Strike Teams and Combinations
A strike team is two or more strikers who work well together to devastating effect. The history of football has been filled with many effective combinations. Two-player partnerships, such as Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole of the 1999 Manchester United treble winning squad, are well known, but also important to any attack are bigger groups of players who form distinct strike packages. Three-man teams often operate in "triangles", giving a wealth of attacking options. Four-man packages expand options even more.
Whatever the number of players involved, the strikers must possess good technical skills, be creative, and have a hunger for goal. Strikers must also be flexible, and be able to switch roles at a moment's notice, between the first (advanced penetrator position), second (deep-lying manoeuvre) and third (support and expansion, e.g. wings) attacker roles.
Shown here is one of the most potent strike teams of the 20th century – Pelé, Jairzinho and Tostão of Brazil. During Brazil's 1970 campaign, centre forward Tostão played the advanced penetration role of first attacker as described above in the article. Pelé often dropped back into midfield not only to escape tight marking but to draw his markers with him, opening gaps and helping create attacks. The third attacker - the winger Jairzinho - often took an advanced position but specialized in working the right side of the field.
In the semi-final against the ultra-defensive Uruguay, it is Pelé who takes on the role of target man, dropping infield to receive from Jairzinho. Tostão becomes the second attacker and Pelé finds him with a soft back-heel. Jairzinho meanwhile becomes the most advanced man, sprinting far upfield to receive Tostão's pass. This tight exchange put Jairzinho through for a goal, and illustrates how three strikers can work together to blow open the tightest defences.
Another example was the Total Football played by the Dutch team in the 1970s, where the ability of their players, and in particular Johan Cruijff, to swap positions allowed a flexible attacking approach which opposition teams found difficult to effectively mark.
Read more about this topic: Forward (association Football)
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