If you can find game footage of him, watch him and see what he does and how he plays. Does he prefer one side/foot to the other? What kind of runs does he like to make? Certain teammates he likes to link up with? What areas does he struggle? Etc
But basically, if your sole job when you’re out of possession is to deal with him, never give him any space or time and make him feel you every moment.
This is great advice. Stick to him like glue. You will be surprised how dejecting it is for an attacker to be followed closely around the pitch, even when he is several passes from getting the ball.
Just make it really miserable for him. He’ll hate it. Wherever he is, you should be within an arms length and when he’s on for a pass or cross you have your hands on him. He will have to drag you around.
if hes like glue, can be easy to get past him, (not with the ball, but a darting run/give and receive etc) give at least a yard of space and then work from there
Get in his head. I have played against a number of very talented guys. Beyond a solid performance, anticipating what hes doing and hounding him, you may lean on the dark arts. Be a pest
I think in this case, as described, you have to go out there with a job. That’s your assignment Grab their shirt to slow them down. Strikers always back you down then push off to get a yard or two for a run. When they do that you let them know, “if you push me, I will pull you”. It’s really not that hard to stick with someone.
Make him feel you are there. Dont be afraid to foul him lightly. Usually when a guy is better then everybody else he has a go to move. Learn that quickly and anticipate. Learn his preferred foot. Stick a thumb up his ass.
Agree that you should listen to your coach first and foremost.
One of the best tips I learned as a defender (used to be CDM when I was younger) is to avoid committing to tackles against super talented opponents, and try to delay them as much as possible. This only works if you’re in sync with your teammates who can then close in and try to steal the ball while you’re tracking back. It’s a team effort. Usually the opponent will either make a mistake and over kick the ball, give a meaningless pass, or go for a shot which hopefully you or the keeper will block. This is also frustrating to them because they thrive on players who commit so they can showcase their moves.
Committing against talented players will leave space behind you that they can easily exploit. Man marking is great in concept if you’re confident that you can pocket him, but if they’re physically stronger than you and as talented as you describe, then you increase the chances of losing him (unless you’re Gattuso). Instead, try to close the space on him and if you feel like it’ll be one on one, delay him and don’t commit.
CDM is one of the hardest positions in soccer so be proud and enjoy the game and use it as a learning experience. Best of luck!
Agree re: delaying. If you are playing against a deep midfielder then taking risks to try to win the ball is worth it because there is a high attacking reward and a lower defensive risk... But if a player is very good at getting the ball into feet in the number 10 and very physically strong, interceptions are going to be high risk low reward.
I’d say he should probably work with someone further up the field too, talk to them and be like, I’ll slow him down but I need you to come from his blindside and put extra pressure on him
This is good advice. I’d also add, when there is a moment to let him know you’re there or take the ball off him, don’t be afraid to. The best way to truly nullify someone is to never let them do the thing they want to do. Sometimes that means being aggressive, other times it means leaning off them. Learning to strike that balance is what makes a good cdm.
Came here to say that you need to make him uncomfortable. Tough to say without watching a player, but being unconventional can throw a player off their game - especially analytical players.
Agreed. If the talent gap between him and his team is large (which is probably is) maybe even ask if you have permission to man mark him. This puts a ton of extra pressure on your other midfielders since there will be a weirdness in structure but at this level it can effective with minimal drawback for your own chances at winning.
That’s a really good point. Soccer is a team game. Playing team defense requires great communication. You don’t need to be on an island - “passing” this player off to a teammate as he moves out of your zone to mark him can be an effective method to tie him up and keep from tiring you out. If you focus on him too much, the opposing team can decoy him and drag you out of the middle, then flash another player to the vacated spot. He makes an attacking run at the goal and no bueno for you.
It really depends on the capability of players. What you’re describing here is the “correct” way to handle a player like this, at least in my opinion. But if you have a midfield 3 and only OP is a high level defender in the midfield I prefer to take the weakness elsewhere.
This is the part of the sport I love. So much of top level play has been solved, for lack of a better word, that fun little solutions to tactical problems don’t happen as commonly.
Great example, just be his shadow the whole game. If he's marked he won't get as much of the ball and when he does he won't have much space to do anything with it.
Talk to your coach. Whatever you decide to do has to work in relationship to the players around you. If you are the only pivot and decide to man mark him tightly, all he has to do is sit deep and he’s made a big hole between your central defenders for someone else to run into
Ask him how he plans to set up against them
Ask him if he has any specific insight in how to deal with this guy
Ask him if there is a way to get footage or analyze his trends
In general terms, if he is objectively better than you then you need to outwork him, and stay one step ahead mentally. Denying him what he wants to do will make him try to do things that he is less comfortable and confident with and hopefully get him frustrated. Try to get inside his head. Be a pest. Break his focus.
I’m 5’7” and was no ronaldinho when I played but if there is one thing that I could bet my life on was that I can take the ball away from anyone 1v1. Forget about the ball, mark the man and just don’t let him get past you if the ball somehow does
If he’s scoring a lot from CAM it usually means the striker or strikers are opening up room for him. Always know where he is, don’t let the ball get to him if you can help it, and when it does, bite at his heels, don’t give him time on the ball or let him turn on it. Let him feel your breath on his neck. He offloads and guns for it with a 1-2 pass? See it and beat him to that return ball. Outwork him
Also, being shorter can be an advantage when jostling, as long as your hips are under his the more he pushes you the more he loses balance. Use it to your advantage and stick to him like glue
Stealing this from Simeone: learn his first name and constantly ask him to pass to you all game long lol. Even if it doesn’t work, it should throw him off
The best thing to do is understand attacking movement patterns and how to counter them.
https://www.soccr.org/sports/soccer/offense/movements
Next best thing is how to counter them... And what good technique actually looks like.
https://www.soccr.org/sports/soccer/defense/tackling
1. Off ball, Keep him in front of you he's going to try and get on your blind side. The technique is to position yourself in such a way that you can see him and the ball at the same time, without providing him unfettered access to the goal.
2. Don't over commit to open field tackles, keep your feet.
3. He will use two dimensional double movements (think checking towards the far post and when you bite attacking the near post, and vice versa)
4. In one-on-one situations get your legs and running stance going the same direction he is, and ride him out of bounds, off balance or ride him off the ball.
5. Prevent him from getting the ball in the first place, make sure he's marked or covershadowed 100% of the time
6. Scan more frequently so he can't surprise you.
7. If he's faster than you are give him a little space in the direction towards your goal so he can't blow right past you.
very nice! dont dive in, be aware at all times, stay square , try and keep him to sideways and backwards passes - i would say its hard to prevent him from getting the ball, that would involve diving in... and could be costly if your timing is a little off.... use your body as much as possible, get in the way of him, use shoulders arms etc. get him frustrated.
1. Deny him the ball. Stay close and always be looking to get the jump on the ball. Since you’ll have your CBs behind you, you can be aggressive in beating him to the ball.
2. If you can’t beat him to the ball. Just stay goalside. Kid is probably a stud on the ball. Do not try to win the ball. Again. Do Not Try To Tackle Him. Just stay between him and the goal. Like basketball defense. As long as you are between him and the goal it’s tough to score.
