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| Deny Space |
The defending team's most pressing concern is to eliminate large gaps of space within the defense, openings through which an opportunistic opponent can penetrate with the ball to create quality goal-scoring opportunities. Given the fact that soccer is played on the largest playing field of any team sport (except polo where horses do most of the work!), it is not possible for a team to cover the entire area. The defending side can overcome that problem by positioning, or consolidating, it's players to cover the most dangerous scoring areas. This is accomplished through the tactic of positioning players for horizontal and vertical compactness.
Defending players should funnel inward toward the central area of the field as they recover to a position goalside of the ball. Keep in mind that most goals originate in central areas that provide a wide shooting angle to goal. By compacting the defense horizontally, from side-to-side, defending players can eliminate openings within the defense and achieve greater control of the most critical attacking space. Granted, by withdrawing inward the defense will concede a greater portion of the flank area to the opposing team, but that space is considered less critical.
While defending players are withdrawing centrally they should also position to reduce the space vertically (back-to-front). Ideally, each player should be supported from behind, or covered, by a teammate. Such positioning creates a layered effect in the defense, and ensures that if one player is beaten there is another positioned to quickly step forward to take his or her place. From a team perspective this is referred to as vertical compactness. Compressing the defense from front-to-back will reduce the open space between teammates, and also ensures that defending players are not aligned flat across the field. Failure to position for adequate depth and cover will generally leave the team vulnerable to passes slotted through or behind the last line of defenders.
Protecting the open space behind the last line of defense and the goalkeeper is also a major concern. Players on the side of the field opposite the ball should withdraw to a position along a diagonal linking the ball with the far post of the goal. This imaginary line is commonly referred to as the "line of balance." From a position along the line of balance players can protect the space behind their defense, and are better positioned to intercept passes slotted diagonally through or over the first line of defenders. The goalkeeper is also in a favorable position to assist in controlling the space behind his or her last line of defenders. The keeper must be prepared to move forward off of the line to cut off through passes, and at times even move out of the penalty area to control and play balls with the feet.
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