How To Defend In 1v1 Like A PRO

In this video professional player Will John gives us his top tips on how to defend in 1v1 situations so that you never get beat!

[chaibyusuf]

I'll try that tomorrow.. Are you laying on the bed thinking about your tomorrow match?

[alexj]

1. Get pressure on the ball
2. Get a good defensive stance
3. Force one way
4. Use your body (without grabbing, elbowing or excessive pushing)

Don't mind me, just putting the key points here to remember them lol

[diulikadikaday]

a few other tips:
1) always make sure your body is between the ball and your goal, even if they cut in or go out.
2) keep your feet about shoulder width apart. Closer than that and you don't have the spring in your legs to move. Wider than that and they can nutmeg you
3) get low, you should be in a semi squatting position. And keep your hands up around your waist height, they will help with balance and shifting your weight. I see too many defenders with arms dangling like they are made of jelly.
4) Your primary job isn't to tackle, it's to prevent danger. Make sure they don't dribble past you, get a shot off or get a good forward pass. If they turn backwards and pass, you will have done your job right. Most players only make a couple of tackles per game. Most defending is done by applying pressure, blocking, intercepting or keeping the opposition away from dangerous areas. As Paolo Maldini says "If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake."

[fuchica]

Reading game is the key. You must know what is going to happen in each situation before it happens...and so u Must choose the less risky way to defend. After some experience you realise that you must be patient.
The best way to tackle is not tackling but to shrink as much as possible the space until there are no space.

[lolothend]

what a beautiful spot to play football!

[maverickoasiis]

Recovered from 6 month injury, bout to start my first game of the season tomorrow, just here for vibes and notes... very helpful, guess I'm ready😤🙏

[kvs]

Awesome, exactly what my coach taught me, and I have been playing this style for years as a defender. It works effectively, and combining with my own physical strength, many times i can tell the attackers are either stuck or afraid of facing me in 1vs1 situation.

[happygamer]

Really helpful. My last game we played it was pretty much static defending then i lost my head because i didnt know how to defend properly as we only have one coach and as a team we didnt have alot of time to train because we were thrown straight into that season. Massive help, hopefully i put these into practice on our next game

[nIcholasbrAdy]

0:29 what real defenders do during a 1v1

[hussienhaboushi]

I use the go up take mini steps shift to the way they are going i stand on a angle and ALWAYS to make people hate you when they ask their teamate to pass the ball to them stand infront of them

[YeiYeiC]

You don't understand how many times I would dive in and I would eat grass. As a CB this has been one of the best tips I've EVER heard. Short and easy. I usually panic but this has helped.

[alpha]

I played socfer for 12 years a deffender for 7 years, and in that time my best 1v1 defending strategy was ( if they are running towards you, not just doing tricks a few inches in front of you): when strikers attack whilst running most of them tend to make a little mistake, that is that one time at least they push the ball a bit thurther then the other times, and that sets them a little off, thaz is when i quickly step in and rush for the ball, if nessesery i even push them a little bit after that so they really can't continue their attack, after that i just play the ball to my teammates

[MessiMagicStatus]

Thank you bro love form west bengal Kolkata

[SoushinSen]

I wish videos like this existed in the 80s-90s. Had soccer matches in gym class during elementary/middle/high schools, but none of the educators would teach any of these basics. So I was constantly getting destroyed without a single clue how to defend.

[ryvexP]

Bro I played my first match in 6 years, I had to play left back, bro we lost 1-7
Ps now I’ll try to use this tips for the next game

[kaiSaunders]

It’s hard for me in 1v1 situations because I’m a small cb and at the standard I play at the attackers are bigger and faster

[_dnl_]

Always try to put a striker on their weak foot. Therefore, if right footed but coming from a left sided position cover the space which they can run inward to and as soon as they go wide on their weaker foot you should know when to dive in. I tend to always jockey players until the right moment just as Bobby Moore would have. Positioning is really important. If you jockey well and keep your eyes on the ball whilst your positioning prevents them from bursting into a space. Players will often turn and look for a short pass but this I better than nothing as the pass is often back ward. So In a match pick your man (striker) try workout what their dominant foot is and force them on their weaker.

[rickynetogoat]

Love the tips and the key points. Now sometimes i see that in pro football some defenders stay in the middle and keep their body the whole way. I dont know how to explain it but its like they dont shift their hips they just keep their body to one side and still keep the opponent infront of them. Do you know what they do this? I see this mostly on the wings in 1v1 situations.

[brownboii]

So u want to defend with a fighting stance?

[oldhdv]

great tips, I am a defender and this will help a lot in future matches :)