's soccer final 2012.jpg|thumb|right| [[Alex Morgan]] (no. 13) and [[Abby Wambach]] (no. 14); Morgan and Wambach combined for 55 goals in 2012 – matching a 21-year-old record set in 1991 by [[Michelle Akers]] (39 goals) and [[Carin Jennings]] (16 goals) as the most goals scored by any duo in [[United States women's national soccer team|U.S. women's team]] history.]]
Another similar example of an effective partnership at international level was that of [[Alex Morgan]] and [[Abby Wambach]] with the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States national team]], who scored a combined 55 goals in 2012, matching a 21-year-old record set in 1991 by [[Michelle Akers]] (39 goals) and [[Carin Jennings]] (16 goals) as the most goals scored by any duo in [[United States women's national soccer team|U.S. WNT]] history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/sports/soccer/alex-morgan-and-abby-wambach-renew-partnership-and-revive-us-hopes.html |title=Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach Renew Partnership and Revive U.S. Hopes |work=The New York Times |last1=Longman |first1=Jeré |date=15 June 2015 |access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2012/12/08/abby-wambach-alex-morgan-form-impressive-duo-for-us-women/ |title=Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan form impressive duo for US women |work=The Boston Herald |date=8 December 2012 |access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>
One of the most prolific forward combinations in the history of the game was the front three of Barcelona, [[Lionel Messi]], [[Luis Suárez]] and [[Neymar]], dubbed ''MSN''. On average they scored a goal every 45 minutes – two goals per game from the three forwards.<ref>{{cite news |title=MOTD Kickabout - 7 of MSN's most mind-boggling stats |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/findoutmore/messi-suarez-neymar-stats |access-date=2 August 2019 |agency=BBC}}</ref> The trio scored a record-breaking 131 goals in one season for Barcelona during [[2015–16 FC Barcelona season|2015–16]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Messi, Suárez and Neymar Jr end season with 131 goals |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/news/2015-2016/messi-suarez-and-neymar-jr-end-season-with-131-goals |access-date=2 August 2019 |agency=FC Barcelona}}</ref> In 2017, [[Kylian Mbappé]], [[Neymar]], and [[Edinson Cavani]] scored a record-breaking number of goals for [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] group stage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2517555.html |title=Paris Saint-Germain smash group stage record |agency=UEFA |date=5 December 2017 |access-date=27 December 2019}}</ref> The next year, the [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] attacking quartet of [[Roberto Firmino]], [[Mohamed Salah]], [[Sadio Mané]] and [[Philippe Coutinho]], dubbed the "Fab Four" (in reference to [[the Beatles]]), contributed to a record-breaking 47 goals for a single Champions League season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Liverpool end season with Champions League goals record |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2554546.html |access-date=27 December 2019 |agency=UEFA}}</ref>
''MSN'' is known to be one of the most successful striker combinations in the history of football. However, ''BBC'' was often compared as the same elite level of forwards. The combination consisted of [[Karim Benzema]], [[Gareth Bale]], and [[Cristiano Ronaldo]]. During the height of their success with Spanish team [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], they were frequently compared to ''MSN.'' The two striker combinations played on long time rivals teams Real Madrid and Barcelona,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Castañer |first1=Marta |last2=Barreira |first2=Daniel |last3=Camerino |first3=Oleguer |first4=M. Teresa|last4= Anguera |last5=Fernandes |first5=Tiago |last6=Hileno |first6=Raúl |date=2017 |title=Mastery in Goal Scoring, T-Pattern Detection, and Polar Coordinate Analysis of Motor Skills Used by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=8 |page=741 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00741 |pmid=28553245 |pmc=5427849 |doi-access=free }}</ref> both of which are considered some of the best football clubs of all time. Of the prolific trio, [[Karim Benzema]] typically played the center forward position, while [[Cristiano Ronaldo|Ronaldo]] and [[Gareth Bale|Bale]] played as inverted or outside forwards, so they were able to cut into the center with their dominant side. Between the two trios [[Lionel Messi]] has won the most [[Ballon d'Or]] trophies, while [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] has won the second most of these trophies, at 5.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Andeson |first1=Christopher J. |last2=Arrondel |first2=Luc |last3=Blais |first3=André |last4=Daoust |first4=Jean-François |last5=Laslier |first5=Jean-François |last6=Van der Straeten |first6=Karine |date=2019 |title=Messi, Ronaldo, and the Politics of Celebrity Elections: Voting for the Best Soccer Player in the World |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/messi-ronaldo-and-the-politics-of-celebrity-elections-voting-for-the-best-soccer-player-in-the-world/36CB5CB44D4C06866305408163A49290 |access-date=15 October 2023 |journal=Perspectives on Politics|volume=18 |pages=91–110 |doi=10.1017/S1537592719002391 |s2cid=159085102 }}</ref> BBC rivaled MSN throughout the 2010s in the [[La Liga]], as well as the [[UEFA Champions League]].
== Defensive capabilities ==
Although the striker is mainly an offensive position in many cases, they still play critical roles for defense that are often overlooked. Strikers can be involved in tactics such as high-pressing, cutting out passing lanes, defending set pieces, and tracking back (mostly for wingers). For high-pressure, this tactic is employed when the opposing team without the ball will defend the team all the way to their back line of defenders so that they have little area to pass or perform play buildup. Strikers will usually be at the forefront of this high-pressing movement and will attempt to direct ball movement. As part of this high-pressing technique, they can also cut out passing lanes. This means that they will position their bodies in-between an outside defender and central defender or midfielders and center defenders so that the opposing player is not able to pass the ball or make a play. By performing this method, they can effectively force the opposing team to one area of the pitch and create better opportunities for the opposing team to turn the ball over. They are heavily used in the "delay, coverage, balance, and concentration principles of football" through a variety of methods. According to the delay principle of defense in football is the idea that players should disturb the ball holder and block passing lanes, which is done in high-pressing and closing down. Closing down is the ability of a player to very quickly start defending the opposing player with the ball. This usually falls under the concentration principle of football, so strikers must be able to start defending the opposing team very high up in the opposing half.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Matsuoka |first1=Hiroki |last2=Tahara |first2=Yasuhiro |last3=Ando |first3=Kozue |last4=Nishijima |first4=Takahiko |date=2020 |title=Development of Criterion-referenced Measurement Items for Soccer Defensive Tactical Play from Tracking Data |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jssfenfs/17/0/17_29/_article |access-date=15 October 2023 |journal=Football Science|volume=17 |doi=10.57547/jssfenfs.17.1_29 }}</ref> Although many believe strikers are not very involved in defensive strategies, they greatly help with "gathering defense to protect vital zones from progression of offensive actions, direct play to less vital zones, and allow for a regain of ball possession."<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mota |first1=Tomás |last2=Silva |first2=Rui |last3=Clemente |first3=Filipe Manuel |date=2023 |title=Holistic soccer profile by position: a theoretical framework |url=https://www.termedia.pl/Holistic-soccer-profile-by-position-a-theoretical-framework,129,45625,1,1.html |access-date=15 October 2023 |journal=Human Movement|volume=24 |pages=4–20 |doi=10.5114/hm.2023.110751 |s2cid=244650565 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
==See also==
{{cols}}
*{{Portal inline|Association football|}}
*[[Association football positions]]
*[[Association football tactics]]
*[[Defender (association football)]]
*[[Goalkeeper (association football)]]
*[[Midfielder (association football)]]
{{colend}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}
[[Category:Association football forwards| ]]
[[Category:Association football positions]]
[[Category:Association football terminology]]
[[Category:Association football player non-biographical articles]]' |
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{{Short description|Association football position played near the opponent's goal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-[[File:Football in Bloomington, Indiana, 1996.jpg|thumb|The forward (no. 10, in red) is past the [[Defender (association football)|defender]] (no. 16, in white) and is about to take a [[Shooting (association football)|shot]] at the goal. The [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] will try to stop the forward from scoring a goal by preventing the ball from passing the goal line.]]
-In the sport of [[association football]], a '''forward''' (or '''attacker''') is an [[Glossary of association football terms#O|outfield position]] which primarily plays further up the pitch than [[Midfielder|midfielders]] and [[Defender (association football)|defenders]]. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on being able to create space for attack.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michalak |first1=Joakim |title=Identifying football players who create and generate space |url=http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&c=30&af=%5B%5D&searchType=LIST_LATEST&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&query=&language=en&pid=diva2%3A1687971&aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&sf=all&aqe=%5B%5D&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&noOfRows=50&dswid=6728 |publisher=Uppsala University Publications |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players.
+[[File:Football in Bloomington, Indiana, 1996.jpg|thumb|The forward (no. 10, in red) is past the [[Defender (association football)|defender]] (no. 16, in white) and is about to take a [[Shooting (association football)|shot]] at the goal. The [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper black nigger
+], a '''forward''' (or '''attacker''') is an [[Glossary of association football terms#O|outfield position]] which primarily plays further up the pitch than [[Midfielder|midfielders]] and [[Defender (association football)|defenders]]. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on being able to create space for attack.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michalak |first1=Joakim |title=Identifying football players who create and generate space |url=http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&c=30&af=%5B%5D&searchType=LIST_LATEST&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&query=&language=en&pid=diva2%3A1687971&aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&sf=all&aqe=%5B%5D&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&noOfRows=50&dswid=6728 |publisher=Uppsala University Publications |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players.
