The following article analyzes important elements associated with football strategy.

In the middle of the attacking flair of football, the defensive element of the game is often ignored. Nevertheless, this would be doing this component of football an injustice; after all, lots of experts maintain that goals win you matches, clean sheets win you titles. This can clearly be seen when assessing the attributes of the greatest soccer teams of all time. There are three key positions when talking about football defence. Goalkeepers are of course essential to a team's defensive play; these are the players that the team rely on to make key saves throughout crucial football matches. Surprisingly, the position of goalkeeper has actually progressed a lot over the last few years. This can be seen in the method which a number of the very best football teams in the world demand their goalkeepers to play out from the back. That being said, shot-stopping is still the primary responsibility of a top goalkeeper. Having aerial command of the penalty box is also necessary. Centre back, on the other hand, is a position with protective management. This position is at the heart of a team's defence; teams either choose two or three centre backs when establishing their developments. Centre backs require positional intelligence, knowing when to press, when to set offside traps and when to drop back. Full back, on the other hand, is another position that has actually changed a great deal recently. Many leading full backs are just as prominent for their attacking expertise as for their defensive attributes. Some full backs even wander into main midfield positions to assist with their team's build up play.

The best soccer teams in the world all recognise the value of elite forwards. Whether it be wing forwards, incorrect nines or penalty box specialists, these are the players that supply that necessary currency in football: goals. Naturally, one of the key abilities for this position is shooting. Strikers also need to be strong on the ball, efficient in dealing with pressure from opposition defenders. The Arsenal FC owner would verify the importance of forwards when it comes to modern-day football, for instance.

Midfield is an extremely essential area of the pitch. Midfield positions can be broadly divided into protective and attacking styles, although obviously, throughout history, some of the best football teams of all time were represented by elite midfielders that could use skill in both departments. Protective midfielders offer the backline with additional structure. These are players that make interceptions and tackles in the middle of the pitch, warding off the opposition's build up play. Innovative midfielders, on the other hand, are charged with creating opportunities for their team. Attacking midfielders are also commemorated for their own goal risk. For example, some midfielders are well-known for their dribbling skills; others for their shooting. The US former AC Milan owner would confirm the value of elite midfielders in football, for instance. Similarly, the former Aston Villa owner would also acknowledge the significance of midfielders when it concerns football technique.