Forward vs. Defender
Soccer is an interesting sport for many: it has changing speeds, dynamics in the variety of player positions and a hint of unpredictability where a twist of fate can turn the game around. Soccer is no doubt a team game. One can seldom score a goal by dribbling the ball across the field and getting it across the goal line. Every player contributes to the overall result; even the players sitting on the substitute bench can contribute to the general winning spirit of their team. Despite the undoubted fact that soccer is a team game, there has always been the argument as to who contributes more to a win; is it the defender or the forward?
The forward position is both exciting and fascinating. It is no secret that forward players are commonly the most popular names in the world of soccer, and are usually sold to clubs at a much higher price than players in any other position are. After all, it is a forward in most cases who scores that longed-for goal and makes the whole stadium chant their name. Forwards most often earn free kicks and penalties for their team by forcing the opposing player to commit a foul to stop the striker from getting the ball across the goal line. Forwards are the most widely recognized that even non-fans can identify them by face and name. Soccer fans will agree that forwards are the players one observes, on-and-off the field, more than any other does.
However, there have been millions of soccer games where even the world’s top-ranked strikers have failed to score a goal, because they rarely had the ball in their possession. Sometimes the ball never makes it up to a forward, no matter how great a forward is up front and how much they are willing to contribute. Forwards are rarely able to fall back to their half of the field to tackle for the ball, and still have the strength to bring it all the way to the opponent’s goal. The defenders do the job of winning the ball for their team and sending it across to their forwards. In addition, the defender covers for the forward when he loses the ball and there is a danger of a fast counter-attack from the opposing side.
Defenders have to be ready to make a sliding tackle alert and ready to back up their teammates in the event of a mistake. Defenders themselves do not have the luxury of making mistakes, since even a small slip on their part might result in a goal for their opponents, and thus, a loss that fans are likely not to forgive. Being a successful defender calls for a consistent, reliable and sound performance; on the other hand, being a forward is about readiness to react in an instant, having an awareness of the play of the ball without turning around and of course, a brave heart and a firm kick to strike for your team. One quality that any soccer player should have whether they are a forward, a defender, a goalkeeper or a midfielder is the ability to sense the team and each member of it, read their intentions and act in sync for the team’s victory. We cannot truly say which position is more valuable: whether it is the defender or the striker, since they are both irreplaceable to the team and could not work effectively without each other.
Soccer is an interesting sport for many: it has changing speeds, dynamics in the variety of player positions and a hint of unpredictability where a twist of fate can turn the game around. Soccer is no doubt a team game. One can seldom score a goal by dribbling the ball across the field and getting it across the goal line. Every player contributes to the overall result; even the players sitting on the substitute bench can contribute to the general winning spirit of their team. Despite the undoubted fact that soccer is a team game, there has always been the argument as to who contributes more to a win; is it the defender or the forward?
The forward position is both exciting and fascinating. It is no secret that forward players are commonly the most popular names in the world of soccer, and are usually sold to clubs at a much higher price than players in any other position are. After all, it is a forward in most cases who scores that longed-for goal and makes the whole stadium chant their name. Forwards most often earn free kicks and penalties for their team by forcing the opposing player to commit a foul to stop the striker from getting the ball across the goal line. Forwards are the most widely recognized that even non-fans can identify them by face and name. Soccer fans will agree that forwards are the players one observes, on-and-off the field, more than any other does.
However, there have been millions of soccer games where even the world’s top-ranked strikers have failed to score a goal, because they rarely had the ball in their possession. Sometimes the ball never makes it up to a forward, no matter how great a forward is up front and how much they are willing to contribute. Forwards are rarely able to fall back to their half of the field to tackle for the ball, and still have the strength to bring it all the way to the opponent’s goal. The defenders do the job of winning the ball for their team and sending it across to their forwards. In addition, the defender covers for the forward when he loses the ball and there is a danger of a fast counter-attack from the opposing side.
Defenders have to be ready to make a sliding tackle alert and ready to back up their teammates in the event of a mistake. Defenders themselves do not have the luxury of making mistakes, since even a small slip on their part might result in a goal for their opponents, and thus, a loss that fans are likely not to forgive. Being a successful defender calls for a consistent, reliable and sound performance; on the other hand, being a forward is about readiness to react in an instant, having an awareness of the play of the ball without turning around and of course, a brave heart and a firm kick to strike for your team. One quality that any soccer player should have whether they are a forward, a defender, a goalkeeper or a midfielder is the ability to sense the team and each member of it, read their intentions and act in sync for the team’s victory. We cannot truly say which position is more valuable: whether it is the defender or the striker, since they are both irreplaceable to the team and could not work effectively without each other.