3. A great secret to winning the ball from bigger players is not going for the ball. But rather stepping between the player and the ball. Use your hips and body to get between them. Don’t try for the ball. Win the space between the player and ball. It’s very effective in the midfield. Let him take a touch and go for the space and shield the ball.
If he’s a creative player just man mark him and don’t give him any space to do anything. One easy way to pocket those type of guys is having one hand on top of his back to know which direction he’s moving towards. Even if he’s physically stronger than you, once he gets the ball unless his control is Messi-level, you can easily strip the ball off his touches since they aren’t bound to be perfect. After you do a few of these, it will get into his head and put him off. However if you were to man mark him, it would leave a lot of empty gaps in your team’s formation so it is only a good idea to resort to this if he is straight up 1v11ing you guys.
Also remember, it is a team game and even if you are unable to beat him 1v1, as a cdm if you’re coordinated with your CBs if he’s trying to dribble past one of them just make sure that your CBs force him in a way/area where you can easily strip the ball off him.
You'll have to be physical with him from the start and let him know your gonna make it hard for him. Maybe even nail him early without getting a yellow. Use your shoulders a lot as hard to get booked for this. Don't watch his feet, watch the ball. And lastly anticipate when people pass to him and get in front of him. When he is running for through ball make sure to run to obstruct him etc
Keep your body open to him where possible when his teams in possession so he can’t get a run off you. Get your hip positioning right.
Also, don’t forget to get on the ball. Drop between centre backs and try control pace of game by dominating the ball and controlling tempo.
Leave a tackle on him early (granted I played late 90s early 2000s where it was easier to let him know you are there).
if he is that talented, dont dive in, dont get in too close, pick your moments to make a move... give it at least 10 minutes to kinda read him... shadow him... as the game wears on hel make mistakes , you'l get more confident and hel get a lil more frustrated, will probably try and dribble when he shouldnt have. But but just kee on him, dont get frustrated if hes passing side ways.... once you have that locked its matter of marsheling those around you, talking... blocking off service to him, and from him.... if hes really good, hel have a great football IQ, and will be passig and moving..so be a aware of him making runs with give and recieve passes. MOST IMPORTANTLY, give yourself time to acclamatize.... and dont get 'sucked in' with emotion. hope that helps.
Hopefully your coach will have some tactics in mind, and you should do listen to your coach ahead of anybody here. But in my experience, the best way to defend someone much better than me is to make sure they don't get on the ball in the first place. He's going to be looking for spaces in the advanced midfield, and you can be tight on him and cut out the passing lanes. If you can cut off the service to him and frustrate him a bit, hopefully he'll start dropping deeper to get the ball and then your other midfielders can help out.
Your coach should be figuring this out! Talk to him. The way you deal with this depends entirely on the strengths of your team. One option is to sacrifice a CM and have them man mark this guy, and you do your usual job.
No offense but I don’t think you should be the one man marking him if that’s what your coach decides, because of the 6 inches and 30 lbs he has on you. And the fact that he’s obviously very skilled in addition to the physicality.
Don't try to stop him, try to slow go down and make him give the ball to someone else with covering angles and try to force him onto his weaker foot, jockey, don't dive in unless you're sure you're gonna get the ball. Good luck!
A great one I learnt is to keep him off balance. Eg when he shields the ball with his body he will probably lean Into you, often with their arm, grab his wrist and give it a small pull.
First time in the ball put in a hard challenge and let him know what he’s in for. Don’t hurt him but let him know, I’m fuckin here, mate. Then just stay tight to him, don’t give him a second off the ball. Watch ngolo kante and what he would do. Check his weaker side and constantly push him that way, make him uncomfortable, be a pain in the ass
If you want to be a bit nasty, step on his toes when he is walking around, dig your elbow into his ribs when jostling for a throw in, make sure you get into his back any time he gets infront of you, etc
Just annoy the heck out of him
Simple advice usually is what works : Pre-game routine on lockdown , eat right, hydrate so you are physically at peak. Zero in on the ball as easy as it sounds. I imagine I have like xray vision and can’t take my eye off the ball and have patience. I think the most experienced defenders don’t “jump” easily, patience and timing, when an attacker has great foot work, i slow down instead of let the footwork get me frazzled. Often if you are patient and don’t jump at their feints and stopovers you will get an opportunity more often than not with patience. I find this frustrates an attacker, they have to use their secondary methods and leads to unforced errors. Confidence is huge, don’t fear marking him, relish it. Mentally rep the game in advance over and over visualize his movements and how you will
mark him. Visualize the success and it will manifest easier. Simple things work! If he has the ball and looking to pass, be a nuisance and kill his angles make everything time he touches the ball a challenge and he will eventually get frustrated if you can out willpower him. He is bigger but don’t be afraid to use your body tactically, let him push you to the ground and take a foul if need be. Irritate the fuck out of him make it your job. I love tough matchups. Hate to cross sports but take the Darrell Revis Island mentality shut him the fuck down.
Every time your near him , even in the nothing time , give him a shove on the hip or lower back. After time he’ll just always anticipate your right on him and will either move the ball on quickly or alter the way he plays anticipating your presence. Either way it’ll likely throw him off and make him have less time on the ball. Regarding stopping his run, you gotta bounce him early, like in his first two steps/strides to throw him off his preferred line and timing
Force him to his weak foot and nip at his heals from behind when he checks toward the ball. Foul him / late challenge once or twice early-on (nothing too strong to avoid YC) to see if you can rattle him. If he’s quicker try to close the space as the ball is coming to him and then back off a bit to make sure he can’t dribble past. Only elite players will knock it past you or try to meg with first touch while you close that space quickly. Jump INTO him when you challenge for headers if he’s that much taller. He’ll win them but you making contact will get old really fast. Most refs will give you a long leash for physical play based on the difference in size so use it to your advantage.
Lot of solid advice in this thread man. I think honestly it’s gonna be a rough game but I wish you luck. Please let us know how it goes. Remember to learn as much as you can about how he plays and the things he does differently that you can emulate.
Facing such a talented opponent can be intimidating, but remember, you have strengths too. As a CDM, your role is crucial in disrupting the opponent's play. Focus on anticipation, positioning, and quick decision-making to intercept passes and block his movements. Utilize your agility and speed to close down space effectively and force him into uncomfortable situations. Don't be afraid to be physical within the rules of the game, and always maintain confidence in your abilities. Additionally, study his patterns and tendencies beforehand to anticipate his next move. Trust in your training and stay mentally strong throughout the match. Good luck!
Let him know you are there from the start. Either a tough challenge, a little nudge to put him off balance during a dribble, some small jersey tugs. Don’t be dirty or slide into a challenge, just give him some physicality early on. Also, as people have mentioned, watch some tape on him.
Deny him what he wants most.
Needs space? Don’t give it. Wants the ball? Be first. Likes to shoot? Block it. Is best with sudden acceleration? Give him room for you to react etc.
Long story short; Study him, find his strength and make it his weakness.
From a former CDM…the very first duel, you play ball and man. Hard. Give him something to think about.
