There are different types of strikers.
Brazil’s Romario and Germany’s Janker both have the same role, but work through their own methods.
Effective forwards do share some basic characteristics significant for their success:
1. Positioning – there are plenty of attackers who lack skills but score simply because of their positioning. Watch any productive striker and you will see that he can read the game quickly and anticipate plays. This greatly increases his chances of scoring. For example, at the moment when a shot is taken, the attacker closest to goal should immediately run at the enemy goalkeeper in case he mishandles the ball. This is how the first goal of the 2002 World Cup final was scored by Brazilian striker Ronaldo.
2. Operating under pressure – good attackers can do their job even if you limit their space and time. Some may use their speed, others will shield the ball or use fancy tricks. How you deal with enemy pressure determines to a large extent your "style."
3. Finishing touch – some skill is required in order to be effective as an attacker. The most important technical ability for the job is one-touch finishing. Having a hard long-range shot means nothing if in order to execute it, you need to have the ball set up for you. Effective strikers can score from any position and with all parts of their body. Applying a preparation touch is rarely an option at the higher levels of the game. by Expert 21:42:02 Sunday 18 July 2004 |
