Effective transitioning from low and mid-blocks under direct pressure

In this series of articles, we will highlight interesting and effective tactical strategies, and provide insight into the technical components displayed by players and teams as they execute their game plans.

Our first article centres on an intriguing first-round match in the men’s competition, and focuses on Morocco’s ability to transition to attack effectively and dangerously from a low defensive block against a strong Argentina side.

According to Sue Ronan, “A particularly striking feature of this strategy, was the clarity and understanding of roles by individual players when transitioning from defending deep in a compact, narrow shape, to explosive, forward actions following a possession regain. What was even more impressive, was their technical ability to do this when experiencing aggressive counter-pressing from their opponents.”

Morocco’s compact, narrow, low-block shape served two purposes. Firstly, it ensured there was no space centrally for Argentina to play through, and secondly, when they won the ball back, their players were in close proximity to each other and capable of moving the ball quickly to escape Argentina’s counter-press and unlock passing lanes for out-balls into vacant space. 

As Ronan explains, “As soon as they won the ball back, Morocco’s players were able to complete fast, accurate passes in very tight spaces and could do this under direct pressure from their opponents. Players on the ball could play off one and two touches while supporting players worked hard to create passing lanes, making offers and movements to receive.

“They recognised that Argentina were unbalanced defensively (due to having players committed to attacking positions) on these transitions and once they broke the counter-press, they were astutely aware of where the space was, particularly on the opposite side, and could release the ball into these areas with additional runners looking to exploit this territory.”

In the clips below, we see examples of these transitions to attack, which exhibit three key principles:

• Compact defensive shape allowing for quick passes in possession

• Ability to play forward under pressure and break lines

• Use of the opposite wide player, providing width for an out-ball

Clip 1 shows Morocco defending deep in a 1-4-4-1-1 low-block shape. As soon as they regain possession, the close proximity of the players to each other, coupled with their technical ability to play under pressure, enables them to triangulate a series of short, sharp passes that allows them to escape their opponent’s counter-press. Once central midfielder Oussama Targhalline (14) receives the ball in space and on the half turn, he opens the pitch releasing left-back Zakaria El Ouahdi (11) into open territory. With Argentina’s defensive structure unbalanced, Morocco progress the ball forward with fast, line-breaking passes and supporting forward runs, while maintaining a balanced rest defence with numerical superiority. 

Clip 2 is another good example of Morocco’s efficiency and game awareness. Once again, they are deployed in a deep, low block and experience strong counter-pressing after regaining possession inside their penalty area. Forward Ilias Akhomach (10) demonstrates each players’ dual responsibilities superbly, firstly by winning the ball back, and then by beating the counter-press with his ability to dribble and pass forward under direct pressure to break lines. Wide on the left, Eliesse Ben Seghir (7) maintains width in his supporting run into space, before receiving and progressing the attack against Argentina’s unbalanced defence.

Once Morocco went 2-0 up early in the second half, there was a slight shift in their approach. With a more urgent need to score, Argentina started to commit some players further up the pitch, including their full-backs.

Ronan explains, “Morocco clearly wanted to defend this lead and became even more compact and aggressive in their defensive blocks, but interestingly, they recognised the space left vacant by their opponent’s advanced defenders and actively targeted it on their transitions to attack. They began to play forward into these spaces much quicker, with their wide players making early attacking runs into those spaces once the ball was won back. 

“These progressions into the wide corners of Argentina’s defensive third allowed time for support players to join the attack, although they did exercise more caution in terms of the numbers of players that were committed forward, instead opting for greater numbers in their rest defense,” she noted.

In the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, players must be born on or after 1 January 2001, with the exception of three permitted overage players. Right-back Achraf Hakimi (2) is one of Morocco’s over-age players and his experience was also a key factor in some of these moments of transition. 

Ronan explains, “Because space was so limited by Morocco’s mid- and low blocks in the centre of the pitch, Argentina tried to advance play in the wide areas and Hakimi was particularly influential when they tried to do this on his side. When defending, he was aggressive and proved effective at disturbing his opponent’s build-ups. The way Morocco’s players provided support for each other, in both defensive and attacking phases, was impressive and Hakimi was a key player in these moments.

“He provided back-up for players who were pressing but when they won the ball back, he also supported the players in possession by getting into positions to receive and running with the ball himself to get his team out of tight areas. He used his experience to advance play when they had numbers in support, but also drew fouls when isolated, to help get his team up the pitch and get some respite from defending,” she added.

In clip 4 below, we see an example of Hakimi moving and offering to receive immediately after a possession regain. He breaks forward with the ball, relieving the pressure on his defense and giving his team some attacking momentum. To maintain balance in their rest defense, it is noteworthy how midfielder Amir Richardson (18), who normally advanced to support attacks, stays back to cover the space vacated by the right-back.

Morocco proved to be very efficient at protecting the central space near their own goal, using compact, narrow low and mid-blocks. When they engaged their press and won the ball back, their players demonstrated the technical proficiency required to play their way out of tight spaces, despite being counter-pressed aggressively. Their players used their close proximity to each other to defend cohesively and to counter-attack efficiently, showing the tactical acumen to recognise where space had become available and then progressing the ball to these areas.