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While not a pure long-ball play, Germany's final goal of the 1974 Word Cup relied on a long diagonal run and extended pass on the wing. The long-ball game requires more than passing but also good distance running, positioning, and dribbling as well.

Long ball is the term used in association football to describe an attempt, often speculative, to distribute the ball a long distance down the field via a cross, without the intention to pass it to the feet of the receiving player.

It is a technique that can be especially effective for a team with a tall striker to get in the box. The Long ball technique is also a through pass from distance in an effort to get the ball by the defensive line and create a foot race between striker and defender ^[1]. The Long ball tactic requires a fast striker who is able to win a race to the ball and score a goal after receiving a breakaway pass. This tactic is thought as primitive to football experts but is a dominant form of play in younger teams and players who do not have the experience to play a possession game. The long ball is also an effective counter attack tactic to catch defenders off guard.

[edit] History

The 'long ball theory' was first discussed by a retired RAF Wing Commander — Charles Reep — in the 1950s in England. Reep was a highly capable statistician and analyzed not only the number of passes which led to a goal, but also the field positions where those passes originated. Reep documented his findings in various publications including match day programmes.

It is from Reep and subsequent research by mathematicians that the concept of 'gulleys' (the optimum position between the corner flag and six yard box from which to make the final pass into the penalty box), the '3-pass optimization rule' (pass 1 - long ball, pass 2 - control/knock down & pass 3 - shot from inside the box), the '9 shots per goal' maxim (on average, only one goal is scored for every nine shots) and the 'twelve point three yard' position (the mean distance from the goal that all goals are scored is 12.3 yards) all originate.

The long-ball game is also advocated in such books The Winning Formula: The Football Association Soccer Skills and Tactics which demonstrates with statistics that a majority of goals are scored within 5 passes of the ball. ^[2]

[edit] Effectiveness

The long ball strategy has often been criticized as method that has held back the England national football team. It is generally considered by many around the world to be an English style of play that is primitive and used by teams lacking the skill to create plays, it is heavily criticized by supporters who prefer more skill based technical and tactical play. ^[3][4][5]

It is however used by teams desperate to score a goal before the end of a match. ^[6]. The long ball technique is also effective in lower level football matches since players lack skill to work as a team and pass the ball accurately up the field. A long ball is a quick counter attack move and with a fast striker will produce multiple goals.

Long balls are an effective way to score goals since losing teams resort to this play in the dying minutes of a game. Teams usually resort to the long ball when there is no concern of the opposing team scoring again. A long ball is an attacking play with few defensive advantages.

[edit] Notable proponents

[edit] Managers

• Russell Slade^[20]

[edit] Strikers

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• Alan Shearer
• Duncan Ferguson
• Peter Crouch^[21]
• Niall Quinn^[22]
• Tony Cascarino^[23]
• John Fashanu^[24]
• Jostein Flo^[25]
• Emile Heskey^[26]
• Kevin Davies^[27]

[edit] Examples

Bergkamp's goal against Argentina

The long ball is sometimes criticized as being used by weaker teams with less tactical skill. In the hands of mediocre teams, or at the lower youth leagues this might be so. Analysis of its implementation at world-class levels however, shows that effective use of long-ball techniques can be found in numerous competitive World Cup or championship club teams. It can be used as a counterattacking style, or as a daring through pass when opportunities open up during a game. The long ball requires top level skill to implement correctly. Mere passing is not the only variable- intelligent running into space, good dribbling and crisp finishings also required.^[28]

One of the best uses of the long-ball was Holland striker Dennis Bergkamp's goal against Argentina in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Dutch defender De boer initiated the move from near the middle of the field, with a long pass that curled over 7 defenders. Bergkamp controlled the difficult ball, spun past a defender and smashed it home. The example illustrates the power of the long-ball style but also that it is more than simply pumping the ball upfield. Only Bergkamp's excellent skills were able to take advantage of the Deboer's outstanding, and daring pass. As such, it emphasizes that football is a game requiring not only a comprehensive package of individual skills, but imagination and creativity as well. Both are present in the long-ball style.

Contemporary teams like Norway and Sweden have also demonstrated the viability of the long-ball approach when executed with skill, precision and creativity by top players. Norway played a characteristic 4-5-1 formation in the 1990s and early 21st century. The left back would often hit long crosses to Jostein Flo, who in turn would head the ball to either one of the central midfielders or to the striker. This was known as the Flo Pass, and the Norwegian national team garnered much criticism for its perceived long-ball approach. Egil Olsen did, however, take the national team to two World Cups, and the long ball style of play is considered to have played an important role in accomplishing this.^[29]

One of the greatest of the Norwegian goals scored with this style was by the striker Tore André Flo during the 1998 World Cup. Similar to the Bergkamp goal, but played to an advanced man on the wing, it began with an extremely long pass from Baiano. Flo was alone when he received. He ran on and cut inside to beat his defending opponent, then slotted the ball pass the goalkeeper Tafarrel. The Norwegians went on to upset the mighty Brazilian team in this match.

[edit] See also

• Jostein Flo
• Formation (football)
• Football tactics and skills
• Revie Plan
• Total Football
• Striker
• Craig Foster

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Will the Bulldog's Fall Give Rise to a New Breed of English Soccer?
• One lump or two can still prove a handful
• England on high with tall order
• The English Maliase
• How will English football develop?