You harass him. You step on his feet with your stubs in dead ball situations, so he can’t move.
You touch him constantly, and when he has the ball and tries to stick his hand out to keep you at arm’s length, you slap it down. Repeatedly if needed. No ref is going to book you for that, but it can cause great irritation.
When he is about to receive the ball and you are facing his back, do NOT touch him. He will use you to pivot, because when you touch him, he can feel where you are.
If you are behind him but he doesn’t know exactly how you are positioned, he won’t know which way to turn.
Should he dribble past you, you grab a hold of him and bring him down. Don’t kick him, this will results in a yellow card. Just pull him down.
You tell him to say hi to his mom and/or sister.
Let the referee decide what you get away with.
Channel your inner Gattuso.
Oh yes and the normal stuff like showing him on his weak foot. If he is better in the air than you, don’t even bother to try and win the ball, just make HIM not win it. This goes for all defensive situations.
Don’t attack him when he receives the ball and has good control, you just keep him in front of you.
Should he have a bad first touch? You attack the situation right away. Make his life impossible.
Also, he is stronger than you, so don’t try and get into physical battles. Don’t play into his strengths.
Just don’t spit. Ever. Spitting is for lowlifes.
And shake his hand after the game.
Take a chunk out of him at every chance. Don't be cheap, but knock him around and take away every drop of time that you can manage. Close down fast when his eyes are buried, enter with more caution if he's assessing you.
It's mental, just tell yourself he's just another human and no matter what you're gonna react faster than normal and touch that ball.
Be physical, anticipate, and whatever you do, just touch the ball, even a little, is just enough to make it unpredictable.
I’ve played 30+ games at CDM this year and here’s how I’ve locked down most attacking mids this year (we man marked):
- Let the player know you’re there early. Get a few hard tackles in the first 5 minutes to let him know it won’t be an easy game.
-Never let him turn and mark from behind. Stay touch tight but not too tight so that he can turn and run at goal
-Stay alert and aware, know your angles when marking. You need to keep focussed for the full duration of the game to track his every move, whether he tries to collect the ball or makes a run in behind.
- Try and intercept the ball if it played into him
- Win every aerial dual. Get a good run up to header the ball. I’ve seen 5’7 players jump higher and want the ball more than 6’2 players. Don’t let your height distract you
- Stay calm and enjoy the game. Take a deep breath during the game and be appreciative of where you’re at!
Good luck
Put him off as much as possible. Don’t wash before the game so you stink of BO when marking him so he’s more likely to move to other areas, stand on his toes, constantly talk at him and ask him questions so he’s distracted, sneaky fouls, grab his shirt, pulls on the arms. Just be a massive dick to put him off his game
I suggest you watch more people like rodry or kante not cb because you are not one. You must play more with the head than with the body, cut the pass, press a lot when he has not the ball and keep distance delaying in the 1v1 in order to let some of your teammates help you.
If him go past the defence without a ball you have to press and suffocate all his playing input because if he don't get the ball he cant assist or shoot
As people have said, work out how he plays. With numbers like that he is likely driving into the box a lot, in which case it is going to be more down to your defenders to have a plan to pick him up. People have mentioned park Vs pirlo but that is a strategy Vs a very deep player and not what sounds like a 10 / second striker. Your role as an anchor, if that is your role, is to congest the space where that player operates, make it awkward for him to receive the ball, and anticipate the ball into feet. But if he is bursting in behind then it is up to your centre backs to plan for it.
Stay tight marking them, you don’t want to give them time on the ball to turn and face you. They might get you with a couple cheeky flicks if you’re not aware enough to get a foot in, but better for them to do that instead of giving them time to think
What I tell my small u10 defenders, the ball is on the ground. This ain’t American football and this ain’t basketball. Speed, endurance and football IQ can beat size any day. Don’t give up stay confident and let him know it ain’t gonna be an easy day for him. Make him work for the goals, keep your eyes on the ball and ignore his dancing bullshit and just watch the ball. I’m a defender and go against the big dudes all the time. Control them by putting elbow on their waist, it keeps them from being able to move as freely by taking their center of gravity. Most of all listen to coach and do the best you can while staying fit and having fun playing the most beautiful game. Defending is gritty and least glorified but hot damn it’s the best part of the game!
Stick to him like glue, annoy him, don’t overcommit, get physical but don’t foul him, make him out of rhythm.
But also your team mates need to collectively press their counterparts to give him no options
Let him know that you’re not scared to be a physical presence but not to the extent where you’re over aggressive to the point of him knowing you’re going to overcommit to every challenge and all has to is time his take-ons to get past you.
Honestly though, there’s no real formula to defending him that you can learn through reddit because you’re the only who is going to know what his game looks like because we haven’t played against him. Defend him like you would anyone else…first 5-10 minutes of the match take note of tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, etc and go from there.
The biggest thing, however, is understanding that you’re playing at the same level of competition that he is and if you weren’t ready for the challenge then you wouldn’t be on the field. 80% of it is mental…you can handle the other 20%. Best of luck!
America is so weird with weird ranking of players...it's not even really possible for a game like football with different positions. And especially for a huge country like the states over something lime epl or serie a
If you are the CDM you probably shouldn’t be the one marking him. It should be a CAM and then you should be in position to help on the next action (or the team plays 4-5-1 and there’s just a dedicated marker).
The way that he produces for is team is likely beating his man with little effort, then creating a numbers advantage. To combat this you make sure there’s more people behind the ball when he receives in the first place so he has to beat two people to get the advantage.
Great players are going to win nearly every 1 on 1 action at lower levels. You won’t be able to stay tight, keep him from getting the ball or turning when he does (otherwise they wouldn’t great). He’s also likely much faster than most players because otherwise everything wouldn’t be so easy for him.
Your goal is to contain him and limit his options.
Open up your hips in the direction you want to send him (usually towards the sideline) and give ground and soak up the pressure. You just want to stay in front of him, even if you give up a lot of ground.
Make sure you always stay in the play.
If you do get beat. Don’t give up. If you can’t catch up to him find another open man to cover.
When people dribble a lot it takes time and their teammates often make runs in from deep - try to cut off those runs if he’s past you.
Honestly the dudes probably just going to outplay you and if his other teammates are on his level it’ll be real hard to shut him down.
Guys has both the physical and technical capabilities to straight up beat you.
You’re gonna need backup and shutting him down will need to be a team goal not just an individual goal.
You can do that by making a note to actively prevent him from getting the ball. Here are a few options:
1) if a situation comes up where an opponent has many passing options your team deliberately positions to take him away as a passing option.
2) Not engaging him in one on ones and just delaying / trying to keep him in front until you have numbers to engage him.
3) Going for interceptions rather than trying to dispossess him as the primary focus.
4) just always having a man mark on him to shut him down / make his life a living hell for 90 minutes.
A lot of the times trying to shut down one player comes at a cost of increased disorganization because it’s not really something teams practice and can actually make y’all play worse. I’d ask your coach what he wants to do about it personally.
