52. link up play - alup

DEFINITION:
Attacker, who offers himself back to his teammates to receive the ball

GUIDELINES:

The connection between the attacking players with the midfielders or defenders, during the team play and organization of the attacks. This event is used only for the attacking players (strikers, wingers) and it depends from the formation – if a team plays with 2 strikers – for both of them; if a team plays with 1 striker and 2 wingers – for all of them. It's used for the attackers of the team, when they go back to receive and play with the ball, involving themselves and their will to be part of the team play. They should receive the ball from the defenders or midfielders with their back to the opposite goalkeeper, with face and body turned to their teammates. If the ball is received not with back to the opposite goal - can't be used. The idea is that with back to the goal the forward is not directly dangerous and he could do some pass back or sidewards, but when he is with face against the opposite goal, he can be much more dangerous. But it can't be used for the central or defensive midfielders when they goes back to take the ball – it's normal for them, it's their job. It's not used after set pieces (throw in, free kick...). Also a player should be not behind of the line of the ball.
- the connection between the attacking players with the midfielders or defenders, during the team play and organization of the attack
- it's used for the attackers of the team, when they go back to receive and play with the ball, involving themselves and their will to be part of the team play
- this event is used only for the attacking players (strikers, wingers, not for the attacking midfielders) and it depends from the formation
- the idea is that receiving the ball with his back to the goal, the forward is not directly dangerous and he could do some pass back or sidewards, but when he is with face against the opposite goal, he can be much more dangerous
- a player should receive the ball from the teammates with his back to the opposite goalkeeper, with face and body turned to his teammates
- it could be used all over the pitch (usually in the opposite half, but it could be used in own half and into the opposite penalty area)
- if a team plays with 2 strikers – for both of them must be added
- if a team plays with 2 strikers and 2 wingers - for the wingers is not necessary link up play to be added, but still it's possible and not a mistake to be used - tagger's decision
- if a team plays with 1 striker and 2 wingers – for all of them must be added
- if there is change of the formation, a defender starts to play like forward, link up play must be added for him, doesn't matter that in general he is not attacked (he is in that moment)
- if a tagger starts to use link up play for a player, he must use it in all situations, when he comes back to receive the ball

52.1 Link up play with back of the goal - movement back

- it's used for the attackers of the team, when they go back to receive and play with the ball, involving themselves and their will to be part of the team play
- this event is used only for the attacking players (strikers, wingers, not for the attacking midfielders) and it depends from the formation - there must be some movement back to offer themselves to receive the ball
- a player should receive the ball from the teammates with his back to the opposite goalkeeper, with face and body turned to his teammates

52.1.mp4

Halland offers himself with his back to the goal and passes the ball with his first touch - link up play must be added to the pass

52.1a.mp4

Haaland involves himself in the organization of the attack - link up play to his pass

52.1b.mp4

Even if the ball comes from the GK, link up play must be added to Jesus at the end of the clip, because he offers himself to receive the ball from his teammate

52.1c.mp4

N.9 in blue shirt comes back and takes the ball - link up play to the pass next

52.1d.mp4

Sommer directs long ball to his teammate, who comes back for the ball - link up play must be added to the attacker (after long pass could be used too, if it's well and clearly directed pass)

52.1e.mp4

Insignie comes back and Clielini passes the ball to him - link up play must be added to the head pass

52.1g.mp4

The forward in white shirt comes 2 times in the same attack (in the same zone) to play with the ball - even if there are some passes between both actions, still it's in the same play, so link up play should be tagged only to the first pass

52.1h.mp4

Link up play should be used for both players - first N.77 and next - N.90. Both are attackers and link up play could be used 2 times, one after another, if both players come back to play with the ball

52.1i.mp4

After the cross the ball is cleared, but still in the possession of the white team - N.14 moves back, trying to receive it, so link up play should be used for him

52.1j.mp4

N.27 in white shirt runs back to receive the ball - at the moment of the pass of his teammate he is with his back to the goal and doesn't matter that in the next moment, when he takes the ball, he turns himself with his face to the opposite goal, still it's link up play

52.2 Not link up play (not with back to the goal)

- if the ball is received not with back to the opposite goal (with face against the opposite players/GK - it shouldn't be used

52.2.mp4

Messi wants the ball on the wing, but not with his back to the goal - doesn't matter that he comes back for it, link up play must be not used for him in this situation, because he receives the ball opened against the opposite players and he can do immediately some dangerous action (which he does)

52.2a.mp4

Benzema comes back, but receives the ball not with his back to the goal - link up play must be not used for him

52.3 Not link up play, because of the line of the ball

- if a player comes back to receives the ball, but he is behind the line of the ball (receives it after backward pass) - it shouldn't be used

52.3.mp4

N.12 Tolisso plays like right winger in this moment (link up play must be added for him in this game, doesn't matter that in general he is central midfielder - it's important current position) - in this situation link up play must be not added, because it's backward pass from his teammate and Tolisso is behind the line of the ball, doesn't matter that he comes back for it

52.4 Link up play - not movement back

- in most of the situations there will be some movement back by a player, but it could be used also if he stays at one place and wants/receives the ball with his back to the goal

52.4.mp4

52.4a.mp4

Lukaku (typically for him) wants the ball at one place and holds the opposite defender, not giving him chance to move in front of him - link up play must be used

52.1f.mp4

N.5 in red shirt, who shoots the ball at the end, is central defender - his team looses in the result and he goes to play like a striker - link up play must be used for him, because there is a change in the formation and in this current moment he is striker, not defender - also there is no significant movement back, but he offers himself to receive the ball with his back to the goal

