Total soccer is a game idea that was developed by the legendary Dutch coach Rinus Michels in the 1970s. This philosophy is based on the idea that every player on the field must be able to perform every task on the field, regardless of the assigned role.
Total soccer was developed as a response to the conservative tactics that were common at the time. The goal was to create a game that was extremely offensive and that would allow players to move freely across the field, in order to constantly create opportunities to score
.Total soccer is based on four fundamental principles: pressure, coverage, movement and creativity.
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The first principle, pressure, means that the team that plays total soccer tries to prevent the opponent from having control of the ball. This is done through the use of aggressive pressing and team play, in order to force the opponent to make mistakes
.The second principle, coverage, means that each player must be able to cover their role, but also that of their teammates in case of need. This allows the team to have a flexible organization, where players can move freely and support each other
.The third principle, movement, means that every player must be able to move effectively, whether with or without the ball. Total soccer players are constantly trying to create spaces for their teammates and to free themselves from the opposing score.
The fourth principle, creativity, means that players must be able to use their imagination and find innovative solutions to overcome the opponent. This requires close attention to game situations and the ability to make quick decisions
.Total soccer requires that every player on the team has great technical ability and a good tactical understanding of the game. This means that players must be able to pass, dribble and shoot effectively, but also be able to read game situations and
make quick decisions.An example of a team that successfully adopted the philosophy of total soccer was the Netherlands in the 70s, led by Rinus Michels. The team reached the final of the world championship in 1974, where it lost to West Germany. The Dutch team has been admired for its offensive and spectacular style of play, which has influenced many teams around the world
.In addition, total soccer has also influenced the tactics of the modern game. Today, many teams try to adopt elements of the philosophy of total soccer.
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