In this blog Sharon Muxworthy, an FA coach developer, shares her experiences of visiting the 2023 UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals.
It was a privilege to spend time at the final day of the UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals 2023. We watched Benfica play Anderlecht in the 3rd/4th place game and Sporting Lisbon play hosts, Palma Futsal in the Final.
Watching elite futsal often challenges our observational skills as coaches because the game is so fast and there is so much going on. There are so many things we could discuss further, but here are our top 5 reflections.
Timing
One of the FA’s six capabilities, timing was vital in helping teams maintain possession of the ball and play past defenders. It was a key ingredient in two players connecting. The timing of the receiver’s movement to be in the perfect position at the perfect time, coupled with the timing of the release from the passer was often the difference between keeping the ball and giving it to the opposition. This was particularly important when playing to the pivot (the furthest player forward). A 1-3-1 shape was a common sight and the deepest three players were often marked tightly and under severe pressure. This meant the ball could be played to the pivot, but the defender was usually stopping this by marking in front. Therefore the pivot had to move in front of the defender at just the right time to meet the pass from their teammate. Timing of movement was also evident in players offering support in wide areas. A forward run from one player would clear space for another player to appear at the right time to receive facing forwards.
How often do we put players in practices which highlight the importance of this and provide lots of opportunity to practice it?
Deception
Sometimes referred to as a game for liars, deception was clear in all aspects of the game. Another of the FA’s six capabilities, players who can change their mind at the last moment or plan in advance are often the most deceiving but even in the ‘ordinary’ actions deception appeared to be ingrained. From receiving with a feint, to making double or even treble movements, players were always trying to gain an extra yard of space to operate in. We saw reverse passes, passes through legs and faked actions whilst moving with the ball and shooting. These were all individual attempts to off balance and move defenders, but there were also lots of attacking blocks. Awareness of others and helping a teammate by standing in the way of their defender at the last second was often effective in helping the player with the ball make ground. Sometimes this was from restarts but it was also common in open play for defenders to turn into a surprise block.
How might we encourage players to be sneaky when they or their teammate has the ball?
Goalkeepers
One of the most striking observations from both games was the pivotal role played by the goalkeeper, both with and without the ball. In terms of stopping shots, the reactions and agility to make countless saves high and low was incredible. But the most intriguing aspect of their game was in possession. Naturally the free player when all outfield players were marked so tightly, the goalkeepers were always an option to relieve pressure when players had the ball close to their goal. Once the goalkeeper had made a suitable angle of support (often well out from their goal) and the player on the ball had invited pressure from their direct opponent, the ball was passed back to the goalkeeper and the other players would run forward. If unmarked, the outfielders would receive a return pass or a 3rd player pass. This meant the defenders usually left the goalkeeper free. They would then carry the ball forward, sometimes into the opponents’ half where they would then have an unlimited amount of time on the ball, rather than just the 4 seconds allowed in their own half.
How might we think differently about using our goalkeepers when our teams have the ball?
Four corner skills
Psychological and physical attributes were essential in these games. In any high pressure game the ability to self-regulate and control emotions is an important skill. In a game as fast and unrelenting as futsal and in an arena full of 5,000 home supporters, it seemed even more important that the players would need to manage their behaviours to drive their performance. As so this proved and not just for the players either. The coaches must make calculated decisions in the heat of battle and at times they appeared to be caught up in the frenzy of the game as well. The mele halfway through the penalty shootout (which led to two red cards) appeared to be the culmination of all the emotion, but it was a sign of how challenging it was to play on a fine line fuelled by a raucous home crowd. The incredible support clearly caused increased arousal and focus, but managing this was key. Especially when the physical demands were so high. The ability to change direction and speed both with and without the ball, to sprint to get pressure to the ball, as well as the constant physical bumping and holding, would be draining for the players and have further impact on their ability to make decisions. Their ability to maintain the intensity for such long periods and even into extra-time was impressive.
How might we scaffold the players’ experiences to prepare them for games like this?
1v1 duals
1v1 duals (with other players around) can take a variety of forms, and whether backed in or faced up, deep or high on the court or central or wide, futsal provides them all. Clearly different players tend to play these situations differently, often depending on their characteristics. For example, a big strong pivot might try and roll the defender, or a clever passer might try and find ways to pass and move round a defender. However, the one type of player which seemed to make a difference to a team in these games was a 1v1 player who could beat the defender by dribbling past them on either side. As well as helping to break out of pressure, it usually meant defenders had to be more patient without diving in and often enabled teams to control or slow the game in the opponents’ half by giving it to these players. It was a particular way of dribbling, almost shuffling with the ball stuck to the inside of the back foot, but it meant players could change speed and direction quickly either inside or outside.
How can we help players to build this skillset and confidence to play this way?
UEFA published this report on the event, which had some similar findings.
I would welcome any thoughts or questions below.
