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Hamburg Between Lines & Finish
ADDED TO FAVOURITES
Practice Breakdown:
Number of Players: 9 | Pitch size: 1/2 Pitch
This unopposed attacking practice focuses on breaking lines and creating finishing opportunities from wide areas. Play starts with a controlled pass in midfield before a forward, line-breaking pass is played into a player positioned between the lines. On receiving, the attacker turns quickly and plays a threaded pass into the path of an onrushing full back, who delivers a cross for the finish.
In the second variation, the between-the-lines player combines with the wide full back using a 1–2. The full back sets the ball back into the half space, allowing the original attacker to receive on the move and deliver a cross into the box for a finish. Both variations encourage clean progression through central areas before exploiting wide spaces.
• Quality of Line-Breaking Passes: Encourage firm, accurate passes that break defensive lines and allow the receiver to play forward on the first touch.
• Body Shape Between the Lines: Coach the receiving player to open up on the half turn to see both the wide runner and the box.
• Timing of Full-Back Runs: Emphasize delayed, explosive runs from wide areas to arrive at speed for the cross.
• End Product: Reinforce accurate crossing and composed finishing based on the type of delivery.
Add Passive Defenders:
Introduce one or two passive defenders in central areas to apply light pressure on the between-the-lines player, forcing sharper scanning and quicker decisions.
Focus: Improves awareness, tempo and realism in build-up play.
Limit Touches on Key Actions:
Restrict the between-the-lines player to two touches and the crosser to one or two touches before delivery.
Focus: Encourages fast combinations, cleaner execution and match-realistic tempo.