Who is a lateral in football
This is a player who operates all over the flank. That is, the defensive and attacking functions lie on his shoulders. Most often, laterals are used when playing three central defenders in a 3-5-2 formation. This scheme is very popular in the Italian championship. This trend is gradually being transferred to other championships. The term came to us from the Italian language. It literally means "side". The Russian language has its own term "brovochnik", which is used very rarely.
Features of playing lateral
The lateral position requires a lot of energy. Players have to do a lot of work, covering long distances. Lateral must effectively play both in defence and attack. You understand, that the task is very difficult.
There are very few players in football who can play well in this position. Therefore, many teams abandon the 3-5-2 formation due to the lack of quality laterals. By the way, if you are a die-hard fan and bet on sports, we recommend you to visit the sports rating betting sites in India and benefit from one of the trusted bookmakers.
What is the difference between lateral and full back?
In modern football, defenders are often involved in attack, perform crosses and pass into the box. Why can't they be called laterals? What is the difference between lateral and full back?
The fact is that the full-back acts in conjunction with the winger. That is, the defender and winger share the curb for two. The defender assists his partner in the attack, expanding the attacking potential of the team on the flank. The lateral acts alone along the entire flank. He must create sharpness in the last third of the pitch (perform crosses and passes into the box), as well as manage to fulfil his defensive functions.
What are the functions of lateral in football?
- does not allow the opponent to create sharpness from the flank (make dangerous crosses and passes, beat “one to one”);
- support attack, creating the necessary width;
- goes to dribble in the last third of the pitch, sharpening the attack;
- perform crosses and passes into the opponent's penalty area.
What qualities are needed for a lateral?
- intransigence in duels;
- high starting and distance speed;
- ability to beat “one to one”;
- high stamina;
- ability to make good crosses and passes;
- ability to properly dose their efforts.
Lateral is not just a runner that stupidly rushes back and forth along the flank. This is a smart player who understands when to support the attack, and when it is better to stay back.
The best laterals of world football. There are very few good laterals in football, so these players are very appreciated in the team. Having good laterals on your team allows choosing various tactical schemes for the game. So, let's emphasize the best lateral players of modern football:
Juan Cuadrado (Juventus, Italy). Before moving to Juventus, Cuadrado played as an attacking midfielder. With the arrival to the Italian team, Juan mastered a new lateral position for himself. Now the Colombian is one of the best laterals in world football.
Jordi Alba (Barcelona, Spain). Barcelona does not play a 3-5-2 formation, but Jordi Alba has the whole left flank at his disposal. The Spaniard's attacking performances are a serious weapon of the Catalans. Jordi sharpens the game perfectly: he makes dangerous crosses and often finds himself in a striking position.
Yuri Zhirkov (Russia). In Russian football, the best lateral is the ageless Yuri Zhirkov, who, despite his age, continues to show a good performance and is called up to the Russian national team. Do you want more interesting stories about football? Go to the best football portal in India and subscribe for news updates.