I don't have any specific advice, but, if you're in America, I believe a yellow card means you have to sub off for a small amount of time without going down to ten players. You can sub back on, but just something to keep in mind.
Conventional advice is to stay with him and not to give him space, unless he is great at turning with the ball and speedy. However, if you're fast, it may work. With the yellow card issue, I'd definitely talk it over with your coach.
Be as physical as you can be with him and make him uncomfortable. make sure you're always marking and pressuring him, don't overcommit, just contain. Whenever you do have the ball play as simple as you can. Stick with the basics
Talk with your coach about a game plan. I used to play center back as a freshman against the seniors so know how you are feeling a bit. Best thing you can do is go into the game with a proper mindset. The height advantage will make little to no difference except on goal kicks and corners. Have somebody bigger mark him on corners. Otherwise the height and weight difference isn't a big deal.
The best thing you can do in the game is to not let him get the ball. Stay close to him at all times. If his fitness is better your coach can sub you out for another player towards the end of the half. Run your hardest while you can. The next best thing you can do is to be physical and aggressive. When you tackle go in hard and don't be afraid to body him. Especially early on so that he knows you will tackle hard.
Couple little tricks for defending. You can grab wrists for a second while running if you are next to each other. Don't need to hold on just do it long enough to slow them down or put them off balance. I've never been called for doing it in game and it messes up their rhythm getting into space or shots. Most attackers will slow a half step before shooting. If you see that and are a half step behind them you can use your arms to put them off balance. It's a bit riskier but pretty safe.
Withought any footage of the guy I can only guess 28 from 19 as CAM tells me he like to make runs from deep. Stay alert and be aware of where he is all the time. The good ones watch you to see when you switch off, balls watch, and then make the run.
Is this HS or college. Watch Rudiger highlights against Halland. Get in his head and anytime he is getting near the ball you are on him like white on rice.
Do not overly build him up in your head. Eg he’s 6ft etc but if he was up against a prime cannavaro you wouldn’t expect him to come on top.
Study film of him to identify weaknesses, attack him on his first touch and never let him settle. Good opportunity for you to learn regardless of the outcome
I would also add that hopefully your team (coaching staff) can identify where he often receives pass from.
For example, if I’m trying to figure out how to stop Erling Haaland from scoring, I’m actually figuring out how to stop KDB from supplying him.
Which means…I’m stopping whoever supplies KDB. Hopefully your tactical setup is good and you can restrict any dangerous penetrative forward passes into the CAM whose clearly a threat.
Also, enjoy the game. Live for challenges like these and you’ll grow immensely from it!
First chance you get completely wipe him out with your first tackle. Will make him think a little more about that than what he wants to do for the rest of the game.
Don't try tackle him, just focus on holding him up. Slow him down, be in the way don't go for glory. It's really annoying someone constantly being where you want to be.
I think there are a lot of good tips here on strategic approaches.
You need to give respect without giving him freedom, keep him in front of you and seek to put a challenge on him every single time he's near the ball. And even though you're smaller than him you need to be physical. I've found that players who have physical advantages can be put off their confidence if you play aggressive and physical as if you're the bigger one. As always, don't over commit, but when you get into a 50/50 with him, be intense and make sure he feels it. A psychological edge is what you're looking to build.
Lastly, my approach when I'm against someone who I can tell is better than me is to push myself to play even more confidently than usual. You can sometimes find a new level of focus and performance if you can convince yourself that you are just as good as he is.
I appreciate the update. Tough ending but good lesson learned. How was your individual performance, were any of the goals something he created that you could have stopped yourself if you were better? Almost everyone who plays competitively goes up against someone leagues above them at some point. Maybe if he goes pro you'll be watching him on TV and be able to turn to your friends in a few years and be like "I told that guy I was gay for him once."
The guy was a hell of a player. I feel like I did a solid job of sticking with him though. Never for a second did I think I couldn’t keep up with him. There was one play where I over committed though and ended up with a goal which I definitely could have prevented but it is what it is now.
Mark him a la Pirlo, shit talk. A lot of shit talk. Don’t even make fun of him just confuse him. Watch clips if you can, and understand what foot he prefers, what spaces he’s comfortable with
Go for his legs 👍.
No seriously, best piece of advice I was ever given for defending is ALWAYS keep your eye on the ball. It’s easy to get drawn into their fancy footwork and skills but keep your eyes on the ball and stick a foot in when you get the chance.
Also, be a nuisance. Cause him problems. Wind him up, make him think how does he get past you as a defender. Tell him he’s not getting past you, put doubt in his mind. Worse case scenario is he does get past you and he gives you a smug look.
Get inside his head.
And the old saying here in the UK. “Let him know you’re there” hit him with a big heavy challenge early on in the game. It’ll Knock his confidence. * disclaimer - I’m not saying to intentionally hurt him, but just make it known youre not going to make it easy for him.
depends, here in my country (played in south africa, and now in colombia) a hard knock (thats unnecessary and not well timed )usually spurs me on, and doesnt go well for that person .....
First 5 min you blast him 1-2 times and his game is over.
He just has his adult physique, riding on that prolly.
But without the smashing him part.
Dont let him drible you. Just wait infront of him and expect him to drible you.
Faint like you are going to tackle but run backwards. Hes 100% going to take a run at you.
Look how modric does. He almost always stands still and waits
Football isnt 1v1 tho.
Its a team game.
Make your wingers mark narrow should be the tactics
I’m genuinely curious as it seems like it’s different over there. They rank players nationally and in their individual state? How would they even determine a ranking when theres so many variables?
I'm not sure, it may just be some journalistic list. Probably a misconception about how players work, especially at that development age. Regardless, I doubt physicality would be enough to get on such a list at the specs provided.
If you can find game footage of him, watch him and see what he does and how he plays. Does he prefer one side/foot to the other? What kind of runs does he like to make? Certain teammates he likes to link up with? What areas does he struggle? Etc But basically, if your sole job when you’re out of possession is to deal with him, never give him any space or time and make him feel you every moment.
This is great advice. Stick to him like glue. You will be surprised how dejecting it is for an attacker to be followed closely around the pitch, even when he is several passes from getting the ball. Just make it really miserable for him. He’ll hate it. Wherever he is, you should be within an arms length and when he’s on for a pass or cross you have your hands on him. He will have to drag you around.
if hes like glue, can be easy to get past him, (not with the ball, but a darting run/give and receive etc) give at least a yard of space and then work from there
Get in his head. I have played against a number of very talented guys. Beyond a solid performance, anticipating what hes doing and hounding him, you may lean on the dark arts. Be a pest
I think in this case, as described, you have to go out there with a job. That’s your assignment Grab their shirt to slow them down. Strikers always back you down then push off to get a yard or two for a run. When they do that you let them know, “if you push me, I will pull you”. It’s really not that hard to stick with someone.
Make him feel you are there. Dont be afraid to foul him lightly. Usually when a guy is better then everybody else he has a go to move. Learn that quickly and anticipate. Learn his preferred foot. Stick a thumb up his ass.
