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Freestyle Soccer : Is Performing Soccer Tricks Worthwhile in a Football Match?

Article by Heikal Suhaili

This question raised curiosity because people are stillconfused with it. Freestyler's ability to perform variouscombination of complex sequences of juggling and dribbling(ground) techniques makes them exciting to watch whether onthe streets or through media such as internet. Nike launchedfreestyle campaign in the early 21st century throughadvertising and promoting competitions throughout the worldenabling people to see the likes of Ronaldinho, EdgarDavids, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Francessco Totti, Ronaldo andothers. But can freestyle football become practical to the"real" football game ?

Freestyle Football Benefits

Juggling and dribbling techniques is the process to improvecoordination, balancing and ball control. Mastering acomplex set of juggling trick requires time, dedication andpatience to become an exciting freestyler. Freestylefootball allows individual to express their creativity oninventing new soccer tricks either on juggling or dribblingskills.

There are many dribbling tricks like the step-over that canbe learned and practise. Each trick has different levels ofdifficulty varying from beginners to advance. Choosing andperforming the right trick during a football match can be acrucial strategy. Applying these tricks require good timingand execution. Execute it perfectly and you'll gain valuableseconds or create space for your teammates in tightsituations. But make a mistake and you'll allow youropposition to crawl back to their positions or you'll losethe ball thus allowing them to hit on a counter attack.

Top professional football players such as Zinedine Zidane,Ronaldinho and Ronaldo may have many tricks in the bag. Butthey only master or specialize one trick in a match known astheir "trademark" trick like the famous 360-roulette, flip-flap and dummy are there to be seen.

The Downside of Freestyle Football

Freestyle footballer has tremendous technical abilityespecially ball control but may lack in other attributesthat are required during a football match.

Attributes are spread into three categories:

1. Physical

Many leagues especially in Europe require football playersto meet the in-game physical demand such as stamina,strength, balance, agility, pace, speed, acceleration andjumping

2. Mental

Aggression, anticipation, bravery, creativity, decisionmaking, determination, flair, influence, off the ball,positioning, team work and work rate

3. Technical

Ball control (technique), crossing, dribbling, finishing(shooting), heading, long shots, long throws, marking,passing, taking penalties, set pieces (free kicks, cornerkicks, throw-ins) and tackling

Of course when you're involved in a football training ormatch, some coaches may discourage you from doing tricks onthe pitch. Instead they focus on other factors like teamspirit, team movement and tactical battle which in myopinion necessary to win a match.

Is All About Playing "Beautiful" Football

But who wouldn't want to see top football players displayingtheir brilliance on the pitch. The "beautiful game" is moreabout football teams winning with style rather thanscrapping for victories. After all, the modern game is moreabout entertaining the football fans than just winning atall cost. Sadly, some teams still adopt this unhealthymindset. Never-the-less, being able to pull-off a trick andout-manouvering your opponent is the best feeling in theworld. Finally, let's raised the "beautiful game" to anotherlevel.

I would leave this article with a quote to ponder on:

"Ronaldinho is technically very good, but also very strongphysically. He was against three players and I could notstop him. After that goal everything ended for us" JohnTerry