DEFINITION:
Individual, 1 vs. 1 play in defense against an opposite player, when a player doesn't have the possession of the ball and tries to steal it from his opponent
GUIDELINES:
It's an individual play in defense, when a defender plays 1 vs. 1 against an attacking player and trys to stop his attacking run or dribbling, when the possession of the ball is at the other team. The defender plays personally with an opposite attacking player, there is contact between them, he holds him, stays near in the whole situation. Also an attempt to steal the ball from the opponent or to stop him and his attacking intentions. He could be on the back of the opposite player or facing him in front, doesn't matter, if there is a contact between them or the opposite player tries to dribble or eliminate the defensive player – it's a defensive duel. Defensive duel can be all over the pitch, not only in the own half, it could be even in the opposite penalty area, when the player is attacks the defender and tries to steal the ball from him.
- the possession of the ball must be in the opposite player and could be all over the pitch (not only in defense)
- could be used when a defender marks and opposite player
N.28 in white shirt marks and attacks aggressive Mane
Thiago Silva in white shirt marks the opposite striker
Emre Can from Dortmund shields the ball and N.14 in white shirt tries to steal it (Defensive duel close to the opposite goal)
- there must be contact between the players, attempt to stop the opposite player (who tries to eliminate him) or steal the ball - 1 vs. 1 in defense
N.45 in black shirt - Mane eliminates him with right take on, which means for N.45 is left take on (always the opposite)
For N.21 in black shirt is right take on, because Mane dribbles him from this side
The opposite player tries to eliminate Thiago Silva, but he stops him
Again, Thiago Silva stops the attempt of the opposite player to pass through him
N.88 in blue/black shirt - Neymar dribbles him (right take on for N.88)
The opposite player dribbles Varane and he stops him with a foul
The player in red shirt in the middle of the pitch, who kicks the ball over the head of the attacking player in white shirt - this is an offensive duel (defensive for the player in white), dribble against him with his move (at the same time, without take on, because he dribbles back)
- dribble 1 vs. 1 against an opponent, who wants to find better position to do some dangerous action
- usually used before crosses and shots
Mane dribbles against N.2 in green shirt (right for him) and next there is a cross
Mane tries to find space to shoot against N.3 from Ajax (left for N.3)
Dribble against Thiago Silva with change of the direction before the shot
The opposite player goes to the side line with no intention to pass through Thiago Silva, but to find space to cross the ball
Example of defensive duel for the GK against Mane, who tries to dribble him
Rodriguez in red shirt stops the attempt of the Spanish player
Attempt of Morata to find space to shoot the ball against Bonucci
- if an opposite player attacks and a defender holds his position, waits the action for a few seconds - the opposite player crosses or shoots the ball - defensive duel must be tagged, because he leaves some time to the opponent to do a dangerous action (shot or cross). The same situation, if there is a backward pass next (not a dangerous action) - defensive duel is not needed
- it's not necessary to be tagged defensive duel before every cross or shot by a player, there must be at least a few seconds play 1 vs. 1
Not needed duel for the player against Mahrez - he waits player waits his action and there is a backward pass next
Not needed duel for N.22 in red/green shirt - the opposite player just stops and crosses the ball - not an individual play against him (not always before shot or cross there must be a duel first)
Duel must be tagged here for Alba, because he waits the action of the Italian player and he shoots the ball (dangerous action next)
Not needed duel for Trippier against Havertz, because the he waits his actions and Havertz does a backward pass
N.9 in black shirt tries some feints, lying moves long enough time and does good forward pass at the end, creating dangerous situation for his team - the opposite defender in white shirt waits his action, doesn't attack him and gives him a chance to does some dangerous action, so offensive and defensive duels for both players must be tagged here
For N.12 in white shirt should be tagged offensive duel (defensive for the defender), doesn't matter that the defender doesn't try to steal the ball and just holds his position, still gives time to the attacking player to try dangerous pass into the penalty area, even if it's a bit backward pass, directed to the penalty spot
- not every contact between a players, must be a defensive duel - if a player touches very slight an opposite player with hand, it's not enough to use a duel
- if there is contact, but after the action (a player is pushed after the pass/shot/cross) - it's not needed to add a duel
Not needed duel for N.17 against Haaland, because the contact with the attacker is after/in the moment of the shot
Not a duel for Alba - even he tries to avoid the contact
N.20 in white shirt - not a duel - slight touch with hand by him is not enough to tag a duel
