Messi started off at Barcelona cutting inside from the right wing, dribbling across the pitch, combining with teammates, and creating opportunities to shoot at goal. He could also carry the ball through the inside channel from the half-space to get into a position to play a cross or cut-back into the middle. Under Pep Guardiola, he advanced from his slot as the left-sided number eight in a 4-3-3 (below). In the early part of his career at City, he started wide and would come off the flank to receive in the half-space. His ability to receive between the lines, break the opposing back line with penetrative passes, and play reverse passes in behind the opposition made him one of the best creative midfielders in the modern game. Silva was superb at occupying the left half-space for both City and Spain.

Which teams, coaches or players use the half-spaces best? David Silva for Manchester City and Spain This will increase the space both between the lines, and for players to receive in the half-spaces. This disguise gives the receiver more time and space, and so less pressure on their first touch.Īdditionally, penetrative runs beyond the opposition’s back line can push the defenders deeper.

A player can face the touchline and reverse a pass back inside to play vertically into the half-space from a wide area, or diagonally from the central lane. An inverted full-back who moves inside can help to overload the half-space during deeper build-up play.ĭisguised passes are a useful tool in making a team’s play less predictable, and can help access into the half-space. To do this, width is needed from a full-back or a number eight who moves out to overlap. This can help to create space for a midfielder or number 10 to receive in the half-space.Īlternatively, a winger can cut inside to attack the half-space. A centre-forward can then pin the closest centre-back to prevent them from stepping out to press. That means width on the outside – usually provided by the winger or wide midfielder – is integral, as this will tempt the full-back out.

When a team is attacking and looking to get into the half-spaces, they need to first increase the distance between the opposition’s ball-side centre-back and the full-back next to them. How do teams get players on the ball in the half-spaces? The half-spaces are also, in English, sometimes referred to as the inside channels. The term ‘half-space’ is thought to have first been talked about as a specific area of the pitch in Germany, and comes from the translation for the German word ‘halbraum’. Where does the term ‘half-space’ originate? Teams tend to aim to get on the ball in the half-spaces in the final third usually around the edge of the penalty area, where they can threaten goal. Sometimes, these five lanes are numbered: the wide areas are numbered 1 and 5, the centre is number 3, and the half-spaces are numbered 2 and 4. The half-spaces are the two vertical lanes between the wide areas and the central lane. The central lane is the vertical space through the middle of the pitch, and is usually defined as the width of the centre circle or six-yard box. When the pitch is split into five vertical lanes, each lane is given a name: the wide lanes are called the outer spaces or wide areas, and are usually defined as the space between the touchline and the outside edge of the penalty area.

The term ‘half-space’ refers to a specific area of the football pitch.

Soccer tactics board lineup