Futbol Island

9v9 lesson · Intermediate

Three Backs Against Two Pressers

Three-two-three gives us three backs against their two strikers. Our two central midfielders stay ahead of the first line.

What the coach says

  1. Three-two-three gives us three backs against their two strikers.
  2. Our two central midfielders stay ahead of the first line.
  3. One striker closes the centre back and the other takes the left back. Their near midfielder is still inside, while the left central midfielder is closely tracked.
  4. Their two strikers press our center back and left back. Who is free for a pass?
  5. The centre back releases the right back. The midfield pair stays ahead as the other defenders supply return angles.
  6. The right back has time to connect with the winger before the midfield pressure arrives.
  7. The ball returns to the centre back. Their near midfielder now reaches the right back, adding a third presser. The goalkeeper has opened a return angle.
  8. Their midfielder now reaches the right back. Which pass keeps the build-up connected under the changed press?
  9. The goalkeeper receives behind the changed press as the three backs adjust their angles.
  10. The keeper releases the left back. Their strikers must turn and reorganize instead of receiving another pass into the new pressure.
  11. Count who can actually reach the pass. Three backs can release one player against two strikers, but a third presser changes the next connection.

Quiz questions

Try to answer before you read the coach’s explanation. On the island you answer each one on the pitch.

  1. Question 1

    Their two strikers press our center back and left back. Who is free for a pass?

    • Pass to the left central midfielder
    • Pass to the right back

    Coach’s explanation: The right back is outside both strikers’ reach, and the near midfielder is still too far inside to arrive with this pass.

  2. Question 2

    Their midfielder now reaches the right back. Which pass keeps the build-up connected under the changed press?

    • Pass to the right back
    • Return to the goalkeeper

    Coach’s explanation: The goalkeeper has a clear return angle behind the three occupied first-line positions and can connect with the other outside back.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Blue's two strikers can press all three of our backs at once.

    • False
    • True

    Coach’s explanation: It's false. Two pressers can reach only two backs, so one of our backs stays free.

  4. Question 4

    The keeper has the ball behind the new press. What happens next?

    • Keeper kicks long to our striker
    • Keeper passes to the right back
    • Keeper releases the left back

    Coach’s explanation: The left back is free now, so Blue's strikers must turn and chase again.

  5. Question 5

    Now the strikers press our centre back and right back. Which pass finds the free back?

    • Pass to the left back
    • Pass to the right back
    • Pass to the right central midfielder

    Coach’s explanation: Both strikers are on the right, so the left back is the one they cannot reach.

Play it on the island