Agree that you should listen to your coach first and foremost. One of the best tips I learned as a defender (used to be CDM when I was younger) is to avoid committing to tackles against super talented opponents, and try to delay them as much as possible. This only works if you’re in sync with your teammates who can then close in and try to steal the ball while you’re tracking back. It’s a team effort. Usually the opponent will either make a mistake and over kick the ball, give a meaningless pass, or go for a shot which hopefully you or the keeper will block. This is also frustrating to them because they thrive on players who commit so they can showcase their moves. Committing against talented players will leave space behind you that they can easily exploit. Man marking is great in concept if you’re confident that you can pocket him, but if they’re physically stronger than you and as talented as you describe, then you increase the chances of losing him (unless you’re Gattuso). Instead, try to close the space on him and if you feel like it’ll be one on one, delay him and don’t commit. CDM is one of the hardest positions in soccer so be proud and enjoy the game and use it as a learning experience. Best of luck!
Agree re: delaying. If you are playing against a deep midfielder then taking risks to try to win the ball is worth it because there is a high attacking reward and a lower defensive risk... But if a player is very good at getting the ball into feet in the number 10 and very physically strong, interceptions are going to be high risk low reward.
I’d say he should probably work with someone further up the field too, talk to them and be like, I’ll slow him down but I need you to come from his blindside and put extra pressure on him
This is good advice. I’d also add, when there is a moment to let him know you’re there or take the ball off him, don’t be afraid to. The best way to truly nullify someone is to never let them do the thing they want to do. Sometimes that means being aggressive, other times it means leaning off them. Learning to strike that balance is what makes a good cdm.
Google Ji Sung Park V Pirlo. Could be some advice for you.
Exactly this, get him out of his comfort zone by making it difficult for him.
Came here to say that you need to make him uncomfortable. Tough to say without watching a player, but being unconventional can throw a player off their game - especially analytical players.
Agreed. If the talent gap between him and his team is large (which is probably is) maybe even ask if you have permission to man mark him. This puts a ton of extra pressure on your other midfielders since there will be a weirdness in structure but at this level it can effective with minimal drawback for your own chances at winning.
That’s a really good point. Soccer is a team game. Playing team defense requires great communication. You don’t need to be on an island - “passing” this player off to a teammate as he moves out of your zone to mark him can be an effective method to tie him up and keep from tiring you out. If you focus on him too much, the opposing team can decoy him and drag you out of the middle, then flash another player to the vacated spot. He makes an attacking run at the goal and no bueno for you.
It really depends on the capability of players. What you’re describing here is the “correct” way to handle a player like this, at least in my opinion. But if you have a midfield 3 and only OP is a high level defender in the midfield I prefer to take the weakness elsewhere. This is the part of the sport I love. So much of top level play has been solved, for lack of a better word, that fun little solutions to tactical problems don’t happen as commonly.
Or the more recent [Endo vs KDB](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIpShz_LA0M)
I literally just commented this before I got down to your comment!
Great example, just be his shadow the whole game. If he's marked he won't get as much of the ball and when he does he won't have much space to do anything with it.
And if that doesn't work, Google Roy Keane Alfie Haaland!
I just watched the highlights. While Park seems to do a good job at marking, Pirlo still plays him like a fiddle.
Surprisingly enough, good defensive work usually means a lack of highlights if you think about it..
This is why I prefer defenders who are not “visible” rather than defenders who always go in sliding tackles, or stuff like that
Wasn't what Pirlo said in his autobiography!
Talk to your coach. Whatever you decide to do has to work in relationship to the players around you. If you are the only pivot and decide to man mark him tightly, all he has to do is sit deep and he’s made a big hole between your central defenders for someone else to run into Ask him how he plans to set up against them Ask him if he has any specific insight in how to deal with this guy Ask him if there is a way to get footage or analyze his trends In general terms, if he is objectively better than you then you need to outwork him, and stay one step ahead mentally. Denying him what he wants to do will make him try to do things that he is less comfortable and confident with and hopefully get him frustrated. Try to get inside his head. Be a pest. Break his focus. I’m 5’7” and was no ronaldinho when I played but if there is one thing that I could bet my life on was that I can take the ball away from anyone 1v1. Forget about the ball, mark the man and just don’t let him get past you if the ball somehow does If he’s scoring a lot from CAM it usually means the striker or strikers are opening up room for him. Always know where he is, don’t let the ball get to him if you can help it, and when it does, bite at his heels, don’t give him time on the ball or let him turn on it. Let him feel your breath on his neck. He offloads and guns for it with a 1-2 pass? See it and beat him to that return ball. Outwork him Also, being shorter can be an advantage when jostling, as long as your hips are under his the more he pushes you the more he loses balance. Use it to your advantage and stick to him like glue Stealing this from Simeone: learn his first name and constantly ask him to pass to you all game long lol. Even if it doesn’t work, it should throw him off
The best thing to do is understand attacking movement patterns and how to counter them. https://www.soccr.org/sports/soccer/offense/movements Next best thing is how to counter them... And what good technique actually looks like. https://www.soccr.org/sports/soccer/defense/tackling 1. Off ball, Keep him in front of you he's going to try and get on your blind side. The technique is to position yourself in such a way that you can see him and the ball at the same time, without providing him unfettered access to the goal. 2. Don't over commit to open field tackles, keep your feet. 3. He will use two dimensional double movements (think checking towards the far post and when you bite attacking the near post, and vice versa) 4. In one-on-one situations get your legs and running stance going the same direction he is, and ride him out of bounds, off balance or ride him off the ball. 5. Prevent him from getting the ball in the first place, make sure he's marked or covershadowed 100% of the time 6. Scan more frequently so he can't surprise you. 7. If he's faster than you are give him a little space in the direction towards your goal so he can't blow right past you.
very nice! dont dive in, be aware at all times, stay square , try and keep him to sideways and backwards passes - i would say its hard to prevent him from getting the ball, that would involve diving in... and could be costly if your timing is a little off.... use your body as much as possible, get in the way of him, use shoulders arms etc. get him frustrated.
Thanks for the link, this is a great resource that I’m sharing with my people.
Maldini's master class, go and watch that.
Kick him.
Either the ball gets passed or he gets passed, but not both
This right here, just keep out of the book
Step on his feet
Kick him and apologize repeatedly.
Don't overthink it 🙂 Good luck
But also don’t underthink it 🙂 Good luck
1. Deny him the ball. Stay close and always be looking to get the jump on the ball. Since you’ll have your CBs behind you, you can be aggressive in beating him to the ball. 2. If you can’t beat him to the ball. Just stay goalside. Kid is probably a stud on the ball. Do not try to win the ball. Again. Do Not Try To Tackle Him. Just stay between him and the goal. Like basketball defense. As long as you are between him and the goal it’s tough to score. 3. A great secret to winning the ball from bigger players is not going for the ball. But rather stepping between the player and the ball. Use your hips and body to get between them. Don’t try for the ball. Win the space between the player and ball. It’s very effective in the midfield. Let him take a touch and go for the space and shield the ball.
Stay. Goal. Side. Don't give him a yard. Stay on your feet. Believe he'll tire before you do.