Attacking positions generally favour direct players who take on the defense of the opponent in order to create scoring chances, where they benefit from a lack of predictability in attacking play. [[Formation (association football)|Modern team formations]] normally include one to three forwards. For example, the common [[Formation (association football)#4–2–3–1|4–2–3–1]] includes one forward.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/09/03/fifa-2010-technical-report-summary/|title=FIFA's 289-page Technical Report on the 2010 World Cup – in 15 points|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=3 September 2010|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104193726/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/09/03/fifa-2010-technical-report-summary/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Less conventional formations may include more than three forwards, or sometimes none.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/19/barcelona-4-2-4-formation-guardiola-messi/|title=Is Barcelona's alternative shape really a 4–2–4?|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=19 March 2010|archive-date=21 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221152436/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/19/barcelona-4-2-4-formation-guardiola-messi/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/05/teams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007/|title=Teams of the Decade #5: Roma, 2007|access-date=17 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Cox|date=5 March 2010|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726020823/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/05/teams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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0 => '[[File:Football in Bloomington, Indiana, 1996.jpg|thumb|The forward (no. 10, in red) is past the [[Defender (association football)|defender]] (no. 16, in white) and is about to take a [[Shooting (association football)|shot]] at the goal. The [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper black nigger',
1 => '], a '''forward''' (or '''attacker''') is an [[Glossary of association football terms#O|outfield position]] which primarily plays further up the pitch than [[Midfielder|midfielders]] and [[Defender (association football)|defenders]]. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on being able to create space for attack.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michalak |first1=Joakim |title=Identifying football players who create and generate space |url=http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&c=30&af=%5B%5D&searchType=LIST_LATEST&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&query=&language=en&pid=diva2%3A1687971&aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&sf=all&aqe=%5B%5D&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&noOfRows=50&dswid=6728 |publisher=Uppsala University Publications |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players. '
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0 => '[[File:Football in Bloomington, Indiana, 1996.jpg|thumb|The forward (no. 10, in red) is past the [[Defender (association football)|defender]] (no. 16, in white) and is about to take a [[Shooting (association football)|shot]] at the goal. The [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] will try to stop the forward from scoring a goal by preventing the ball from passing the goal line.]]',
1 => 'In the sport of [[association football]], a '''forward''' (or '''attacker''') is an [[Glossary of association football terms#O|outfield position]] which primarily plays further up the pitch than [[Midfielder|midfielders]] and [[Defender (association football)|defenders]]. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on being able to create space for attack.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michalak |first1=Joakim |title=Identifying football players who create and generate space |url=http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&c=30&af=%5B%5D&searchType=LIST_LATEST&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&query=&language=en&pid=diva2%3A1687971&aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&sf=all&aqe=%5B%5D&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&noOfRows=50&dswid=6728 |publisher=Uppsala University Publications |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players. '
] |
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0 => 'http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?aq2=%5B%5B%5D%5D&c=30&af=%5B%5D&searchType=LIST_LATEST&sortOrder2=title_sort_asc&query=&language=en&pid=diva2:1687971&aq=%5B%5B%5D%5D&sf=all&aqe=%5B%5D&sortOrder=author_sort_asc&onlyFullText=false&noOfRows=50&dswid=6728',
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Parsed HTML source of the new revision (new_html) | '<div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Association football position played near the opponent's goal</div>
<p>
[[File:Football in Bloomington, Indiana, 1996.jpg|thumb|The forward (no. 10, in red) is past the <a href="/info/en/?search=Defender_(association_football)" title="Defender (association football)">defender</a> (no. 16, in white) and is about to take a <a href="/info/en/?search=Shooting_(association_football)" title="Shooting (association football)">shot</a> at the goal. The [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper black nigger
], a <b>forward</b> (or <b>attacker</b>) is an <a href="/info/en/?search=Glossary_of_association_football_terms#O" title="Glossary of association football terms">outfield position</a> which primarily plays further up the pitch than <a href="/info/en/?search=Midfielder" title="Midfielder">midfielders</a> and <a href="/info/en/?search=Defender_(association_football)" title="Defender (association football)">defenders</a>. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on being able to create space for attack.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup> Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players.
</p><p>Attacking positions generally favour direct players who take on the defense of the opponent in order to create scoring chances, where they benefit from a lack of predictability in attacking play. <a href="/info/en/?search=Formation_(association_football)" title="Formation (association football)">Modern team formations</a> normally include one to three forwards. For example, the common <a href="/info/en/?search=Formation_(association_football)#4–2–3–1" title="Formation (association football)">4–2–3–1</a> includes one forward.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> Less conventional formations may include more than three forwards, or sometimes none.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup>
</p>
<div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Centre-forward"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Centre-forward</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Striker"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Striker</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="#Second_striker"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Second striker</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="#Inside_forward"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Inside forward</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="#Outside_forward"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Outside forward</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="#Winger"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Winger</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="#False_9"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">False 9</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="#Target_forward"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Target forward</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="#Striker_combinations"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">Striker combinations</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="#Defensive_capabilities"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">Defensive capabilities</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">11</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">12</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Centre-forward">Centre-forward</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p><span class="anchor" id="Centre_forward"></span><span class="anchor" id="Center-forward"></span><span class="anchor" id="Center_forward"></span></p><figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Ronaldo_Real_Madrid.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Ronaldo_Real_Madrid.jpg/220px-Ronaldo_Real_Madrid.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="91" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Ronaldo_Real_Madrid.jpg/330px-Ronaldo_Real_Madrid.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Ronaldo_Real_Madrid.jpg/440px-Ronaldo_Real_Madrid.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1046" data-file-height="434" /></a><figcaption>Brazilian striker <a href="/info/en/?search=Ronaldo_(Brazilian_footballer)" title="Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)">Ronaldo</a> (middle, in white) taking a shot at goal. A multi-functional forward, he has influenced a generation of strikers who followed.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup></figcaption></figure>
<p>The traditional role of a centre-forward is to score the majority of goals on behalf of the team. If they are tall and physical players, with good heading ability, the player may also be used to get onto the end of crosses, win <a href="/info/en/?search=Long_ball" title="Long ball">long balls</a>, or receive passes and retain possession of the ball with their back to goal as <a href="/info/en/?search=Team_sport" title="Team sport">teammates</a> advance, in order to provide depth for their team or help teammates score by providing a pass ('through ball' into the <a href="/info/en/?search=Penalty_area_(football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Penalty area (football)">box</a>), the latter variation usually requiring quicker pace and good movement, in addition to finishing ability. Most modern centre-forwards operate in front of the second strikers or central attacking midfielders, and do the majority of the ball handling outside the box. The present role of a centre-forward is sometimes interchangeable with that of an <a href="/info/en/?search=Attacking_midfielder" class="mw-redirect" title="Attacking midfielder">attacking midfielder</a> or second striker, however, especially in the 4–3–1–2 or 4–1–2–1–2 formations. The term centre-forward is taken from the earlier football playing <a href="/info/en/?search=Formation_(association_football)" title="Formation (association football)">formations</a>, such as the 2–3–5, in which there were five <i>forward</i> players: two <a href="/info/en/?search=Outside_forward" class="mw-redirect" title="Outside forward">outside forwards</a>, two <a href="/info/en/?search=Inside_forward" class="mw-redirect" title="Inside forward">inside forwards</a>, and one centre-forward. The term "<b>target forward</b>" is often used interchangeably with that of a centre-forward, but usually describes a particular type of striker, who is usually a tall and physically strong player, who is adept at heading the ball; their main role is to win high balls in the air, hold up the ball, and create chances for other members of the team, in addition to possibly scoring many goals themselves. However, the two terms are not necessarily synonymous, with the target forward having developed into a more specialised role, while the centre-forward description is more broad, encompassing many types of forwards.<sup id="cite_ref-targetManRef1_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-targetManRef1-6">[6]</a></sup>
</p><p>When <a href="/info/en/?search=Squad_number_(association_football)" title="Squad number (association football)">numbers</a> were introduced in the 1933 <a href="/info/en/?search=1933_FA_Cup_Final" class="mw-redirect" title="1933 FA Cup Final">English FA Cup final</a>, one of the two centre-forwards that day wore the number 9 – <a href="/info/en/?search=Everton_F.C." title="Everton F.C.">Everton's</a> <a href="/info/en/?search=Dixie_Dean" title="Dixie Dean">Dixie Dean</a>, a strong, powerful forward who had set the record for the most goals scored in a season in <a href="/info/en/?search=Football_in_England" title="Football in England">English football</a> during the 1927–28 season. The number would then become synonymous with the centre-forward position (only worn that day because one team was numbered 1–11 whilst the other was numbered 12–22).<sup id="cite_ref-sports.yahoo.com_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sports.yahoo.com-7">[7]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Striker">Striker</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Omar_Batistuta.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Omar_Batistuta.jpg/170px-Omar_Batistuta.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="255" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Omar_Batistuta.jpg/255px-Omar_Batistuta.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Omar_Batistuta.jpg/340px-Omar_Batistuta.jpg 2x" data-file-width="400" data-file-height="600" /></a><figcaption><a href="/info/en/?search=Gabriel_Batistuta" title="Gabriel Batistuta">Gabriel Batistuta</a> holding his old number 9 <a href="/info/en/?search=ACF_Fiorentina" title="ACF Fiorentina">Fiorentina</a> jersey. The number most associated with the position, he was an out and out striker.</figcaption></figure>
<p>The role of a striker is rather different from that of a traditional centre-forward, although the terms centre-forward and striker are used interchangeably at times, as both play further up the field than other players, while tall, heavy and technical players, like <a href="/info/en/?search=Zlatan_Ibrahimovi%C4%87" title="Zlatan Ibrahimović">Zlatan Ibrahimović</a>, and <a href="/info/en/?search=Edin_D%C5%BEeko" title="Edin Džeko">Edin Džeko</a>, have qualities which are suited to both positions.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup> Like the centre-forward, the traditional role of a striker is to score goals; strikers are therefore known for their ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the blind side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position, as typified by <a href="/info/en/?search=Ronaldo_(Brazilian_footballer)" title="Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)">Ronaldo</a> and <a href="/info/en/?search=Thierry_Henry" title="Thierry Henry">Thierry Henry</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a></sup> They are typically fast players with good ball control and dribbling abilities. Shorter statured, more agile strikers like <a href="/info/en/?search=Michael_Owen" title="Michael Owen">Michael Owen</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Kylian_Mbapp%C3%A9" title="Kylian Mbappé">Kylian Mbappé</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Romario" class="mw-redirect" title="Romario">Romario</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Dries_Mertens" title="Dries Mertens">Dries Mertens</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Sergio_Ag%C3%BCero" title="Sergio Agüero">Sergio Agüero</a>, and <a href="/info/en/?search=Paulo_Dybala" title="Paulo Dybala">Paulo Dybala</a> have an advantage over taller defenders due to their short bursts of speed.
