Three pressing triggers
- Square pass in the first line: force wide, block the return lane.
- Receiver on the back foot: wing-back jumps, striker cuts the pass back to the CB.
- Heavy touch: compress for 5–8 seconds to win it or force a clearance.
Tactics
3-4-3: when to push wing-backs, when to slow the game
3-4-3 gives you width and second-line presence. But if you don’t protect half-spaces, you get stretched and hit on the counter.
Line distances
The key spacing is CB–CM. If the line breaks, half-spaces open and one diagonal pass beats you.
When wing-backs advance, one midfielder must drop to form a screen in front of the back three.
When is it safe to push wing-backs?
Pushing is fine when you’ve locked the centre or the opponent lacks numbers in their first pressing line. If they keep a “10” living in the half-space, slow it down — hold wing-backs at “one step higher”, not fully aggressive.
For the broader game model: Vietnam NT 2025: structure.
Prediction angle: scenario-based scoring
High wing-backs create momentum swings. Predict by scenario (score first vs. chase mode) — not by raw total chances.