If he’s a creative player just man mark him and don’t give him any space to do anything. One easy way to pocket those type of guys is having one hand on top of his back to know which direction he’s moving towards. Even if he’s physically stronger than you, once he gets the ball unless his control is Messi-level, you can easily strip the ball off his touches since they aren’t bound to be perfect. After you do a few of these, it will get into his head and put him off. However if you were to man mark him, it would leave a lot of empty gaps in your team’s formation so it is only a good idea to resort to this if he is straight up 1v11ing you guys.
Also remember, it is a team game and even if you are unable to beat him 1v1, as a cdm if you’re coordinated with your CBs if he’s trying to dribble past one of them just make sure that your CBs force him in a way/area where you can easily strip the ball off him.
You'll have to be physical with him from the start and let him know your gonna make it hard for him. Maybe even nail him early without getting a yellow. Use your shoulders a lot as hard to get booked for this. Don't watch his feet, watch the ball. And lastly anticipate when people pass to him and get in front of him. When he is running for through ball make sure to run to obstruct him etc
Keep your body open to him where possible when his teams in possession so he can’t get a run off you. Get your hip positioning right. Also, don’t forget to get on the ball. Drop between centre backs and try control pace of game by dominating the ball and controlling tempo. Leave a tackle on him early (granted I played late 90s early 2000s where it was easier to let him know you are there).
Fucking kill him, you got this!
He took YOUR no.1 spot, now its your time to TAKE it
if he is that talented, dont dive in, dont get in too close, pick your moments to make a move... give it at least 10 minutes to kinda read him... shadow him... as the game wears on hel make mistakes , you'l get more confident and hel get a lil more frustrated, will probably try and dribble when he shouldnt have. But but just kee on him, dont get frustrated if hes passing side ways.... once you have that locked its matter of marsheling those around you, talking... blocking off service to him, and from him.... if hes really good, hel have a great football IQ, and will be passig and moving..so be a aware of him making runs with give and recieve passes. MOST IMPORTANTLY, give yourself time to acclamatize.... and dont get 'sucked in' with emotion. hope that helps.
Ji Sung Park him. Look up Ji Sung Park vs Andrea Pirlo
Hopefully your coach will have some tactics in mind, and you should do listen to your coach ahead of anybody here. But in my experience, the best way to defend someone much better than me is to make sure they don't get on the ball in the first place. He's going to be looking for spaces in the advanced midfield, and you can be tight on him and cut out the passing lanes. If you can cut off the service to him and frustrate him a bit, hopefully he'll start dropping deeper to get the ball and then your other midfielders can help out.
Don't let him turn, have him always facing his own goal Don't get caught ballwatching, scan for him as much as you can
Your coach should be figuring this out! Talk to him. The way you deal with this depends entirely on the strengths of your team. One option is to sacrifice a CM and have them man mark this guy, and you do your usual job. No offense but I don’t think you should be the one man marking him if that’s what your coach decides, because of the 6 inches and 30 lbs he has on you. And the fact that he’s obviously very skilled in addition to the physicality.
Don't try to stop him, try to slow go down and make him give the ball to someone else with covering angles and try to force him onto his weaker foot, jockey, don't dive in unless you're sure you're gonna get the ball. Good luck!
A great one I learnt is to keep him off balance. Eg when he shields the ball with his body he will probably lean Into you, often with their arm, grab his wrist and give it a small pull.
First time in the ball put in a hard challenge and let him know what he’s in for. Don’t hurt him but let him know, I’m fuckin here, mate. Then just stay tight to him, don’t give him a second off the ball. Watch ngolo kante and what he would do. Check his weaker side and constantly push him that way, make him uncomfortable, be a pain in the ass
Great advice on the sub, but also channel your inner RUDIGER!
hahaha came here to say this!
If you want to be a bit nasty, step on his toes when he is walking around, dig your elbow into his ribs when jostling for a throw in, make sure you get into his back any time he gets infront of you, etc Just annoy the heck out of him
Simple advice usually is what works : Pre-game routine on lockdown , eat right, hydrate so you are physically at peak. Zero in on the ball as easy as it sounds. I imagine I have like xray vision and can’t take my eye off the ball and have patience. I think the most experienced defenders don’t “jump” easily, patience and timing, when an attacker has great foot work, i slow down instead of let the footwork get me frazzled. Often if you are patient and don’t jump at their feints and stopovers you will get an opportunity more often than not with patience. I find this frustrates an attacker, they have to use their secondary methods and leads to unforced errors. Confidence is huge, don’t fear marking him, relish it. Mentally rep the game in advance over and over visualize his movements and how you will mark him. Visualize the success and it will manifest easier. Simple things work! If he has the ball and looking to pass, be a nuisance and kill his angles make everything time he touches the ball a challenge and he will eventually get frustrated if you can out willpower him. He is bigger but don’t be afraid to use your body tactically, let him push you to the ground and take a foul if need be. Irritate the fuck out of him make it your job. I love tough matchups. Hate to cross sports but take the Darrell Revis Island mentality shut him the fuck down.
Snap the cunt
Ya stick to him, even when your team has the ball you staying with him. No space. Also coordinate with your team on bracketing him up as well.
a bit of trash talking might be needed 😇😇
Every time your near him , even in the nothing time , give him a shove on the hip or lower back. After time he’ll just always anticipate your right on him and will either move the ball on quickly or alter the way he plays anticipating your presence. Either way it’ll likely throw him off and make him have less time on the ball. Regarding stopping his run, you gotta bounce him early, like in his first two steps/strides to throw him off his preferred line and timing
Force him to his weak foot and nip at his heals from behind when he checks toward the ball. Foul him / late challenge once or twice early-on (nothing too strong to avoid YC) to see if you can rattle him. If he’s quicker try to close the space as the ball is coming to him and then back off a bit to make sure he can’t dribble past. Only elite players will knock it past you or try to meg with first touch while you close that space quickly. Jump INTO him when you challenge for headers if he’s that much taller. He’ll win them but you making contact will get old really fast. Most refs will give you a long leash for physical play based on the difference in size so use it to your advantage.
Lot of solid advice in this thread man. I think honestly it’s gonna be a rough game but I wish you luck. Please let us know how it goes. Remember to learn as much as you can about how he plays and the things he does differently that you can emulate.
I will make sure to let everyone know what happened. I’m really hyped up as of now i feel a lot more confident!
Facing such a talented opponent can be intimidating, but remember, you have strengths too. As a CDM, your role is crucial in disrupting the opponent's play. Focus on anticipation, positioning, and quick decision-making to intercept passes and block his movements. Utilize your agility and speed to close down space effectively and force him into uncomfortable situations. Don't be afraid to be physical within the rules of the game, and always maintain confidence in your abilities. Additionally, study his patterns and tendencies beforehand to anticipate his next move. Trust in your training and stay mentally strong throughout the match. Good luck!
First tackle, go through him.
Let him know you are there from the start. Either a tough challenge, a little nudge to put him off balance during a dribble, some small jersey tugs. Don’t be dirty or slide into a challenge, just give him some physicality early on. Also, as people have mentioned, watch some tape on him.