</p><p>Good strikers should be able to <a href="/info/en/?search=Shooting_(association_football)" title="Shooting (association football)">shoot</a> confidently with either foot, possess great power and accuracy, and have the ability to link-up with teammates and pass the ball under pressure in breakaway situations. While many strikers wear the number 9 shirt, such as <a href="/info/en/?search=Alan_Shearer" title="Alan Shearer">Alan Shearer</a>, an out and out striker, the position, to a lesser degree, is also associated with the <a href="/info/en/?search=Squad_number_(association_football)" title="Squad number (association football)">number 10</a>, which is frequently worn by more creative deep-lying forwards such as <a href="/info/en/?search=Pel%C3%A9" title="Pelé">Pelé</a>, and occasionally with numbers 7 and 11, which are often associated with wingers.<sup id="cite_ref-sports.yahoo.com_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sports.yahoo.com-7">[7]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Second_striker">Second striker</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Wayne_Rooney_144855.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Wayne_Rooney_144855.jpg/170px-Wayne_Rooney_144855.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="264" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Wayne_Rooney_144855.jpg/255px-Wayne_Rooney_144855.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Wayne_Rooney_144855.jpg/340px-Wayne_Rooney_144855.jpg 2x" data-file-width="529" data-file-height="820" /></a><figcaption><a href="/info/en/?search=Wayne_Rooney" title="Wayne Rooney">Wayne Rooney</a>, shown wearing the number 10 <a href="/info/en/?search=Kit_(association_football)" title="Kit (association football)">jersey</a>, was used at <a href="/info/en/?search=Manchester_United_F.C." title="Manchester United F.C.">Manchester United</a> as a second striker on many occasions, playing behind the number 9.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a></sup></figcaption></figure>
<p>Deep-lying forwards or second strikers have a long history in the game, but the terminology to describe their playing activity has varied over the years. Originally such players were termed inside forwards, creative or deep-lying centre-forwards ("sub forwards"). More recently, the role has occasionally been colloquially referred to as the centre-forward role, however, two more variations of this old type of player have developed: the second, or shadow, or support, or auxiliary striker and, in what is in fact a distinct position unto its own, the number 10;<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11">[11]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Mancini:_THE_NUMBER_10_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Mancini:_THE_NUMBER_10-12">[12]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-question_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-question-13">[13]</a></sup> the former role is exemplified by players such as <a href="/info/en/?search=Dennis_Bergkamp" title="Dennis Bergkamp">Dennis Bergkamp</a> (who would play just behind the striker <a href="/info/en/?search=Thierry_Henry" title="Thierry Henry">Thierry Henry</a> at <a href="/info/en/?search=Arsenal_F.C." title="Arsenal F.C.">Arsenal</a>),<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a></sup> <a href="/info/en/?search=Alessandro_Del_Piero" title="Alessandro Del Piero">Alessandro Del Piero</a> at <a href="/info/en/?search=Juventus_FC" title="Juventus FC">Juventus</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a></sup> <a href="/info/en/?search=Youri_Djorkaeff" title="Youri Djorkaeff">Youri Djorkaeff</a> at <a href="/info/en/?search=Inter_Milan" title="Inter Milan">Inter Milan</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-musica_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-musica-16">[16]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-coppia_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-coppia-18">[18]</a></sup> or <a href="/info/en/?search=Teddy_Sheringham" title="Teddy Sheringham">Teddy Sheringham</a> at Tottenham Hotspur.<sup id="cite_ref-Shed_no_tears_for_Teddy_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Shed_no_tears_for_Teddy-19">[19]</a></sup> Other creative offensive players who play further back, such as <a href="/info/en/?search=Diego_Maradona" title="Diego Maradona">Diego Maradona</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Ronaldinho" title="Ronaldinho">Ronaldinho</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Kak%C3%A1" title="Kaká">Kaká</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Rivaldo" title="Rivaldo">Rivaldo</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Michael_Laudrup" title="Michael Laudrup">Michael Laudrup</a>, and <a href="/info/en/?search=Zinedine_Zidane" title="Zinedine Zidane">Zinedine Zidane</a> are often instead described as the "number 10", and usually operate as an <a href="/info/en/?search=Midfielder#Attacking_midfielder" title="Midfielder">attacking midfielder</a> or advanced <a href="/info/en/?search=Playmaker" title="Playmaker">playmaker</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-question_13-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-question-13">[13]</a></sup>
</p><p>The second striker position is a loosely defined and most often misunderstood description of a player positioned in a free role, somewhere between the out-and-out striker, whether the player is a "target man" or more of a "poacher", and the number 10 or attacking midfielder, while possibly showing some of the characteristics of both. In fact, a term coined by French advanced playmaker <a href="/info/en/?search=Michel_Platini" title="Michel Platini">Michel Platini</a>, the "nine-and-a-half", which he used to describe the playing role of his successor in the number 10 role at Juventus, Italian playmaker <a href="/info/en/?search=Roberto_Baggio" title="Roberto Baggio">Roberto Baggio</a>, has been an attempt to become a standard in defining the position.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a></sup> Conceivably, a number 10 can alternate as a second-striker provided that the player is also a prolific goalscorer; otherwise, a mobile forward with good technical ability (<a href="/info/en/?search=Dribbling#Association_football" title="Dribbling">dribbling</a> skills and ball control), acceleration, vision, passing, and link-up play, who can receive the ball and retain possession, in addition to being capable of scoring goals and <a href="/info/en/?search=Passing_(association_football)" title="Passing (association football)">creating opportunities</a> for a less versatile centre-forward, is more suited to playing in the second striker role. This player should also be able to position themselves well in order to receive passes and subsequently either create or finish off a goalscoring opportunity. They should also be capable of finishing well with either foot as well as their head (which is less common, seeing as many second strikers are diminutive creative players),<sup id="cite_ref-alla_Zidane_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-alla_Zidane-21">[21]</a></sup> as this will lead to a good scoring percentage on attempts on goal and give their team an advantage offensively. Although they are often deployed in a free role, and given "licence to roam", and either run forward, or drop further back in order to pick up the ball in deeper areas, giving them more time and space in possession, second or support strikers do not tend to get as involved in the orchestration of attacks as the number 10, nor do they bring as many other players into play, since they do not share the burden of responsibility, functioning predominantly in a supporting role as <a href="/info/en/?search=Assist_(football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Assist (football)">assist</a> providers.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22">[22]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23">[23]</a></sup> In Italy, this role is known as a "rifinitore", "mezzapunta", or "seconda punta",<sup id="cite_ref-Platini:_Baggio,_Il_Fu_Nove_E_Mezzo_24-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Platini:_Baggio,_Il_Fu_Nove_E_Mezzo-24">[24]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25">[25]</a></sup> whereas in Brazil, it is known as "segundo atacante"<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a></sup> or "ponta-de-lança".<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27">[27]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Inside_forward">Inside forward</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:2-3-5_(pyramid).svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/2-3-5_%28pyramid%29.svg/100px-2-3-5_%28pyramid%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="140" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/2-3-5_%28pyramid%29.svg/150px-2-3-5_%28pyramid%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/2-3-5_%28pyramid%29.svg/200px-2-3-5_%28pyramid%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="416" data-file-height="582" /></a><figcaption>2–3–5 formation: the inside forwards (red) flank the centre-forward.</figcaption></figure>
<p>The position of <b>inside forward</b> was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre-forward, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes. The role is broadly analogous to the <i><a href="/info/en/?search=Midfielder#Attacking_midfielder" title="Midfielder">"hole"</a></i> or <i>second striker</i> position in the modern game, although here, there were two such players, known as <b>inside right</b> and <b>inside left</b>.
