The match winners are the strikers and attackers. The striker (9), wingers (7 and 11) and attacking midfielders (10) are the most important players in a football team, as they are the ones who are expected to score the winning goals.
What qualities does a good striker need? What skill should the young player be developing to have more value to a coach?
Confidence is definitely a key. It’s happening over and over. If a player has low confidence, they won’t score goals; if they have high confidence, they will score goals. Continue reading for the full qualities!
Top Traits of World-class Strikers
Composure
Composure is arguably one of the most crucial mental qualities a top soccer forward possesses and, more often than not, it is accompanied in their playing style by the finishing ability.
Here’s a real world scenario…
A player may hit a ball from a long distance and hit the target—only to miss a short shot when through on goal against the keeper.
When players lose these types of easy opportunities, it is often due to nerves.
Playing as a soccer forward is basically being “cold-blooded” under pressure.
There is less pressure to score with a shot from outside the area as there is to score when you are through on goal.
Similarly, the pressure to score at a friendly game is not the same as the pressure to score a penalty in the final minute of a World Cup final.
Your under pressure reaction defines your toughness as a forward.
Physical strength
Strikers and center forwards are not the same. The primary difference is their size and strength. Centre forwards tend to be taller and physically stronger; strikers tend to be smaller and quicker.
Strikers dribble through the defence using their skills and speed, and centre forwards beat defenders with their strength and power in their acceleration, jumps and shots. Strikers tend to be deployed alongside forwards, giving them plenty of chances to score.
Physicality is also needed to ‘wrestle’ with the opposition centre backs that are generally taller and stronger than others. A bigger, stronger defender will bully a weak centre forward. Therefore, forwards spend lots of effort in the gym to build and sustain arm and leg power.
Gabriel Batistuta, a classic “number 9”, was a strong player known for his powerful shots. Have a look at some of the fantastic goals he scored.
Confidence
A confident forward doesn’t have to think about things when the ball is in their hands. Other players play it safe, but centre forwards win matches by taking chances. For instance, they’ll try to shoot long shot at a very important moment or they will risk shooting over two defenders.
Over-confidence in a forward can sometimes be mistaken for selfishness. Rather, a player that is confident is not self-centered. Great centre forwards do a lot of work for their team, as talked about. If they think they can score themselves, however, they won’t pass the ball on to a teammate.
Self-confidence comes with a short memory. Great players don’t worry about a clear opportunity being missed. They don’t stop. But overconfidence and a short-term memory can be harmful, too. Watch this video of Martin Palermo, an Argentinean legend.
Speed
A good striker’s speed is one of his most valuable assets. It’s not only about the speed of running. Football speed is a mixture of the following speed elements, and is necessary in a good striker.
Ability to run fast
Explosive speed is the ability to reach top speed rapidly.
Use of feet quickness – rapid movement of feet when performing a move.
The speed of thought-PDE (Perception, Decision, Execution) – the ability to perceive the situation quickly, then make a decision quickly and execute it quickly.
Explosive fast Mobility runs – some of the above plus knowledge of when and where to make the run.
Touch
Controlling a football, or a ‘touch’ is the most fundamental skill for a striker to have. In tight situations, the ability to control the football can mean the difference between an opportunity to score a goal or no opportunity at all. There are many touchpoints that need to be rehearsed.
Zinedine Zidane was one of the players who was known for his touch.
Touch comes with time and when played well is magic to behold – you hear TV commentators gush over, “Oh what good touch by Zidane, or by Ronaldinho, or Messi.
Conclusion
It’s awesome to be a great striker. The feeling of getting a score is awesome! It takes work to be a great striker. No talent, just hard work and effort, with the right attitude. Deep practice is essential and must be done with intent.
Keep in mind the words of Connor McGregor – he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but he knows what it takes to be a winner.
Leave a Reply