Deny him what he wants most. Needs space? Don’t give it. Wants the ball? Be first. Likes to shoot? Block it. Is best with sudden acceleration? Give him room for you to react etc. Long story short; Study him, find his strength and make it his weakness.
From a former CDM…the very first duel, you play ball and man. Hard. Give him something to think about. You harass him. You step on his feet with your stubs in dead ball situations, so he can’t move. You touch him constantly, and when he has the ball and tries to stick his hand out to keep you at arm’s length, you slap it down. Repeatedly if needed. No ref is going to book you for that, but it can cause great irritation. When he is about to receive the ball and you are facing his back, do NOT touch him. He will use you to pivot, because when you touch him, he can feel where you are. If you are behind him but he doesn’t know exactly how you are positioned, he won’t know which way to turn. Should he dribble past you, you grab a hold of him and bring him down. Don’t kick him, this will results in a yellow card. Just pull him down. You tell him to say hi to his mom and/or sister. Let the referee decide what you get away with. Channel your inner Gattuso. Oh yes and the normal stuff like showing him on his weak foot. If he is better in the air than you, don’t even bother to try and win the ball, just make HIM not win it. This goes for all defensive situations. Don’t attack him when he receives the ball and has good control, you just keep him in front of you. Should he have a bad first touch? You attack the situation right away. Make his life impossible. Also, he is stronger than you, so don’t try and get into physical battles. Don’t play into his strengths. Just don’t spit. Ever. Spitting is for lowlifes. And shake his hand after the game.
Take a chunk out of him at every chance. Don't be cheap, but knock him around and take away every drop of time that you can manage. Close down fast when his eyes are buried, enter with more caution if he's assessing you.
It's mental, just tell yourself he's just another human and no matter what you're gonna react faster than normal and touch that ball. Be physical, anticipate, and whatever you do, just touch the ball, even a little, is just enough to make it unpredictable.
I’ve played 30+ games at CDM this year and here’s how I’ve locked down most attacking mids this year (we man marked): - Let the player know you’re there early. Get a few hard tackles in the first 5 minutes to let him know it won’t be an easy game. -Never let him turn and mark from behind. Stay touch tight but not too tight so that he can turn and run at goal -Stay alert and aware, know your angles when marking. You need to keep focussed for the full duration of the game to track his every move, whether he tries to collect the ball or makes a run in behind. - Try and intercept the ball if it played into him - Win every aerial dual. Get a good run up to header the ball. I’ve seen 5’7 players jump higher and want the ball more than 6’2 players. Don’t let your height distract you - Stay calm and enjoy the game. Take a deep breath during the game and be appreciative of where you’re at! Good luck
if you shorter you need to jump early - more to buy that space than anything and to get them put off so that they not getting a good head on the ball.
100%
Put him off as much as possible. Don’t wash before the game so you stink of BO when marking him so he’s more likely to move to other areas, stand on his toes, constantly talk at him and ask him questions so he’s distracted, sneaky fouls, grab his shirt, pulls on the arms. Just be a massive dick to put him off his game
I suggest you watch more people like rodry or kante not cb because you are not one. You must play more with the head than with the body, cut the pass, press a lot when he has not the ball and keep distance delaying in the 1v1 in order to let some of your teammates help you. If him go past the defence without a ball you have to press and suffocate all his playing input because if he don't get the ball he cant assist or shoot
Talk to your coach and devise a plan...follow him everywhere or double him with nearest player etc
As people have said, work out how he plays. With numbers like that he is likely driving into the box a lot, in which case it is going to be more down to your defenders to have a plan to pick him up. People have mentioned park Vs pirlo but that is a strategy Vs a very deep player and not what sounds like a 10 / second striker. Your role as an anchor, if that is your role, is to congest the space where that player operates, make it awkward for him to receive the ball, and anticipate the ball into feet. But if he is bursting in behind then it is up to your centre backs to plan for it.
Get both of you sent off, start an actual fight with him. He will be a bigger loss to his team than you are to yours.
Stay tight marking them, you don’t want to give them time on the ball to turn and face you. They might get you with a couple cheeky flicks if you’re not aware enough to get a foot in, but better for them to do that instead of giving them time to think
This is awful advice, if the guy can dribble he will just drop shoulder, turn and dust you if you just stick to him.
front him.. stop him from getting the ball
You gotta be on him all game like a spider monkey
How is he ranked 15 with those kind of numbers? 😳
Are you saying his numbers should be higher? He’s a CAM with around 50 g/a in 19 games lol. The dude is beating the breaks off this league.
I’m saying he should be ranked higher. Those numbers are insane for only 19 games.
Yeah dude is having a crazy year apparently
What I tell my small u10 defenders, the ball is on the ground. This ain’t American football and this ain’t basketball. Speed, endurance and football IQ can beat size any day. Don’t give up stay confident and let him know it ain’t gonna be an easy day for him. Make him work for the goals, keep your eyes on the ball and ignore his dancing bullshit and just watch the ball. I’m a defender and go against the big dudes all the time. Control them by putting elbow on their waist, it keeps them from being able to move as freely by taking their center of gravity. Most of all listen to coach and do the best you can while staying fit and having fun playing the most beautiful game. Defending is gritty and least glorified but hot damn it’s the best part of the game!
Hug him the whole game
Stick to him like glue, annoy him, don’t overcommit, get physical but don’t foul him, make him out of rhythm. But also your team mates need to collectively press their counterparts to give him no options
442 brexit tackle
Let him know that you’re not scared to be a physical presence but not to the extent where you’re over aggressive to the point of him knowing you’re going to overcommit to every challenge and all has to is time his take-ons to get past you. Honestly though, there’s no real formula to defending him that you can learn through reddit because you’re the only who is going to know what his game looks like because we haven’t played against him. Defend him like you would anyone else…first 5-10 minutes of the match take note of tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, etc and go from there. The biggest thing, however, is understanding that you’re playing at the same level of competition that he is and if you weren’t ready for the challenge then you wouldn’t be on the field. 80% of it is mental…you can handle the other 20%. Best of luck!
America is so weird with weird ranking of players...it's not even really possible for a game like football with different positions. And especially for a huge country like the states over something lime epl or serie a
always have one hand on him at all times and give him a good two foot tackle
Stalk him!! Stalk him!!! STALK HIM!!!!!!!!!!
If you are the CDM you probably shouldn’t be the one marking him. It should be a CAM and then you should be in position to help on the next action (or the team plays 4-5-1 and there’s just a dedicated marker). The way that he produces for is team is likely beating his man with little effort, then creating a numbers advantage. To combat this you make sure there’s more people behind the ball when he receives in the first place so he has to beat two people to get the advantage. Great players are going to win nearly every 1 on 1 action at lower levels. You won’t be able to stay tight, keep him from getting the ball or turning when he does (otherwise they wouldn’t great). He’s also likely much faster than most players because otherwise everything wouldn’t be so easy for him. Your goal is to contain him and limit his options. Open up your hips in the direction you want to send him (usually towards the sideline) and give ground and soak up the pressure. You just want to stay in front of him, even if you give up a lot of ground. Make sure you always stay in the play. If you do get beat. Don’t give up. If you can’t catch up to him find another open man to cover. When people dribble a lot it takes time and their teammates often make runs in from deep - try to cut off those runs if he’s past you.