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<figure class="mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Football_Formation_-_WM.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Football_Formation_-_WM.png/100px-Football_Formation_-_WM.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="141" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Football_Formation_-_WM.png/150px-Football_Formation_-_WM.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Football_Formation_-_WM.png/200px-Football_Formation_-_WM.png 2x" data-file-width="409" data-file-height="577" /></a><figcaption>WM formation: the inside forwards (red) occupy a more withdrawn position supporting the centre-forward and outside right and left.</figcaption></figure>
<p>In early <a href="/info/en/?search=Formation_(association_football)#2–3–5_(Pyramid)" title="Formation (association football)">2–3–5 formations</a> the inside-forwards would flank the centre-forward on both sides. With the rise of the <a href="/info/en/?search=Formation_(association_football)#WM" title="Formation (association football)">WM formation</a>, the inside forwards were brought back to become attacking midfielders, supplying balls to the centre-forward and the two attacking <a href="/info/en/?search=Winger_(sports)" title="Winger (sports)">outside forwards</a> – known as the <i>outside right</i> and <i>outside left</i>. In Italian football jargon, the inside forward was initially occasionally known as a <i><a href="/info/en/?search=Midfielder#Mezzala" title="Midfielder">mezzala</a></i> (literally "half-winger", not to be confused with <a href="/info/en/?search=Wing-half" class="mw-redirect" title="Wing-half">wing-half</a>); however, the use of this particular term to describe inside forwards is now obsolete, as the <i>mezzala</i> label was later reapplied to describe the role of offensive-minded <a href="/info/en/?search=Midfielder#Central_midfielder" title="Midfielder">central midfielders</a> in Italian football, while the inside forward role was instead labelled as "interno" ("internal", in Italian) in Italian football in subsequent years.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28">[28]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29">[29]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30">[30]</a></sup>
</p><p>In today's game, inside forwards have been pushed up front to become either out-and-out attackers or <a href="#False_9">false-9s</a>, or out wide to wingers (in a <a href="/info/en/?search=Formation_(association_football)#4–3–3" title="Formation (association football)">4–3–3 formation</a>), or they have even been switched to a deeper position in which they are required to drop back to link-up with the midfield, while also supporting another striker playing alongside them up front (in a <a href="/info/en/?search=Formation_(association_football)#4–4–2" title="Formation (association football)">4–4–2</a> formation). Many teams still employ one of their strikers in this latter more withdrawn role as a support forward for the main striker, in a role broadly similar to the inside forward.
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Outside_forward">Outside forward</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Metodo_(ENG).png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Metodo_%28ENG%29.png/220px-Metodo_%28ENG%29.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="303" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Metodo_%28ENG%29.png/330px-Metodo_%28ENG%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Metodo_%28ENG%29.png 2x" data-file-width="423" data-file-height="582" /></a><figcaption><a href="/info/en/?search=Vittorio_Pozzo" title="Vittorio Pozzo">Vittorio Pozzo</a>'s <i>Metodo</i> system from the 1930s featured attacking wingers or outside forwards.</figcaption></figure>
<p>An <b>outside forward</b> plays as the advanced forward on the right or left wing – as an <b>outside right</b> or <b>outside left</b>, typically as part of a <a href="/info/en/?search=Formation_(association_football)#2–3–5_(Pyramid)" title="Formation (association football)">2–3–5 formation</a> or one of its variants. As football tactics have largely developed, and wingers have dropped back to become <a href="/info/en/?search=Midfielder" title="Midfielder">midfielders</a>, the terminology has changed and "outside forward" has become a historical term. Many commentators and football analysts still refer to the wing positions as "outside right" and "outside left". Such players in the modern era have been labelled "wing forwards", particularly when the two wingers play high up the pitch in a 4–3–3 or similar formation, where the front 3 attacking players have 3 central midfielders behind them. A wing forward who is known for cutting inside and shooting can have the term "inverted winger" used interchangeably.
</p><p>The responsibilities of an outside forward include but are not limited to:
</p>
<ul><li>Scoring: their first option should be to shoot, while their second option should be to find another way to create a goal opportunity for the team.</li>
<li>Passing: when they run into a shooting angle that is unlikely to become a goal, they must find a way to pass the ball to the middle of the penalty box area allowing the centre-forwards to finish the job.</li>
<li>Crossing: a main job of outside players, or players in the wide areas, especially forwards is their ability to cross the ball to the middle of the field in front of the goal for the central players to score from</li></ul>
<p>Due to these responsibilities some of the most important attributes include:
</p>
<ul><li>Good dribbling and circumventing defenders</li>
<li>Speed as a necessity to produce effective counter-attacks</li>
<li>Technical ability to strike a ball</li>
<li>Quickness in deception to pass a defender</li>
<li>Striking technique to get on the end of crosses from wide players of the opposing side</li></ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Winger">Winger</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1033289096">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/info/en/?search=Midfielder#Winger" title="Midfielder">Midfielder § Winger</a></div>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Ronaldo_vs._FC_Schalke_04_(16854146922).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Ronaldo_vs._FC_Schalke_04_%2816854146922%29.jpg/170px-Ronaldo_vs._FC_Schalke_04_%2816854146922%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="241" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Ronaldo_vs._FC_Schalke_04_%2816854146922%29.jpg/255px-Ronaldo_vs._FC_Schalke_04_%2816854146922%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Ronaldo_vs._FC_Schalke_04_%2816854146922%29.jpg/340px-Ronaldo_vs._FC_Schalke_04_%2816854146922%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2792" data-file-height="3963" /></a><figcaption><a href="/info/en/?search=Cristiano_Ronaldo" title="Cristiano Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> has been deployed as an inverted winger.</figcaption></figure>
<p>A <b>winger</b> is an offensive player located in a wide position near the touchlines. They can be classified as forwards, considering their origin as the old "outside-forward" position, and continue to be termed as such in most parts of the world, especially in Latin and Dutch football cultures. However, in the British game (in which the 4–4–2 formation and its variants are most commonly used) they are usually counted as part of the midfield.
</p><p>It is a winger's duty to beat opposing <a href="/info/en/?search=Defender_(association_football)#Full-back" title="Defender (association football)">full-backs</a>, deliver cut-backs or <a href="/info/en/?search=Cross_(association_football)" title="Cross (association football)">crosses</a> from wide positions and, to a lesser extent, to beat defenders and score from close range. They are usually some of the quickest players in the team and usually have good dribbling skills as well. In Dutch, Spanish and <a href="/info/en/?search=Portugal" title="Portugal">Portuguese</a> usage, the defensive duties of the winger have been usually confined to pressing the opposition fullbacks when they have the ball. Otherwise, a winger will drop closer to the midfield to make themself available, should their team win back the ball.
