When the ball is put into play, each of the teams has 11 players on the field. One of them is the goalkeeper and the rest are dedicated to playing in different positions, although throughout the game they can vary. Changes are made in the game lines if it is necessary to strengthen the attack or defense. But the number does not change unless there is an expulsion.
We have already talked about why it is played with 11 players. This time, in our football blog, we want to talk about the positions that each of them occupies, in addition to how many players a football team has, not just those in the field or on the bench.
Positions of soccer players
As for those positions or tactical locations of the players within the field of play they are (from back to front):
Goalkeeper or goalkeeper: They are responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring a goal in their goal or goal and the only ones who can take the ball with their hands.
Defenders: are the players located on the line in front of the goalkeeper or goalkeeper.
Midfielders or flyers: they are the players who are midfield and usually assemble the plays.
The strikers: they are the attackers of the team and usually those who have more ability to score goals.
As you have seen, we have explained the 4 different basic positions that are used in a football team, although in reality, they are “lines” and I will explain that now.
Each in his position
Soccer is a sport of strategy, which uses the qualities of each player to get something to surprise the opponent. Hence, there are specialized players in each of the positions defined in the field. Depending on each one, we can distinguish between:
Goalie
There is only one per team when playing. He is in charge of preventing the opponent from scoring a goal in the goal he defends. In addition, he is the only player who can catch the ball with his hands, as long as he stays within his zone.
Defenses
They are placed just in front of the goalkeeper and their function is to slow the progress of the opponents. The idea is that the goalkeeper does not have to work, even that he gets bored a little because the defensive line is doing an impeccable job.
Sometimes the defenders can play early or even climb to finish off a ball. Although it is normal that they immediately return to their position to avoid the danger of a kickback.
Middle centers or midfielders
As the name implies, they are players who are in the center of the field. Your task is to distribute the game and support both the defenders and the strikers in their functions. It is one of the most important tasks of the game and it is considered that the best midfielder is responsible for whether or not his team is considered the best team in the world. In the history great soccer figures are remembered that played in that position, some of the authentic legends.
Forwards
They always play in the front area of the field, trying to break the defense of the opposing team and score goals for the goalkeeper. Normally, they are the best auctioneers to be more likely to score. Some of these players with very individual, while others prefer to lean on the block and move the ball from one to another, depending on the strategy followed by each coach and the mentality of each group.
Lines and strategies
Football is based on lines and strategies, which mark the number of players in each position, depending on whether a team follows a defensive or offensive pattern. This may vary from one game to another depending on how the opponent plays.
Each line has its variations, as well as a different type of player. For example, within the defense, there are those who move better by one of the bands of the field, while others stay in the center and often support the midfielder. The agility or leg they use most determines to some extent what position they will occupy in each line.
The coach is the one who prepares the strategy and decides how many players from each position will go out to the field. This always at the beginning, since the situation may change and it is necessary to put one more forward to try to score a goal or even touch up the lines if someone is lost by an expulsion.
Off the field
The 11 players on the field are not the only ones. In fact, a football team can consist of a total of 25 players, according to the current football regulations. Depending on the competition, everyone can be taken or one must be left out, perhaps watching the game from the stands or recovering from an injury.
In any case, it is normal to have a complete template so that the coach has were to choose or have a player who substitutes another in any of the positions we have mentioned. If there were only 11 in the team, no changes could be made, and if the squad is too short and some players are injured or ill, they could not play on equal terms.
So the answer to how many players are in a soccer team is: it depends. If we refer to a game, a team has 11, which can be more when you count on the reservations that are also available to the coach to make the changes you need. If you talk about a whole team, the number can be 25. And maybe even more, depending on a series of conditions that we may talk about another time.
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