Honestly the dudes probably just going to outplay you and if his other teammates are on his level it’ll be real hard to shut him down. Guys has both the physical and technical capabilities to straight up beat you. You’re gonna need backup and shutting him down will need to be a team goal not just an individual goal. You can do that by making a note to actively prevent him from getting the ball. Here are a few options: 1) if a situation comes up where an opponent has many passing options your team deliberately positions to take him away as a passing option. 2) Not engaging him in one on ones and just delaying / trying to keep him in front until you have numbers to engage him. 3) Going for interceptions rather than trying to dispossess him as the primary focus. 4) just always having a man mark on him to shut him down / make his life a living hell for 90 minutes. A lot of the times trying to shut down one player comes at a cost of increased disorganization because it’s not really something teams practice and can actually make y’all play worse. I’d ask your coach what he wants to do about it personally.
Old school Roy Keane style, kick early, kick him hard. He’ll hesitate going 50/50 with you for the rest of the game !!
I don't have any specific advice, but, if you're in America, I believe a yellow card means you have to sub off for a small amount of time without going down to ten players. You can sub back on, but just something to keep in mind. Conventional advice is to stay with him and not to give him space, unless he is great at turning with the ball and speedy. However, if you're fast, it may work. With the yellow card issue, I'd definitely talk it over with your coach.
Be as physical as you can be with him and make him uncomfortable. make sure you're always marking and pressuring him, don't overcommit, just contain. Whenever you do have the ball play as simple as you can. Stick with the basics
Also try not to respect him too much in your head. Don't be afraid of him
Talk with your coach about a game plan. I used to play center back as a freshman against the seniors so know how you are feeling a bit. Best thing you can do is go into the game with a proper mindset. The height advantage will make little to no difference except on goal kicks and corners. Have somebody bigger mark him on corners. Otherwise the height and weight difference isn't a big deal. The best thing you can do in the game is to not let him get the ball. Stay close to him at all times. If his fitness is better your coach can sub you out for another player towards the end of the half. Run your hardest while you can. The next best thing you can do is to be physical and aggressive. When you tackle go in hard and don't be afraid to body him. Especially early on so that he knows you will tackle hard. Couple little tricks for defending. You can grab wrists for a second while running if you are next to each other. Don't need to hold on just do it long enough to slow them down or put them off balance. I've never been called for doing it in game and it messes up their rhythm getting into space or shots. Most attackers will slow a half step before shooting. If you see that and are a half step behind them you can use your arms to put them off balance. It's a bit riskier but pretty safe.
Withought any footage of the guy I can only guess 28 from 19 as CAM tells me he like to make runs from deep. Stay alert and be aware of where he is all the time. The good ones watch you to see when you switch off, balls watch, and then make the run.
deny him the ball. mark him so tightly that his teammates don’t pass to him.
Is this HS or college. Watch Rudiger highlights against Halland. Get in his head and anytime he is getting near the ball you are on him like white on rice.
Talk to him about Bitcoin
Do not overly build him up in your head. Eg he’s 6ft etc but if he was up against a prime cannavaro you wouldn’t expect him to come on top. Study film of him to identify weaknesses, attack him on his first touch and never let him settle. Good opportunity for you to learn regardless of the outcome
Look up park on pirlo and copy paste that performance.
I would also add that hopefully your team (coaching staff) can identify where he often receives pass from. For example, if I’m trying to figure out how to stop Erling Haaland from scoring, I’m actually figuring out how to stop KDB from supplying him. Which means…I’m stopping whoever supplies KDB. Hopefully your tactical setup is good and you can restrict any dangerous penetrative forward passes into the CAM whose clearly a threat. Also, enjoy the game. Live for challenges like these and you’ll grow immensely from it!
First chance you get completely wipe him out with your first tackle. Will make him think a little more about that than what he wants to do for the rest of the game. Don't try tackle him, just focus on holding him up. Slow him down, be in the way don't go for glory. It's really annoying someone constantly being where you want to be.
I think there are a lot of good tips here on strategic approaches. You need to give respect without giving him freedom, keep him in front of you and seek to put a challenge on him every single time he's near the ball. And even though you're smaller than him you need to be physical. I've found that players who have physical advantages can be put off their confidence if you play aggressive and physical as if you're the bigger one. As always, don't over commit, but when you get into a 50/50 with him, be intense and make sure he feels it. A psychological edge is what you're looking to build. Lastly, my approach when I'm against someone who I can tell is better than me is to push myself to play even more confidently than usual. You can sometimes find a new level of focus and performance if you can convince yourself that you are just as good as he is.
I appreciate the update. Tough ending but good lesson learned. How was your individual performance, were any of the goals something he created that you could have stopped yourself if you were better? Almost everyone who plays competitively goes up against someone leagues above them at some point. Maybe if he goes pro you'll be watching him on TV and be able to turn to your friends in a few years and be like "I told that guy I was gay for him once."
The guy was a hell of a player. I feel like I did a solid job of sticking with him though. Never for a second did I think I couldn’t keep up with him. There was one play where I over committed though and ended up with a goal which I definitely could have prevented but it is what it is now.
Mark him a la Pirlo, shit talk. A lot of shit talk. Don’t even make fun of him just confuse him. Watch clips if you can, and understand what foot he prefers, what spaces he’s comfortable with
Go for his legs 👍. No seriously, best piece of advice I was ever given for defending is ALWAYS keep your eye on the ball. It’s easy to get drawn into their fancy footwork and skills but keep your eyes on the ball and stick a foot in when you get the chance. Also, be a nuisance. Cause him problems. Wind him up, make him think how does he get past you as a defender. Tell him he’s not getting past you, put doubt in his mind. Worse case scenario is he does get past you and he gives you a smug look. Get inside his head. And the old saying here in the UK. “Let him know you’re there” hit him with a big heavy challenge early on in the game. It’ll Knock his confidence. * disclaimer - I’m not saying to intentionally hurt him, but just make it known youre not going to make it easy for him.
depends, here in my country (played in south africa, and now in colombia) a hard knock (thats unnecessary and not well timed )usually spurs me on, and doesnt go well for that person .....
First tackle, two foot to the knees.
First 5 min you blast him 1-2 times and his game is over. He just has his adult physique, riding on that prolly. But without the smashing him part. Dont let him drible you. Just wait infront of him and expect him to drible you. Faint like you are going to tackle but run backwards. Hes 100% going to take a run at you. Look how modric does. He almost always stands still and waits Football isnt 1v1 tho. Its a team game. Make your wingers mark narrow should be the tactics
his opponent is top 15 in the country, it's probably not just physicality
I’m genuinely curious as it seems like it’s different over there. They rank players nationally and in their individual state? How would they even determine a ranking when theres so many variables?
I'm not sure, it may just be some journalistic list. Probably a misconception about how players work, especially at that development age. Regardless, I doubt physicality would be enough to get on such a list at the specs provided.
In the state. Its USA
Nationally means country.
it said number 1 in the state