</p>
<figure class="mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Mohamed_Salah_Ghaly.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Mohamed_Salah_Ghaly.jpg/160px-Mohamed_Salah_Ghaly.jpg" decoding="async" width="160" height="291" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Mohamed_Salah_Ghaly.jpg/240px-Mohamed_Salah_Ghaly.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Mohamed_Salah_Ghaly.jpg/320px-Mohamed_Salah_Ghaly.jpg 2x" data-file-width="608" data-file-height="1104" /></a><figcaption>An inverted winger, <a href="/info/en/?search=Mohamed_Salah" title="Mohamed Salah">Mohamed Salah</a> plays on the right wing, a position which allows him to cut inside to his stronger left foot.</figcaption></figure>
<p>In British and other northern European styles of football, the wide-midfielder is expected to track back all the way to their own corner flag should their full-back require help, and also to track back their marker, as well as tucking into the midfield when the more central players are trying to pressure the opposition for the ball. This is a large responsibility for attack-orientated players, and particularly those like <a href="/info/en/?search=Joaqu%C3%ADn_(footballer,_born_1981)" title="Joaquín (footballer, born 1981)">Joaquín</a> (winger/wide midfielder), or <a href="/info/en/?search=Ryan_Giggs" title="Ryan Giggs">Ryan Giggs</a> (winger/striker), and <a href="/info/en/?search=John_Barnes" title="John Barnes">John Barnes</a> (winger/central midfielder), who lack the physical attributes of a wing-back or of a more orthodox midfield player. As these players grow older and lose their natural pace, they are frequently redeployed as "number 10s" between the midfield and the forward line, where their well-honed ball control, technical skills, ability to create chances, and improved reading of the game in the final third can serve to improve their teams' attacking options in tight spaces. An example is <a href="/info/en/?search=Inter_Milan" title="Inter Milan">Inter Milan</a>'s use of veteran <a href="/info/en/?search=Lu%C3%ADs_Figo" title="Luís Figo">Luís Figo</a> behind one or two other attackers, either as a second striker or in a playmaking role as an attacking midfielder.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31">[31]</a></sup>
</p><p>In recent years there has been a trend of playing <a href="/info/en/?search=Inverted_Winger" class="mw-redirect" title="Inverted Winger">inverted wingers</a> – wide players stationed on the 'wrong' side of the pitch, in order to enable them to cut inside and <a href="/info/en/?search=Shooting_(association_football)" title="Shooting (association football)">shoot</a> on their stronger foot and sometimes provide in-swinging crosses. This tactic was used by <a href="/info/en/?search=Frank_Rijkaard" title="Frank Rijkaard">Frank Rijkaard</a>, who, whilst at <a href="/info/en/?search=FC_Barcelona" title="FC Barcelona">Barcelona</a>, moved <a href="/info/en/?search=Lionel_Messi" title="Lionel Messi">Lionel Messi</a> from the left flank onto the right wing, initially against the player's wishes. This allowed him to cut into the centre and shoot or cross with his left foot.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32">[32]</a></sup> Another example of a successful inverted winger partnership was <a href="/info/en/?search=Bayern_Munich" class="mw-redirect" title="Bayern Munich">Bayern Munich</a>'s pairing of the left-footed <a href="/info/en/?search=Arjen_Robben" title="Arjen Robben">Arjen Robben</a> alongside the right-footed <a href="/info/en/?search=Franck_Rib%C3%A9ry" title="Franck Ribéry">Franck Ribéry</a>, on the right and left flanks respectively.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33">[33]</a></sup>
</p><p>A description that has been used in the media to label a variation upon the inverted winger position is that of an "attacking", "false", or "goalscoring winger", as exemplified by <a href="/info/en/?search=Cristiano_Ronaldo" title="Cristiano Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> and <a href="/info/en/?search=Gareth_Bale" title="Gareth Bale">Gareth Bale</a>'s roles on the left and right flank during their time at Real Madrid in particular. This label has been used to describe an offensive-minded inverted winger, who will seemingly operate out wide on paper, but who instead will be given the freedom to make unmarked runs into more advanced central areas inside the penalty area, in order to get on the end of passes and crosses and score goals, effectively functioning as a <a href="#Striker">striker</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34">[34]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35">[35]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36">[36]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37">[37]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38">[38]</a></sup> This role is somewhat comparable to what is known as the <i>raumdeuter</i> role in German football jargon (literally "space interpreter"), as exemplified by <a href="/info/en/?search=Thomas_M%C3%BCller" title="Thomas Müller">Thomas Müller</a>, namely an attacking-minded wide player, who will move into central areas in order to find spaces from which he can receive passes and score or assist goals.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39">[39]</a></sup>
</p><p>The "false winger" or "seven-and-a-half" is instead a label which has been used to describe a type of player who normally plays centrally, but who instead is deployed out wide on paper; during the course of a match, however, they will move inside and operate in the centre of the pitch, in order to drag defenders out of position, congest the midfield and give their team a numerical advantage in this area, so that they can dominate possession in the middle of the pitch and create chances for the forwards; this position also leaves space for full-backs to make overlapping attacking runs up the flank. <a href="/info/en/?search=Samir_Nasri" title="Samir Nasri">Samir Nasri</a>, who has been deployed in this role, once described it as that of a "non-axial playmaker".<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40">[40]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41">[41]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42">[42]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43">[43]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44">[44]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45">[45]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46">[46]</a></sup>
</p><p>On occasion, the role of an offensive winger can also be occupied by a different type of player. For example, certain managers have been known to use a "wide target man" on the wing, namely a large and physical player who usually plays as a centre-forward, and who will attempt to win aerial challenges and hold up the ball on the flank, or drag full-backs out of position. <a href="/info/en/?search=Jostein_Flo" title="Jostein Flo">Jostein Flo</a> epitomizes this role so much so that a tactic was named after him – <a href="/info/en/?search=Flo_Pass" class="mw-redirect" title="Flo Pass">Flo Pass</a>. <a href="/info/en/?search=Egil_Olsen" title="Egil Olsen">Egil Olsen</a>, while managing the <a href="/info/en/?search=Norway_national_football_team" title="Norway national football team">Norway national football team</a>, positioned Flo, usually a centre-forward, on the right flank to exploit the opposition full-backs' lack of aerial abilities. Another example is <a href="/info/en/?search=Mario_Mand%C5%BEuki%C4%87" title="Mario Mandžukić">Mario Mandžukić</a>, a natural centre-forward, who was used on the left flank under manager <a href="/info/en/?search=Massimiliano_Allegri" title="Massimiliano Allegri">Massimiliano Allegri</a> at Juventus during the 2016–17 season, as well as the following season. Unlike wide target men of earlier eras, Mandžukić was also tasked with pressing opposing players.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47">[47]</a></sup> <a href="/info/en/?search=Romelu_Lukaku" title="Romelu Lukaku">Romelu Lukaku</a> has also been used in this role on occasion.<sup id="cite_ref-FM1_48-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FM1-48">[48]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="False_9">False 9</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg/220px-Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg/330px-Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg/440px-Leo_Messi_v_Granada_2014.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a><figcaption><a href="/info/en/?search=Lionel_Messi" title="Lionel Messi">Lionel Messi</a> (front, no. 10) has been a proponent of the false 9 position to much success in recent years.</figcaption></figure>
<p>A <i>false 9</i>, similar to a more advanced attacking midfielder/playmaker role, is an unconventional lone striker or centre-forward, who drops deep into midfield. The purpose of this is that it creates a problem for opposing <a href="/info/en/?search=Defender_(association_football)#Centre-back" title="Defender (association football)">centre-backs</a> who can either follow the false 9, leaving space behind them for onrushing midfielders, forwards or wingers to exploit, or leaving the false 9 to have time and space to dribble or pick out a pass. The term comes from the traditional number for centre-forwards (nine), and the fact that normally a centre-forward traditionally stayed near the line of <a href="/info/en/?search=Defender_(association_football)" title="Defender (association football)">defenders</a> until they got an opportunity to move past them toward goal.<sup id="cite_ref-thefalse9.com_49-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-thefalse9.com-49">[49]</a></sup> Key attributes for a false 9 are similar to those of a deep-lying striker: dribbling ability to take advantage of space between the lines, good short passing ability to link up with the midfield and vision to play through teammates making runs from deep to goal.
