Colombia: Playing between the lines and ball progressions

Playing at a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ for the third time, Colombia opened their 2023 campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over Korea Republic. Their powerful attacking play originated in cleverly crafted spaces between the lines, from which the Superpoderosas could then release their dynamic forward players. They ignited the crowd with clever rotations and by progressing their play through an array of fast ball carries, take-ons and step-ins. 

• To break the lines of an organised defensive structure, teams need a variety of solutions so they can play through, around or over their opposition. When up against a compact defence, attacking teams need to take up positions and make runs that can disrupt their opponents' shape and create space.

• By creating and moving the ball into spaces inside their opponents' team shape and between their defensive and midfield lines, attacking teams reduce the number of defenders between the ball and the goal, and create opportunities to progress the ball to dangerous areas of the pitch.

• Structured defences aim to protect the central part of the pitch, and are often prepared to concede space in wide areas. Attacking teams can use this space to break lines by playing around their opponents' team shape. 

• Against a 5-3-2, a 4-2-3-1 can create 2v1 overloads on the opposition wing-back using their full-backs and wide forwards.

• Attacking players can also become the overloading player by isolating and taking on defenders to beat them 1v1. When this happens, it forces the other defenders to change their roles, thus giving an advantage to the attacking team. 

According to Wilson, Colombia's attacking strategy in this game against Korea Republic was built upon two key pillars. "Firstly, they focused on receiving the ball in the space between Korea Republic's defensive and midfield lines," she said. "This tactical positioning allowed them to advance into the final third of the pitch.

"Secondly, Colombia utilised their wide players to create 1v1 situations, aiming to exploit these moments to generate goal-scoring opportunities. By engaging the defenders in isolated duels on the flanks, they maximised their chances of breaking through the opposition’s defence and scoring important goals."

In the next section, Wilson uses clips and data to break down the various elements of Colombia's effective game plan, and explains how they managed to implement it successfully.

The way Columbia wanted to start play was clear in this game. They often commenced their attacks from their goalkeeper with accurate long passes towards their forward line, most notably centre-forward Usme (11) and wide forward Ramírez (9).

Colombia's starting positions from their goal-kicks were a key factor in their ability to create space between their opponents' defensive and midfield lines. Keeping their four defenders and defensive midfielder low down the pitch enticed South Korea's front two to position themselves high up the field and look to apply pressure if the South Americans looked to play out short. At the same time, their remaining five outfield players pushed higher; Colombia's two wide forwards started on the outside of Korea Republic's back five, while their two attacking midfielders occupied their opponent's midfield line. Starting in this shape opened up the space between the South Korean defensive and midfield lines, where Usme (11) was keen to compete for the ball. It also meant they had two midfield players close by to help secure second balls or to receive passes from their centre-forward.

As Wilson explains, "During open play, the centre-forward displayed tactical flexibility by dropping back into the midfield. This allowed them to create a numerical advantage in that area of the field, forming an overload and allowing them to secure possession and exploit the gaps to create attacking opportunities into the final third from wide areas." This pattern is clearly visible in the clips at the end of this section.

Receiving between the lines centrally
Colombia's primary objective was to compete for the first and second balls in their target areas. Once possession was secure, they looked either to pass into their wide forwards or attack the wide areas and create 1v1s in the final third.

As evidenced in the clips, both Usme (11) and Ramírez (9) used their upper-body strength to shield the ball from the central defender coming in after them. They were able to keep the ball under close control before executing passes to release their wide forwards into the wide channels, or to help them get in behind the opposition defensive line.

This proved a hugely successful tactic for Colombia throughout the match. They completed 4.43 receptions between their opponents' defensive and midfield lines for every minute they were in possession. This figure ranks 19th across all performances in this World Cup so far and in the whole of the 2019 tournament.  In total, they completed 102 receptions between their opponent’s defensive and midfield lines in the game. Wide forward Ramírez (9) received the ball in this space 27 times in the game, more often than any other player, while Usme (11) had 18 receptions between these lines. 

