Styles of Play

Some general styles of soccer play:

The Long Ball style often seen in England takes advantage of the strength and work rate of its practitioners. Rather than being advanced on the ground, the ball is kicked from one end to the other, with its target a muscular striker already in place near the goal.

Catenaccio is Italian for “great chain.” It is a system in which the defense is packed tight in front of the goal, and most of the offensive work is done in quick counterattacks. Implementing the tactics of catenaccio over the last few decades led to the trend of low-scoring games.

Total Football is a system in which responsibilities at individual positions were stretched to allow all players to defend and attack, creating mismatches that could overwhelm the opponent.

Jogo Bonito, or “the beautiful game,” describes the style associated with Latin America, and specifically Brazil of the Pele era in the 1960s and ‘70s. The style is characterized by ball-handling and using individual skill and flair to advance the ball and create offensive opportunities.