</p><p>The first false 9 in a World Cup was <a href="/info/en/?search=Juan_Peregrino_Anselmo" class="mw-redirect" title="Juan Peregrino Anselmo">Juan Peregrino Anselmo</a> in the <a href="/info/en/?search=Uruguay_national_football_team" title="Uruguay national football team">Uruguay national team</a>, although he could not play the match against <a href="/info/en/?search=Argentina_national_football_team" title="Argentina national football team">Argentina</a> in the <a href="/info/en/?search=1930_FIFA_World_Cup" title="1930 FIFA World Cup">1930 World Cup</a> due to injury. <a href="/info/en/?search=Matthias_Sindelar" title="Matthias Sindelar">Matthias Sindelar</a> was the false 9 of the <i>Wunderteam</i>, the <a href="/info/en/?search=Austria_national_football_team" title="Austria national football team">Austria national team</a>, in 1934.<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50">[50]</a></sup> In South America, in 1941, River Plate's <a href="/info/en/?search=La_M%C3%A1quina" title="La Máquina">La Máquina</a> team started using the left winger <a href="/info/en/?search=Adolfo_Pedernera" title="Adolfo Pedernera">Adolfo Pedernera</a> as a man of reference. When Pedernera transferred to <a href="/info/en/?search=Club_Atl%C3%A9tico_Atlanta" title="Club Atlético Atlanta">Atlanta</a>, a young <a href="/info/en/?search=Alfredo_Di_St%C3%A9fano" title="Alfredo Di Stéfano">Alfredo Di Stéfano</a> took his place.<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51">[51]</a></sup> A false 9 was also utilised by <a href="/info/en/?search=Hungary_national_football_team" title="Hungary national football team">Hungary</a> at the beginning of the 1950s, with striker <a href="/info/en/?search=N%C3%A1ndor_Hidegkuti" title="Nándor Hidegkuti">Nándor Hidegkuti</a> acting in the role as a deep-lying centre forward.<sup id="cite_ref-false9History_52-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-false9History-52">[52]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-false9Best_53-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-false9Best-53">[53]</a></sup> In 1953, English football was astounded by the <a href="/info/en/?search=Hungary_national_football_team" title="Hungary national football team">Hungarian</a> team which beat <a href="/info/en/?search=England_national_football_team" title="England national football team">England</a> <a href="/info/en/?search=England_v_Hungary_(1953)" class="mw-redirect" title="England v Hungary (1953)">6–3</a> at <a href="/info/en/?search=Wembley_Stadium" title="Wembley Stadium">Wembley Stadium</a>. The <a href="/info/en/?search=Revie_Plan" title="Revie Plan">Revie Plan</a> was a variation on the tactics used by the Hungarians, involving <a href="/info/en/?search=Don_Revie" title="Don Revie">Don Revie</a> playing as a deep-lying centre-forward. Revie started attacks by coming into the centre of the field to receive the ball, drawing the opposing <a href="/info/en/?search=Centre-half" class="mw-redirect" title="Centre-half">centre-half</a> out of position. The role can also be compared to the false role in which Hidegkuti operated. The system was first implemented by the Manchester City reserve team, who using the system went unbeaten for the last 26 games of the <a href="/info/en/?search=1953%E2%80%9354_in_English_football" title="1953–54 in English football">1953–54</a> season. Before the start of the <a href="/info/en/?search=1954%E2%80%9355_in_English_football" title="1954–55 in English football">1954–55</a> season, Manchester City manager <a href="/info/en/?search=Les_McDowall" title="Les McDowall">Les McDowall</a> called his team into pre-season training two weeks early to try the new tactic. Manchester City lost their first game using the system 5–0, but as the players became more used to the system it started to become more successful. Using the system Manchester City reached the <a href="/info/en/?search=1955_FA_Cup_Final" class="mw-redirect" title="1955 FA Cup Final">1955 FA Cup Final</a>, but lost to <a href="/info/en/?search=Newcastle_United_F.C." title="Newcastle United F.C.">Newcastle United</a> 3–1. The following year City again reached the final where they played <a href="/info/en/?search=Birmingham_City" class="mw-redirect" title="Birmingham City">Birmingham City</a>, this time winning 3–1.<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54">[54]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55">[55]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56">[56]</a></sup>
</p><p>Throughout his career, <a href="/info/en/?search=Johan_Cruyff" title="Johan Cruyff">Johan Cruyff</a> was often deployed in a free role as a centre-forward with Ajax, Barcelona, and the Netherlands in the 1970s in <a href="/info/en/?search=Rinus_Michels" title="Rinus Michels">Rinus Michels</a>'s fluid 1–3–3–3 formation, which was a key and trademark feature of the manager's <i><a href="/info/en/?search=Total_Football" title="Total Football">total football</a></i> system; although Cruyff was a prolific goalscorer in this position, he also frequently dropped deep to confuse his markers and orchestrate attacks, or moved out onto the wing in order to create space for other teammates' runs, which has led certain pundits to compare this role retroactively as a precursor to the modern false 9 role.<sup id="cite_ref-false9History_52-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-false9History-52">[52]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-false9Best_53-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-false9Best-53">[53]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Turn_57-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Turn-57">[57]</a></sup>
</p><p><a href="/info/en/?search=Michael_Laudrup" title="Michael Laudrup">Michael Laudrup</a> was occasionally used as a lone centre-forward in Johan Cruyff's Barcelona <i>Dream Team</i>, a role which was similar to that of the modern false 9 role.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58">[58]</a></sup>
</p><p><a href="/info/en/?search=A.S._Roma" class="mw-redirect" title="A.S. Roma">Roma</a> under manager <a href="/info/en/?search=Luciano_Spalletti" title="Luciano Spalletti">Luciano Spalletti</a> used <a href="/info/en/?search=Francesco_Totti" title="Francesco Totti">Francesco Totti</a>, nominally an attacking midfielder or <i>trequartista</i>, up-front in an innovative "4–6–0" formation in the mid-2000s;<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59">[59]</a></sup> this was met with a run of 11 consecutive victories.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60">[60]</a></sup>
</p><p>At <a href="/info/en/?search=UEFA_Euro_2012" title="UEFA Euro 2012">Euro 2012</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Spain_men%27s_national_football_team" class="mw-redirect" title="Spain men's national football team">Spain</a> manager <a href="/info/en/?search=Vicente_del_Bosque" title="Vicente del Bosque">Vicente del Bosque</a>, although sometimes deploying <a href="/info/en/?search=Fernando_Torres" title="Fernando Torres">Fernando Torres</a> as a traditional striker, often used <a href="/info/en/?search=Cesc_F%C3%A0bregas" title="Cesc Fàbregas">Cesc Fàbregas</a> as a false 9 in several matches, including <a href="/info/en/?search=UEFA_Euro_2012_Final" class="mw-redirect" title="UEFA Euro 2012 Final">the final</a>. By the end of 2012, the false 9 had gone "mainstream" with many clubs employing a version of the system. Barcelona's <a href="/info/en/?search=Lionel_Messi" title="Lionel Messi">Lionel Messi</a> has been an epitome of the false 9 position to much success in recent years, first under coach <a href="/info/en/?search=Pep_Guardiola" title="Pep Guardiola">Pep Guardiola</a> and later under his successor <a href="/info/en/?search=Tito_Vilanova" title="Tito Vilanova">Tito Vilanova</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61">[61]</a></sup> Brazilian forward <a href="/info/en/?search=Roberto_Firmino" title="Roberto Firmino">Roberto Firmino</a> was later also successfully used in the false 9 position under manager <a href="/info/en/?search=J%C3%BCrgen_Klopp" title="Jürgen Klopp">Jürgen Klopp</a> at Liverpool.<sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62">[62]</a></sup>
</p><p>One approach to stop false 9s has been to create congestion in the midfield by bringing several players back into a more defensive role in an attempt to deny them space needed to create plays, notably in <a href="/info/en/?search=Jos%C3%A9_Mourinho" title="José Mourinho">José Mourinho</a>'s "parking the bus" strategy.<sup id="cite_ref-thefalse9.com_49-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-thefalse9.com-49">[49]</a></sup>
</p><p>In Italian football jargon, this role is historically known as the <i>centravanti di manovra</i> (which literally translates to "manoeuvring centre-forward").<sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-63">[63]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64">[64]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Target_forward">Target forward</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>The term "<b>target forward</b>" or "<b>target man</b>" is often used to describe a particular type of striker or centre-forward whose main role is to win high balls in the air, hold up the ball, and create chances for other members of the team in addition to scoring goals themselves.<sup id="cite_ref-targetManRef1_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-targetManRef1-6">[6]</a></sup> These players are usually tall and physically strong, adept at heading the ball, and capable of playing with their back to goal in the final third of the pitch. Some of the most high-profile examples of this type of players in modern football include <a href="/info/en/?search=Olivier_Giroud" title="Olivier Giroud">Olivier Giroud</a> and <a href="/info/en/?search=Fernando_Llorente" title="Fernando Llorente">Fernando Llorente</a>, both <a href="/info/en/?search=FIFA_World_Cup" title="FIFA World Cup">World Cup</a> winners, with the former having played the entire <a href="/info/en/?search=2018_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2018 FIFA World Cup">tournament</a> as a starting line-up forward tasked primarily with pressing, counter-pressing, winning high or loose balls, and providing key passes to quicker and more agile teammates, namely <a href="/info/en/?search=Antoine_Griezmann" title="Antoine Griezmann">Antoine Griezmann</a> or <a href="/info/en/?search=Kylian_Mbapp%C3%A9" title="Kylian Mbappé">Kylian Mbappé</a>. Another example of a striker who played in this position is <a href="/info/en/?search=Didier_Drogba" title="Didier Drogba">Didier Drogba</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-65">[65]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66">[66]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67">[67]</a></sup> However, not any tall and/or physically strong player feels comfortable in the role of a "target man", despite having all the necessary features. Such forwards as <a href="/info/en/?search=Zlatan_Ibrahimovi%C4%87" title="Zlatan Ibrahimović">Zlatan Ibrahimović</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Romelu_Lukaku" title="Romelu Lukaku">Romelu Lukaku</a>, and <a href="/info/en/?search=Erling_Haaland" title="Erling Haaland">Erling Haaland</a> have all rejected the term when applied to specifically them, with Ibrahimović preferring to be described as an attacking all-rounder, while Lukaku and Haaland have said to favour poaching goals rather than physical play.<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68">[68]</a></sup>
</p><p>As stated above, the target forward is a player who does not run or look to make runs as compared to other forwards. Typically they are strong, tall, and physical players. Usually, the build-up play of a target forward will often consist of one of the following options: firstly, the goalkeeper will either launch a long kick or distribute the ball to a central defender or full-back. From there, the <a href="/info/en/?search=Defender_(association_football)" title="Defender (association football)">defender</a> will play a long ball to the striker, either in the air or ground. The target forward usually has perfected their ability to provide first touches of the ball on all areas of the body. They will control the ball and provide holdup, which allows their teammates to transition forward. From here, they may create more opportunities such as passing the ball backwards and creating space by moving around defenders, making combination plays with a "false 9", midfielders, or wingers, or turning and facing the goal and attempting to score by dribbling or shooting.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69">[69]</a></sup> Because of their strength and physicality, target forwards may be defended against by <a href="/info/en/?search=Marking_(association_football)" title="Marking (association football)">man-to-man marking</a>. Sometimes the central defender of the opposing team will be of similar strength and height, which makes the matchup more evenly based. Due to this man-to-man marking, target forwards are often fouled and receive many calls from the referee.