52.4c.mp4

The attacking player in white shirt, who is inside in the corner of the penalty area - link up play must be tagged for him, doesn't matter that he is half-turned, still he offers himself for the ball

52.4d.mp4

N.13 in purple shirt receives the ball into the penalty area - even if he is not exactly with his back to the goal (side turned) and there is no movement back, still could be used link up play in this situation

52.5 Link up play + anticipated

- it must be used with combination with anticipated - if a player comes back to receive the ball, but he is anticipated by an opponent - still link up play must be used

52.5.mp4

Mane wants to receive the ball, but he doesn't go back with some movement - still he offers himself with his back to the goal and link up play must be added for him (he tries to use his body to shield the opposite player), even if the opposite player goes in front of him and takes the ball first (anticipated also must be tagged for Mane)

52.5a.mp4

Dani Olmo offers himself and the defender of Italy goes in front of him on the central line - doesn't matter that he doesn't touch the ball at all, still link up play must be added for his offering

52.6 Not link up play, because of position in the formation

- for attacking midfielder must be not used
- it can't be used for central or defensive midfielders when they goes back to take the ball – it's normal for them, it's their job

52.6.mp4

Even if David Silva runs back twice and offers himself very clear, his position in this game is attacking midfielder and for him it must be not used link up play

52.6a.mp4

The player on the wing, who passes the ball back at the end of the clip plays like wing back in formation with 3 central defenders - for him link up play must be not used, doesn't matter that his action looks fine to be used

52.7 Not link up play after set pieces

- t's not used after set pieces (throw in, free kick, corner kick...)

52.7.mp4

Link up play must be not used for Kane, because the ball comes from a throw in, doesn't matter that he comes back to take the ball

52.7a.mp4

Link up play must be not used for Sterling, because the ball comes from a throw in

52.7b.mp4

Link up play must be not used for Sterling, because the pass is from free kick

52.7c.mp4

Not link up play for Lukaku, because the ball comes from a throw in

52.8 Link up play / Not link up play after changed possession of the ball

- if a team wins the possession of the ball, there must be at least 2 or more passes next by teammates to use link up play to the some of the attackers
- it some rare situations, when a team wins the possession of the ball, link up play could be used after only 1 pass, when the attacking player has enough time - his teammate holds and brings the ball for some seconds, giving time to the attacker decide to come back or run forward

52.8.mp4

Reus takes the ball after the opposite's cross and holds it for a while, which gives enough time to Haaland to decide how to want the ball - to run forward or come back for it, which he does - even if there is only one pass, after the change of the possession, there is enough time and link up play must be added to Haaland for his movement back to take the ball

52.8a.mp4

When the ball is cleared, N.5 in white/black shirt takes and passes it to N.32 almost immediately - link up play must be not used, because the situation, after the changed ball's possession, catches N.32 on that position and there is only one pass before his action - it's not enough to be used link up play here

52.8b.mp4

The player in blue shirt, who sprints with the ball in his feet, takes it right after the opposite team looses it - he runs enough distance with the ball, which gives enough time to his teammate to comes back for the ball - doesn't matter that it's the first pass after the chance of the possession, still link up play must be used for the attacker

52.9 Not link up play, if the ball comes by an opposite player

- link up play must not be used in combination with loose ball - if it comes by an opposite player or deflection and an attacker comes back to takes the ball - it's not link up play, because the team doesn't have the possession of the ball (loose ball must be added to the next action) - it's not possible at the same time the ball to comes by an opposite player/deflection or to be directed by a teammate

52.9.mp4

The striker in blue shirt passes the ball back, but his pass is not accurate and the ball foes in N.8 in yellow/black shirt - even if he comes back to take the ball, it comes from an opposite player and link up play must be not used for N.8

52.9a.mp4

Lukaku uses his physical abilities and shields the ball form the opposite defender - it comes after a fight between the players, it's not directed pass from a teammate, so link up play must be not used for Lukaku

52.10 Link up play to the first possible action

- link up play must be added one time and always to the first action of the player - if there is offensive duel first and next pass, always to the first action (to the offensive duel, not to the pass)
- if a player comes back and passes the ball a few times with his back to the goal - it's enough to add link up play only to the first pass, not needed to the next passes, when it happens in the same part of pitch (if there is change of the direction of the attack to the next wing, it could be added twice)
- if a player receives the ball, moves 10 meters back (touch must be tagged first) and next passes it - link up play must be added to the second event, because it's missing like option to the event touch

52.11.mp4

Bale comes back for the ball and next passes it back - he crosses the central line with the ball in his feet, so touch must be used first and pass next - link up play can't be added to touch (missing like an option), so it must be added to the next possible action - pass in this case

52.11a.mp4

Benzema comes back for the ball and passes it twice - it's enough to add link up play only to the first pass and not needed to the second, because both are part of the same movement, during the same attack

52.11 Not link up play, because of not accurate pass by a teammate

- if a player wants the ball forward, but the pass of his teammate is not accurate and force him to come back - it's not link up play, because it was not the intention of the attacking player

52.12.mp4

Chielini passes the ball to the wing, but his pass is not so accurate and forces Chiesa to come back to take the ball - link up play is not needed for him, because his intention is not to want the ball back, just he comes to take it, after the pass of Chielini, doesn't matter that he goes back

52.12a.mp4

N.16 passes the ball forward to the attacking player, but he runs forward - the pass makes him to come back for the ball, but he doesn't want it in this way (he wants to be passed forward) - link up play must be not used for him

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