Freeing the edge for attempts at goal

This new series explores the various strategies for attacking corners, using routines adopted at the recent FIFA World Cup Qatar as examples. The first article analyses eventual winners Argentina and the strategies they devised to create space along the edge of the penalty area.

This article will focus on one particular tactic that proved effective in several games, helping Argentina to create a number of good chances and leading to a goal against Mexico. Argentina frequently opted not to deliver the ball straight into the penalty area. Instead, they played shorter passes with the aim of finding Enzo Fernández (24) unmarked on the edge of the penalty box.

Argentina play a sequence of shorter passes to Enzo Fernández (24).

Commit 5-6 players to attack in tiered formation.
Engage player-for-player markers with multiple attackers.
Overload front post or win flick-on at front post.
Use third man for short corners
Target front post or centre of goal

Play short, using defenders to get onto deep crosses.
Link up around the box to free space for Enzo on edge of area.
Use technical ability of Messi and Di María to get good ball to the front post and/or shoot at goal.

In the first clip below, Argentina start with three players located towards the back post area, and with their two centre-backs jogging up slowly to arrive late into the same area. This creates an expectation among the defenders that they might be about to deliver the ball towards the back post, which leads the defenders to concentrate in that area. Meanwhile, on the edge of box, Lionel Messi (10) is picked up and tracked by the one Dutch defender on the edge of the penalty area as he positions himself for a short corner. While this is going on, Fernández starts to drift from a deeper position towards the free space on the edge of the penalty area.

Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández (24) waits until all the opposition players are committed to their starting positions before moving into the space where he wants to receive the ball.

Before the two centre-backs arrive, Argentina play the ball quickly to Messi. The defender marking him realises he has left the edge of the penalty area unprotected, so he passes Messi on to another defender and tries to get back to the edge of the area. Messi plays the ball to Fernández, who is unmarked on the edge of the penalty area and goes on to take an unchallenged left-foot shot that is deflected over the bar.

In the next clip, Argentina execute the same routine, but this time their players start from different positions. In this example, the centre-backs are already in situ in the penalty area. They also have a player stationed on the ball-side corner of the penalty area, and he becomes the most immediate threat to the sole Dutch defender patrolling the edge of the penalty area. Again, Fernández hangs back to create the illusion that he is not really a threat. This time, Messi starts from inside the box and makes a run to receive the ball, dragging his marker with him. As soon as Messi receives the ball, the Argentina player on the corner of the penalty area makes a decoy run into the box, dragging the defender at the edge of the area with him. This all leaves Fernández completely free to take another shot at goal unopposed; this time he is denied by the width of the post.

Argentina use decoy movements and different starting positions to ensure Fernández (24) is free to receive the ball and get a shot away from the edge of the penalty area.

The last two clips in this article show two further examples of this corner routine; one that leading to an off-target shot against Poland (Clip 3), and a slight variation of the same routine that resulted in a goal against Mexico (Clip 4). In this example, Mexico send two players out to defend the short corner, and Fernández recognises he can exploit the space behind those two players. This time, when he receives the ball at the edge of the area, he carries it into the penalty box before firing into the far corner of the net.

Argentina utilise the space available to create a goal-scoring opportunity from an attacking corner.

In these examples, Argentina's players demonstrated great awareness. They understood exactly what they wanted to achieve, and were able to read how their opponents would respond to the positions they took up at attacking corners. They were able to use decoy movements to disturb their opponents' defensive structure and create space for Enzo Fernández, a player whose ability to strike the ball hard and accurately with both feet make him a major threat from range.

Clip 1: Argentina play short via Messi to Fernández, who executes a left-footed strike at goal.

Clip 2: Again, Fernández is free on the edge of the penalty to take a right-footed shot at goal.

Clip 3: Here, Fernández receives the ball a little further from the edge of the penalty area but his attempt at goal is off target.

Clip 4: Argentina score against Mexico after the Mexicans send two players out to defend against a short corner, freeing up space for Fernández to exploit.