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Striker_combinations">Striker combinations</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Mbappe_Messi_Neymar.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Mbappe_Messi_Neymar.jpg/220px-Mbappe_Messi_Neymar.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="185" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Mbappe_Messi_Neymar.jpg/330px-Mbappe_Messi_Neymar.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Mbappe_Messi_Neymar.jpg/440px-Mbappe_Messi_Neymar.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3204" data-file-height="2700" /></a><figcaption><a href="/info/en/?search=Paris_Saint-Germain_F.C." title="Paris Saint-Germain F.C.">Paris Saint-Germain</a>'s MNM strike team of <a href="/info/en/?search=Kylian_Mbapp%C3%A9" title="Kylian Mbappé">Kylian Mbappé</a> (no. 7), <a href="/info/en/?search=Lionel_Messi" title="Lionel Messi">Lionel Messi</a> (no. 30) and <a href="/info/en/?search=Neymar" title="Neymar">Neymar</a> (no. 10)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Dzeko_kickoff.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Dzeko_kickoff.jpg/220px-Dzeko_kickoff.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Dzeko_kickoff.jpg/330px-Dzeko_kickoff.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Dzeko_kickoff.jpg/440px-Dzeko_kickoff.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4896" data-file-height="3672" /></a><figcaption>The <a href="/info/en/?search=Edin_D%C5%BEeko" title="Edin Džeko">Edin Džeko</a> (blue, no. 10) and <a href="/info/en/?search=Sergio_Ag%C3%BCero" title="Sergio Agüero">Sergio Agüero</a> (no. 16) duo for <a href="/info/en/?search=Manchester_City_F.C." title="Manchester City F.C.">Manchester City</a> (2011–2015) is a recent example of a striker partnership made up of a taller and more physically imposing player combined with a shorter and technically gifted partner.<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70">[70]</a></sup></figcaption></figure>
<p>Strike teams consist of two or more strikers who work together. The history of football has been filled with many effective combinations. Three-man teams often operate in "triangles", giving a wealth of attacking options. Four-man packages expand options even more. Strikers must also be flexible, and be able to switch roles at a moment's notice, between the first (<i>advanced penetrator position</i>), second (<i>deep-lying manoeuvre</i>) and third (<i>support and expansion, e.g. wings</i>) attacker roles.
</p><p>Another example was the <a href="/info/en/?search=Total_Football" title="Total Football">Total Football</a> played by the Dutch team in the 70s, where the ability of their players, and in particular <a href="/info/en/?search=Johan_Cruyff" title="Johan Cruyff">Johan Cruyff</a>, to swap positions allowed a flexible attacking approach which opposition teams found difficult to effectively mark.<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71">[71]</a></sup>
</p><p>In a two-player front line, it is common for two forwards who complement one another to be paired together; for example, former Italy manager <a href="/info/en/?search=Cesare_Maldini" title="Cesare Maldini">Cesare Maldini</a> often used a large, physical, and prolific player as a traditional <a href="#Centre-forward">centre-forward</a> – such as <a href="/info/en/?search=Christian_Vieri" title="Christian Vieri">Christian Vieri</a> – alongside a smaller, faster, creative and more technical player as a <a href="#Second_striker">second striker</a> – such as Roberto Baggio or Alessandro Del Piero.<sup id="cite_ref-alla_Zidane_21-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-alla_Zidane-21">[21]</a></sup>
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<figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/info/en/?search=File:Olympic_women%27s_soccer_final_2012.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Olympic_women%27s_soccer_final_2012.jpg/220px-Olympic_women%27s_soccer_final_2012.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Olympic_women%27s_soccer_final_2012.jpg/330px-Olympic_women%27s_soccer_final_2012.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Olympic_women%27s_soccer_final_2012.jpg/440px-Olympic_women%27s_soccer_final_2012.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2830" data-file-height="2121" /></a><figcaption><a href="/info/en/?search=Alex_Morgan" title="Alex Morgan">Alex Morgan</a> (no. 13) and <a href="/info/en/?search=Abby_Wambach" title="Abby Wambach">Abby Wambach</a> (no. 14); Morgan and Wambach combined for 55 goals in 2012 – matching a 21-year-old record set in 1991 by <a href="/info/en/?search=Michelle_Akers" title="Michelle Akers">Michelle Akers</a> (39 goals) and <a href="/info/en/?search=Carin_Jennings" class="mw-redirect" title="Carin Jennings">Carin Jennings</a> (16 goals) as the most goals scored by any duo in <a href="/info/en/?search=United_States_women%27s_national_soccer_team" title="United States women's national soccer team">U.S. women's team</a> history.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Another similar example of an effective partnership at international level was that of <a href="/info/en/?search=Alex_Morgan" title="Alex Morgan">Alex Morgan</a> and <a href="/info/en/?search=Abby_Wambach" title="Abby Wambach">Abby Wambach</a> with the <a href="/info/en/?search=United_States_women%27s_national_soccer_team" title="United States women's national soccer team">United States national team</a>, who scored a combined 55 goals in 2012, matching a 21-year-old record set in 1991 by <a href="/info/en/?search=Michelle_Akers" title="Michelle Akers">Michelle Akers</a> (39 goals) and <a href="/info/en/?search=Carin_Jennings" class="mw-redirect" title="Carin Jennings">Carin Jennings</a> (16 goals) as the most goals scored by any duo in <a href="/info/en/?search=United_States_women%27s_national_soccer_team" title="United States women's national soccer team">U.S. WNT</a> history.<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72">[72]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73">[73]</a></sup>
</p><p>One of the most prolific forward combinations in the history of the game was the front three of Barcelona, <a href="/info/en/?search=Lionel_Messi" title="Lionel Messi">Lionel Messi</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Luis_Su%C3%A1rez" title="Luis Suárez">Luis Suárez</a> and <a href="/info/en/?search=Neymar" title="Neymar">Neymar</a>, dubbed <i>MSN</i>. On average they scored a goal every 45 minutes – two goals per game from the three forwards.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74">[74]</a></sup> The trio scored a record-breaking 131 goals in one season for Barcelona during <a href="/info/en/?search=2015%E2%80%9316_FC_Barcelona_season" title="2015–16 FC Barcelona season">2015–16</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-75">[75]</a></sup> In 2017, <a href="/info/en/?search=Kylian_Mbapp%C3%A9" title="Kylian Mbappé">Kylian Mbappé</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Neymar" title="Neymar">Neymar</a>, and <a href="/info/en/?search=Edinson_Cavani" title="Edinson Cavani">Edinson Cavani</a> scored a record-breaking number of goals for <a href="/info/en/?search=Paris_Saint-Germain_F.C." title="Paris Saint-Germain F.C.">Paris Saint-Germain</a> in the <a href="/info/en/?search=UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">Champions League</a> group stage.<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76">[76]</a></sup> The next year, the <a href="/info/en/?search=Liverpool_F.C." title="Liverpool F.C.">Liverpool</a> attacking quartet of <a href="/info/en/?search=Roberto_Firmino" title="Roberto Firmino">Roberto Firmino</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Mohamed_Salah" title="Mohamed Salah">Mohamed Salah</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Sadio_Man%C3%A9" title="Sadio Mané">Sadio Mané</a> and <a href="/info/en/?search=Philippe_Coutinho" title="Philippe Coutinho">Philippe Coutinho</a>, dubbed the "Fab Four" (in reference to <a href="/info/en/?search=The_Beatles" title="The Beatles">the Beatles</a>), contributed to a record-breaking 47 goals for a single Champions League season.<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77">[77]</a></sup>
</p><p><i>MSN</i> is known to be one of the most successful striker combinations in the history of football. However, <i>BBC</i> was often compared as the same elite level of forwards. The combination consisted of <a href="/info/en/?search=Karim_Benzema" title="Karim Benzema">Karim Benzema</a>, <a href="/info/en/?search=Gareth_Bale" title="Gareth Bale">Gareth Bale</a>, and <a href="/info/en/?search=Cristiano_Ronaldo" title="Cristiano Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>. During the height of their success with Spanish team <a href="/info/en/?search=Real_Madrid_CF" title="Real Madrid CF">Real Madrid</a>, they were frequently compared to <i>MSN.</i> The two striker combinations played on long time rivals teams Real Madrid and Barcelona,<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78">[78]</a></sup> both of which are considered some of the best football clubs of all time. Of the prolific trio, <a href="/info/en/?search=Karim_Benzema" title="Karim Benzema">Karim Benzema</a> typically played the center forward position, while <a href="/info/en/?search=Cristiano_Ronaldo" title="Cristiano Ronaldo">Ronaldo</a> and <a href="/info/en/?search=Gareth_Bale" title="Gareth Bale">Bale</a> played as inverted or outside forwards, so they were able to cut into the center with their dominant side. Between the two trios <a href="/info/en/?search=Lionel_Messi" title="Lionel Messi">Lionel Messi</a> has won the most <a href="/info/en/?search=Ballon_d%27Or" title="Ballon d'Or">Ballon d'Or</a> trophies, while <a href="/info/en/?search=Cristiano_Ronaldo" title="Cristiano Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> has won the second most of these trophies, at 5.<sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79">[79]</a></sup> BBC rivaled MSN throughout the 2010s in the <a href="/info/en/?search=La_Liga" title="La Liga">La Liga</a>, as well as the <a href="/info/en/?search=UEFA_Champions_League" title="UEFA Champions League">UEFA Champions League</a>.