In total, Colombia completed 48 line breaks by playing over Korea Republic's lines. This is the highest figure in this tournament to date, and the joint second highest dating back to the beginning of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™.

Using the transition to get wide players on the ball
The principle of creating and exploiting space between their opponents' lines was also applied during Colombia’s transitions to attack.

As Wilson explains, "Colombia's primary objective during the transition to attack was to advance the ball forward quickly and exploit the spaces in the [South] Korean defensive line, particularly by delivering the ball to their wide forwards. Once the wide forwards received the ball, they utilised their speed and power to take on the wing-back, engaging them directly and aiming to exploit the space behind."

As shown in the third clip below, when Colombia win the ball back and establish possession, they play over Korea Republic’s lines to their centre-forward who immediately looks to bring their wide players into the game. Clip 4 provides a further example of Colombia's commitment to bringing their wide players into the game to progress the ball, and demonstrates how their forward players consistently occupied the space between the opposition's defensive and midfield lines. 

Once Colombia had the ball in wide areas, they were able to use their wide forwards and full-backs to create overloads on the Korea Republic’s wing-backs. This often resulted in South Korea's central midfielders being dragged across to try to provide cover, which led them to leave gaps in central areas.

Of all players in the game, both of Colombia's wide forwards and both of their full-backs were ranked in the top four for receptions of the ball outside the opposition's team shape. This is indicative of their ability to progress play by playing over or around the opposition defence, depending on the situation.

Take ons, step ins and running with the ball

In addition, Colombia's wide forwards demonstrated an outstanding ability to isolate, take on and beat defenders in 1v1 situations.

Crucially, both players were able to do this under pressure, and by getting past the first defender they forced other defenders to make uncomfortable decisions and protect bigger spaces. Having players with the ability to isolate and beat defenders 1v1s is an extremely disruptive attacking threat in a team.

Both players were also able to switch sides, meaning they posed different threats to defenders on opposite sides of the pitch. Colombia started the game with Ramírez on the left and Caicedo on the right, but they swapped over later in the half, meaning they could challenge defenders by going outside them and by cutting inside, forcing them onto their weaker foot.

As Wilson explains, it is incredibly difficult to defend against players with this ability. "Colombia's wide forwards Ramírez (9) and Caicedo (18) demonstrated exceptional technical abilities, complemented by their speed and strong physicality. Their ability to perform step-ins [and] take-ons, and to run with the ball, resulted in several threatening moments for the Korea Republic’s defensive line. 

“Both players could skilfully beat the first defender and then could attack and exploit the space behind them, allowing them to cut inside and link up with their centre-forward or central midfielders, or even take a shot on goal. This tactical approach posed significant challenges to the Korean defence, as Colombia's dynamic attacking style and the ability to penetrate the gaps kept them under constant pressure and facilitated the creation of numerous goal-scoring opportunities.”

Mayra Ramírez (9)
Ramírez made more progressive ball carries than any other player in the match (6), and also completed three successful step-ins. Of Ramírez's 59 receptions of the ball, 50 (85%) were completed under pressure from opposition players, with 20 (34%) under direct pressure. Ramírez was effective both inside and outside of Korea Republic’s team shape, with 47% of her receptions occurring outside of that shape.

Linda Caicedo (18)
Eighteen-year-old Linda Caicedo accumulated a total of six ball progressions in this match, and attempted the highest number of take-ons 1v1 of any player (4). She also performed two step-ins, including one that led to her goal, which can be seen in the clip below.

Caicedo's goal-scoring moment was momentous. Not only was it her first appearance and first goal at a FIFA Women’s World Cup, it was also significant because it meant she had played in and scored at all three FIFA Women’s World Cups (senior, U20 and U17) in the previous 11 months. This represents a unique achievement for a talented player. With the right support as she progresses in the game, she will surely flourish in the future.