It’s easy to think that the only tactic that works in modern soccer is the high press, given how popular it currently is for clubs and countries. That’s what happens when successful teams adopt a tactic that gives them a clear advantage. The high press has the potential to do just that, but it’s not as straightforward as it may seem.
Simply put, the high press is just what its name suggests. The back line of defenders sets up higher up the field than is usual for soccer, opting for a possession game that presses the other team. Breaking a high press can prove tricky, with the defensive line well aware of their positioning to keep the opposition offside and limit midfield buildups. That can do two things at once, giving the offense additional opportunities with so many players in the attacking end as well as not allowing the opposition space to build their own attack.
As you might expect, this takes a great deal of tactical awareness from the team employing the high press. The offensive line has to be aware of the number of players and options high up the field. The defensive midfielders have limited space between those attackers and the back line, the defenders have to balance holding their line with taking available opportunities, and the goalkeeper needs to be in position to stop any surprise shift in play.
If that suggests that effectively utilizing the high press requires an elite squad of players, there’s a reason for that. One of the current critiques of contemporary soccer tactics is that there are too many teams trying for the high press when they lack the personnel to make it effective. It’s tempting when watching a top club almost effortlessly employ the high press to think it would work in other situations. Sometimes it does, of course, but there are plenty of examples of the opposition breaking down a high press or otherwise counteracting it with presses of their own.
With both teams pressing high in possession, there’s not much traditional midfield play. With those midfield roles changing when using a high press, buildup happens much closer to goal and more horizontally to take advantage of limited space. Conversely, this pushes the opposition back, crowding their own box and potentially creating opportunities through spacing mistakes.
Forcing mistakes is key for the high press, a tactical decision to try to push the other team into tricky positions that lead to bad decisions on defense and turnovers with changes of possession. This is what makes it so effective when done correctly and consistently. It’s demoralizing to the opposition when the high pressing team creates so much control with the ball leading to increased opportunities under pressure in the attacking third.
If that sounds convincing, it’s worth the reminder that a high press relies on multiple players staying in position and making the correct choices. Any weaknesses creates opportunities for the opponent and can quickly throw the pressing team out of alignment and susceptible to a quick counter-attack. With so much space behind the defense, an opposition player on the run with the ball suddenly has significant space and options.
That’s why weaker teams attempting the high press create problems that are difficult to address over the course of 90 minutes. Making the appropriate adjustments when a high press isn’t working can be difficult, once again raising the issue of why some coaches employ a press when it doesn’t play to a squad’s strengths.