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Defensive_capabilities">Defensive capabilities</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<p>Although the striker is mainly an offensive position in many cases, they still play critical roles for defense that are often overlooked. Strikers can be involved in tactics such as high-pressing, cutting out passing lanes, defending set pieces, and tracking back (mostly for wingers). For high-pressure, this tactic is employed when the opposing team without the ball will defend the team all the way to their back line of defenders so that they have little area to pass or perform play buildup. Strikers will usually be at the forefront of this high-pressing movement and will attempt to direct ball movement. As part of this high-pressing technique, they can also cut out passing lanes. This means that they will position their bodies in-between an outside defender and central defender or midfielders and center defenders so that the opposing player is not able to pass the ball or make a play. By performing this method, they can effectively force the opposing team to one area of the pitch and create better opportunities for the opposing team to turn the ball over. They are heavily used in the "delay, coverage, balance, and concentration principles of football" through a variety of methods. According to the delay principle of defense in football is the idea that players should disturb the ball holder and block passing lanes, which is done in high-pressing and closing down. Closing down is the ability of a player to very quickly start defending the opposing player with the ball. This usually falls under the concentration principle of football, so strikers must be able to start defending the opposing team very high up in the opposing half.<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80">[80]</a></sup> Although many believe strikers are not very involved in defensive strategies, they greatly help with "gathering defense to protect vital zones from progression of offensive actions, direct play to less vital zones, and allow for a regain of ball possession."<sup id="cite_ref-81" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-81">[81]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection">
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<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFCox2010" class="citation news cs1">Cox, Michael (5 March 2010). <a class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190726020823/http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/05/teams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007/">"Teams of the Decade #5: Roma, 2007"</a>. Archived from <a class="external text" href="https://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/05/teams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007/">the original</a> on 26 July 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 August</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Teams+of+the+Decade+%235%3A+Roma%2C+2007&rft.date=2010-03-05&rft.aulast=Cox&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zonalmarking.net%2F2010%2F03%2F05%2Fteams-of-the-decade-5-roma-2007%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFSmyth2016" class="citation news cs1">Smyth, Rob (17 September 2016). <a class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/17/ronaldo-40-birthday-brazil-greatest-ever-striker">"Ronaldo at 40: Il Fennomen's legacy as greatest ever No 9, despite dodgy knees"</a>. <i>The Guardian</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 September</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Guardian&rft.atitle=Ronaldo+at+40%3A+Il+Fennomen%27s+legacy+as+greatest+ever+No+9%2C+despite+dodgy+knees&rft.date=2016-09-17&rft.aulast=Smyth&rft.aufirst=Rob&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ffootball%2Fblog%2F2016%2Fsep%2F17%2Fronaldo-40-birthday-brazil-greatest-ever-striker&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-targetManRef1-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-targetManRef1_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-targetManRef1_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a class="external text" href="https://www.sportslingo.com/sports-glossary/t/target-man/">"Target Man Definition In Soccer - Meanings & Examples From SportsLingo.com"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Target+Man+Definition+In+Soccer+-+Meanings+%26+Examples+From+SportsLingo.com&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportslingo.com%2Fsports-glossary%2Ft%2Ftarget-man%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a class="external text" href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/15115/10303502/zlatan-ibrahimovic-to-manchester-united-what-will-he-bring">"Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United: What will he bring? | Football News"</a>. <a href="/info/en/?search=Sky_Sports" title="Sky Sports">Sky Sports</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 August</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Zlatan+Ibrahimovic+to+Manchester+United%3A+What+will+he+bring%3F+%26%23124%3B+Football+News&rft.pub=Sky+Sports&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skysports.com%2Ffootball%2Fnews%2F15115%2F10303502%2Fzlatan-ibrahimovic-to-manchester-united-what-will-he-bring&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Mancini:_THE_NUMBER_10-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Mancini:_THE_NUMBER_10_12-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFMancini" class="citation web cs1">Mancini, Roberto. <a class="external text" href="https://www.robertomancini.com/en/calciatore-2/il-numero-10.html">"THE NUMBER 10"</a>. www.robertomancini.com<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">8 December</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=THE+NUMBER+10&rft.pub=www.robertomancini.com&rft.aulast=Mancini&rft.aufirst=Roberto&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.robertomancini.com%2Fen%2Fcalciatore-2%2Fil-numero-10.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-musica-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-musica_16-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFMura1996" class="citation news cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source">Mura, Gianni (14 October 1996). <a class="external text" href="https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/10/14/dribbling-tiro-la-musica-di-djorkaeff.html">"Dribbling e tiro. È la musica di Djorkaeff"</a> [Dribbling and shooting. This is the music of Djorkaeff]. <i>la Repubblica</i> (in Italian). p. 36.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=la+Repubblica&rft.atitle=Dribbling+e+tiro.+%C3%88+la+musica+di+Djorkaeff&rft.pages=36&rft.date=1996-10-14&rft.aulast=Mura&rft.aufirst=Gianni&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fricerca.repubblica.it%2Frepubblica%2Farchivio%2Frepubblica%2F1996%2F10%2F14%2Fdribbling-tiro-la-musica-di-djorkaeff.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source"><a class="external text" href="https://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1998/agosto/04/Inter_esame_gioiellino_Owen_ga_0_9808041948.shtml">"l' Inter fa l' esame al gioiellino Owen"</a> [Inter tests the little jewel Owen]. <i>La Gazzetta dello Sport</i> (in Italian). 4 August 1998<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 December</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=La+Gazzetta+dello+Sport&rft.atitle=l%27+Inter+fa+l%27+esame+al+gioiellino+Owen&rft.date=1998-08-04&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Farchiviostorico.gazzetta.it%2F1998%2Fagosto%2F04%2FInter_esame_gioiellino_Owen_ga_0_9808041948.shtml&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-coppia-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-coppia_18-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFPiva1998" class="citation news cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source">Piva, Gianni (3 March 1998). <a class="external text" href="https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1998/03/03/ronaldo-djorkaeff-mai-la-stessa-coppia.html">"Ronaldo e Djorkaeff mai la stessa coppia"</a> [Ronaldo and Djorkaeff never the same pair]. <i>la Repubblica</i> (in Italian). p. 50.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=la+Repubblica&rft.atitle=Ronaldo+e+Djorkaeff+mai+la+stessa+coppia&rft.pages=50&rft.date=1998-03-03&rft.aulast=Piva&rft.aufirst=Gianni&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fricerca.repubblica.it%2Frepubblica%2Farchivio%2Frepubblica%2F1998%2F03%2F03%2Fronaldo-djorkaeff-mai-la-stessa-coppia.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Shed_no_tears_for_Teddy-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Shed_no_tears_for_Teddy_19-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFBarclay2003" class="citation web cs1">Barclay, Patrick (11 May 2003). <span class="id-lock-subscription" title="Paid subscription required"><a class="external text" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2401463/Shed-no-tears-for-Teddy.html">"Shed no tears for Teddy"</a></span>. <i>The Telegraph</i>. <a class="external text" href="https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2401463/Shed-no-tears-for-Teddy.html">Archived</a> from the original on 10 January 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 December</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Telegraph&rft.atitle=Shed+no+tears+for+Teddy&rft.date=2003-05-11&rft.aulast=Barclay&rft.aufirst=Patrick&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2F2401463%2FShed-no-tears-for-Teddy.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a class="external text" href="https://www.calciomercato.pro/news/roberto-baggio-allenare-l-italia-non-si-sa-mai-826328">"AdTech Ad Roberto Baggio:| 'Allenare l'Italia? Non si sa mai'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i>Calciomercato.pro</i>. May 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">12 January</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Calciomercato.pro&rft.atitle=AdTech+Ad+Roberto+Baggio%3A%26%23124%3B+%27Allenare+l%27Italia%3F+Non+si+sa+mai%27&rft.date=2011-05&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calciomercato.pro%2Fnews%2Froberto-baggio-allenare-l-italia-non-si-sa-mai-826328&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-alla_Zidane-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-alla_Zidane_21-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-alla_Zidane_21-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite id="CITEREFBeccantini1998" class="citation news cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source">Beccantini, Roberto (14 June 1998). <a class="external text" href="https://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,27/articleid,0550_01_1998_0161_0031_7340355/">"Robi "alla Zidane"<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i>La Stampa</i> (in Italian). p. 27.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=La+Stampa&rft.atitle=Robi+%22alla+Zidane%22&rft.pages=27&rft.date=1998-06-14&rft.aulast=Beccantini&rft.aufirst=Roberto&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.archiviolastampa.it%2Fcomponent%2Foption%2Ccom_lastampa%2Ftask%2Csearch%2Fmod%2Clibera%2Faction%2Cviewer%2FItemid%2C3%2Fpage%2C27%2Farticleid%2C0550_01_1998_0161_0031_7340355%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a class="external text" href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197254.stm">"Positions guide: Behind the striker"</a>. BBC Sport. 1 September 2005<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">21 June</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Positions+guide%3A+Behind+the+striker&rft.date=2005-09-01&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Fsport1%2Fhi%2Ffootball%2Frules_and_equipment%2F4197254.stm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Platini:_Baggio,_Il_Fu_Nove_E_Mezzo-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Platini:_Baggio,_Il_Fu_Nove_E_Mezzo_24-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1215172403"><cite class="citation web cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source"><a class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130604152313/http://www.eatsport.net/2012/roberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo/">"Platini: Baggio, Il Fu Nove E Mezzo"</a> (in Italian). Archived from <a class="external text" href="https://www.eatsport.net/2012/roberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo/">the original</a> on 4 June 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 June</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Platini%3A+Baggio%2C+Il+Fu+Nove+E+Mezzo&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eatsport.net%2F2012%2Froberto-baggio-il-nove-e-mezzo%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AForward+%28association+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div>
<div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Association_football_forwards" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Association football forwards">Association football forwards</a></span>.</div></div>
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Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node) | false |
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp) | '1714204693' |