England’s Jude Bellingham scores for Borussia Dortmund against Manchester City in the Champions League. Watch how the midfielder anticipates the flight of the ball, between 2 static defenders to get a touch on the ball right in front of the goalkeeper to give them no chance on saving it. A great example of how a forward player gambling can pay off.
In these highlights from West Ham v Tottenham in the Premier League watch the West Ham (in the claret shirts) goal, what do you notice about it?
The goal comes from a quickly taken throw in, 7 seconds after it is taken the ball is in the net. Watch again, keep your eyes peeled for the West Ham’s right back, the number 5, who runs over and takes the throw in quickly before the Tottenham team are set up. As the player takes the throw in the Tottenham player in front of them has their back to the ball, they have no idea the throw in is about to be taken! From this we can learn, when it’s our throw ins look for opportunities to get the play restarted quickly to catch the opposition off guard. When we’re defending get set quickly and try to always face the ball.
England’s Lionesses end their World Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing win against Luxembourg in their first game back on home soil after the Euros win. Watch how the team cut through their opponents by passing the ball quickly and moving into space. Also when they lose the ball they rush to win possession back as quick as possible giving the opposition no time on the ball.
Highlights as England’s Lionesses booked their place in the final with a comprehensive win over tournament favourites Sweden. Despite the score line Sweden had some good moments, but England goalkeeper Mary Earps made a couple of crucial saves in the first minute with the score at 0-0 and in the second half with the score at 2-0.
England’s Lionnesses produce a record breaking performance against a good Norway side. Watch how they find weaknesses in the opposition by moving the ball quickly to exploit spaces behind the Norway defence.
Nottingham Forest (in the bright yellow) took an early lead against Sheffield United (red and white stripes) with this goal, watch the clip and think how could the defending team have prevented this goal? Scroll down after you’ve had a think…
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What did you think? Here are my thoughts… as the ball is crossed the Sheffield United number 23 slips, leaving 2 Forest players free to eventually score. This is unfortunate but accidental things like this can happen, the chance could have been prevented much earlier in the play. Watch from the very start of the clip, the Sheffield United number 4 dives into a tackle, this allows the Forest player to ‘chop’ past them, before playing a lobbed through ball over the defence for the forward to chase. The Forest forward timed their run well to stay onside. Now watch the Sheffield United number 6 who is marking the Forest player who is running towards the by line, they’re more focused on pushing the player than what is happening with the ball. They end up pushing the Forest player but don’t block the ball. Had they not close as close and focused on getting them self between the ball and the goal they would have probably blocked the ball and conceded a corner instead.
With 89 minutes on the clock in the second leg of the Champions League semi Real Madrid were about to be knocked out of the competition. Losing 1-0 on the night, and 5-3 on aggregate against Manchester City, they needed 2 goals to take the game to extra time. In 89 minutes of the game they hadn’t managed a shot on target, but… they kept going, kept trying and sensationally managed to score 2 goals in 2 goals to take the game to extra time, before getting and scoring a penalty in extra time to win the game.
It only takes a few seconds to score a goal, keep trying and keep playing until the very end.