For N.5 in red shirt - not a duel, there is slight contact (Pressing duel, not Defensive duel)
Not a duel for the defender - he avoids the contact with Mane in the penalty area (before the shot)
N.31 in white shirt tries to stop the ball with head after the difficult pass and the opposite defender takes it next - defensive duel is not needed for N.31, because the contact with the hands is not significant
N.21 in blue shirt - for the first contact with hand on the central line is not needed to be used defensive duel (not a significant contact) - it should be tagged first with defensive positioning and next defensive duel, before the foul
N.2 in blue shirt takes the ball and N.8 in red shirt tries to catch him with his hand - this is not enough to be tagged defensive duel in this situation
For N.33 in blue shirt should be tagged pass, loose ball, not defensive duel - there is offensive duel for the player in yellow with the first player, after that his last touch was not so good and he lost the possession of the ball in that moment, which gave chance to N.33 to pass the ball directly
Here offensive duel is not needed for N.5 in yellow (defensive duel for N.11 in black shirt too) - the opposite player is pressing him and he uses his body to move the ball forward, at the same time using the inertia of the opposite player, who eliminates himself with his aggressive movement...also he tries to catch the defender with hand, but this is not enough to use a duel here, so it's better to be tagged touch + under pressure
Touch should be used in this case, not offensive duel with left (defensive duel, right for the defender), for N.17 in white shirt, because the opposite defender wasn't well orientated and able to reach the ball and put himself out of position, trying to sprint after to reach his opponent
- 2 different duels in one situation with the same opposite player must be tagged like one duel (the last part of the duel), if there is no other action (accelaration for example) between them
De Jong - 2 defensive duels, one after another, with the same player - should be tagged like one duel (the last part of it)
N.7 in pink shirt tries to dribble between 2 opposite players at the same time - 2 duels must be tagged against him for both players in blue/white shirts
Immobile tries to dribble between 2 players at the same time - must be tagged like 2 separated duels for both players against him
For N.43 in green shirt is enough to be tagged one defensive duel (with right take on) + defensive positioning after, because of his sprint to recover his position, but another duel at the end of the situation is not needed
The GK tries to kick the ball forward, but it's intercepted and it goes to the player in green shirt near the side line, where he dribbles around the opposite player and cuts inside to the penalty area. The opposite player recover his position and reaches again the player in green inside in the penalty area and stops him - 2 offensive duels (first with right take on) for the player in green) and 2 defensive duels (first one with left take on) + defensive positioning between them for the player in blue shirt
- if there is unsuccessful attempt for dribble by a player and he looses the ball, the opposite player shields it next and the attacking player make a foul - there must be defensive duel first, offensive duel next for the defender and foul at the end for the attacking player
- if a player passes the ball and an opposite player attacks him and kicks him after the pass, but the referee gives a foul - the pass should be not needed, there must be offensive duel for the passing player and defensive duel + foul for the opposite player, because of the foul (always with duel first)
Defensive duel for Ramos and foul by him - foul must be tagged always to the player, who does the foul, not to the player, who is fouled
Foul in attack (in combination with Offensive duel) for N.17 from Croatia - for the fouled player, Koke, is an example for fouled player during Defensive duel
Successful dribble by N.14 in white shirt, stopped with foul by Varane
Pogba chases the opposite player, attacks him from behind and stops him with a foul at the end
2 duels here - Defensive duel + take on for Rabbiot (he wins the ball's possession) and next Offensive duel for him too, before the foul
Defensive duel for Philips (in white shirt) - the pass must be not tagged for the opposite player, because there is a foul before by Philips
Late attempt by N.20 from Germany to steal the ball - Defensive duel (without pass for the other player) for N.20 in black shirt
- if the opposite player has advantage to reach the ball (shields it, guards it to go out of the pitch) and doesn't touch the ball at all - duel must be used
- defensive duel could be used even if a player doesn't touch the ball (just puts his body in front of the opposite player and he fouls him)
Shaw from England - he uses his body and better position to shields the ball - even if a player doesn't touch the ball, but has advantage - Offensive duel must be tagged and Defensive duel for Ginter
Emre Can from Dortmund shields the ball with his body and good position, without touching it - still Defensive duel must be tagged for N.14, who tries to steal the ball
After the first fight, Akanji (in red shirt) does good movement, wins advantage and better position to reach the ball first - Morata does a Foul with Defensive duel first