The train and blocker

Senegal were perhaps the team to make best use of the classic corner-kick tactic known as “The train”, which involves the attacking players setting up in a straight line (thus forming the train) before each making a different attacking run to a specific area.

In this setup, the player closest to goal is not usually looking at the ball and often does not even face towards goal; their role is to help the runners coming in from the bunch behind them by blocking the defenders, or by doing just enough to stop them tracking the players they are supposed to be marking.

Because of the starting positions and trajectory of the attacking runs, markers usually try to occupy an area where they can see their designated player and get close to them before they can connect with the incoming ball. The starting position of the train can make it impossible for the defending players to see both the ball and the player they are marking at the same time.

Senegal’s “train” routine for attacking corners.

Attacking with 5-6 players
Sometimes using short options and crossing to the player at the back of the train
Main target zone is the centre of the box, where they try to block the defenders.

One player starts facing away from goal - his job is to keep defenders away from his team-mates.

Senegal have four players in the train here, as well as one covering the front post and two players at the edge of the penalty area.

The clips in this article show four examples of this distinctive attacking corner routine. In the first video, taken from their final group game against Ecuador, the attacking players start from just behind the penalty spot, making it difficult for the defending players to stay touch-tight while trying to spot the incoming ball. The attacking players make a variety of runs while the blocker tries to impede the defenders to stop them tracking these movements.

The next iteration of the train comes from Senegal’s encounter with the Netherlands. Here the blocker starts a few yards apart from the train, which includes four attacking players. Again, all four players make different runs, but unfortunately for the Lions of Teranga, the out-swinging delivery fails to reach the back post, where the Senegalese runner has lost his marker.

Senegal were not far away from scoring with either of these corners, and if any proof were needed as to how effective their train could be, their opening game against Qatar provides it. In the third clip, the hosts just about manage to keep their goal intact, as the blocker manages to release the striker and his first-time effort flashes just wide of the post.

Qatar’s luck would not hold for much longer, though. In the final clip, taken from the same match, Senegal vary the routine slightly by adjusting the starting position of the train at the same time as changing the target player and delivery. The basic principle of the move is still the same, though, as the players in the train make a variety of runs to clear the target area of defenders, and this time it works perfectly. In a clever, well-executed move, Senegal’s blocker gets the target player free of his marker by simply standing his ground. At the same time, the change of run and delivery deceive the Qatari defenders to such an extent that they do not even compete to win the first contact with the incoming delivery, and Farama Diédhou (19) heads into the far corner of the net virtually unopposed.

Clip 1: Senegal use a four-man train attacking corner routine against Ecuador.

Clip 2: Senegal get a player free to the back post area from ‘the train’ set-up but the delivery does not connect.

Clip 3: Senegal almost score after their blocker manages to help the target player get free of his marker.

Clip 4: Senegal score from a variation of The Train by changing the delivery and the attacking run.