How does zonal marking in football work?

How does zonal marking work?

Teams who use zonal marking as a defensive approach prioritise space control and protection above player-on-player competition. Zonal marking is not limited to defending set pieces (below).

The ball, the opposing team, the players on the team in possession, and the available space on the pitch are the four main points of reference in soccer. Any of these four elements can be given more attention through adjustments to the zoning markings.

Where did people first start talking about "zonal marking"?

It is believed that Brazil invented zonal marking in open play in the 1950s. Zezé Moreira, coach of the Brazilian club Fluminense, opted to switch from a man-marking back three to a zonal back four to abandon the man-marking technique typically employed by the W-M form. Later, people like Rinus Michels and Arrigo Sacchi expanded on these concepts.

While using a zonal marking system, what should the players be doing?

While using zonal marking, defence is prioritised by establishing a compact horizontal and vertical framework. Players should be placed at a manageable distance from one another.

The goal of this strategy is to save time and make things difficult for the other team by not allowing them to advance through the block and applying minimal pressure to the ball when it is outside the block.

Suppose the defending team's main reference point is the available playing area. In that case, this tactic should make it harder for the assaulting team to generate overloads in certain zones, thus neutralising that facet of the attacking play. Yet, this will inevitably result in less room on the pitch for other players.

Suppose the ball's location is the primary concern. As necessary, adjustments will be made at the individual, unit, and block levels. This tactic takes into account specific stages of the game. It also raises the stakes for the players' level of game knowledge, intellect, the anticipation during matches, and ability to work together and communicate effectively. As a result, players won't have to break their defensive formation to help their teammates.

At last, if the opposition or specific members of the opposition serve as the primary point of reference, players within the zonal marking structure may venture out to influence their immediate opponent (above). In contrast to man-marking, players in zone defence are not always required to stick close to their primary opponent. Still, they may be instructed to focus on a specific opposing team member.

At what points do players in a zone mark the ball?

Each player is responsible for defending a certain zone at defensive set pieces where zonal marking is employed. Priority is given to the interior areas. However, coverage may extend to areas beyond the perimeter of the six-yard box.

While defending corners zonally, two distinct units are usually present (below). The taller two lines cover cut-backs and out-swinging deliveries, blocking runs and reducing the opposition's ability to get a run on other defenders. The deeper group aims to win the first and second contacts in the penalty area and attack inswinging deliveries.

One or two players will often be stationed closer to the edge of the penalty area in preparation to press the opponent if they go short, to recover second-phase lost balls, and to start counterattacks. These athletes typically have less strength in the air than their opponents.

Each team can assign anything from two to eight players to each of the two units. However, teams will typically only have four or five players in the deeper unit, with the remainder of the squad acting as blockers at the post or higher on the pitch. After the near-post defenders see the ball sail over their heads, they can reclaim their position on the goal line.

Teams will work to maintain a tight line during free-kick situations. The line must go forward and drop together, lowering lower to shield the goalkeeper or staying higher to offer the goalkeeper more room and boost the offside trap's effectiveness. It's also important for defenders to have the right body form to see the ball and either run towards or away from the goal.

In a zonal-marking system, what do players do when they have the ball?

Zonal marking in open play is a reliable strategy for thwarting the opposition's offensive advances. Winning possession allows your team to immediately start a counterattack, which is especially effective if the other team has committed players forward in an attempt to breach your defence.

Players in a zonal-marking scheme need to be adept at combining in confined spaces after a regain because it is crucial to maintain close spacing between them. Usually, the opposition will apply quick pressure.

It's not just the players closest to the ball who need to be aware during transitions to the attack. They can be a crucial passing option for launching rapid counterattacks when the going gets tough. Although they may begin the play next to a teammate in a close-knit defensive formation, they must make a beeline for open space after each recovery to retrieve the ball while in motion.

Why is zonal marking helpful, exactly?

When defending, zonal marking is an effective method of maintaining defensive compactness and so protecting strategic parts of the pitch. This can make it difficult for the team's most dangerous players to operate in the parts of the pitch where they normally thrive. As a result, a zonal defensive plan can make the other team switch up their attack style.

A block is less prone to develop holes and pockets than one marked by men. There is less chance that a player may be yanked out of position.

Defensive players are relieved of marking, tracking, and blocking duties during set pieces. They won't have to take their eyes off the ball to track the attackers' progress.

The zone players are always prepared to make an offensive play, with their full attention on the ball as soon as it is delivered. The use of zone marking also helps keep players together during the second phase of a set piece. Players can get dragged all over the penalty area if a man-marking system is used.

Please explain the drawbacks of zonal marking.

The emphasis on compactness in zonal marking leaves big swaths of the field open for the opposition to exploit with swift, sharp, and well-coordinated attacks.

Compactness is maintained when all players are focused on the task and are in constant contact with one another. Anyone who needs more focus runs the risk of creating a hole. Attackers may have to tone down some of their play to stay compact.

When teams give up goals from set pieces, zonal marking is generally singled out as the culprit. When defenders mark zones, it's easier for attackers to make a run on them since they can stay put while the ball is in motion. These methods can confuse defenders if an opponent or the ball is near the boundary between two zones.

While defenders are focused on the ball, attackers can go around them and run towards them to steal the ball. Overloading a single zone by multiple foes is also possible.

Is there anything else to do?

The primary defensive strategy is man-marking. Here, each defender zeroes in on and tracks one player as they move around the field. Each player has one opponent they are responsible for and must press, track, duel, jockey, and defend against for extended periods. Whenever the ball is in a particularly dangerous pitch region, defenders often abandon their man-marking approach to overload the attackers who pose the most threat to their goal.

Who uses zonal marking, and why are coaches adopting it?

In his time with Atlético Madrid, Diego Simeone has favoured a low block in which tightness between units and individuals has been crucial. His preferred formation is a 4-4-2 in which the two strikers perform a zonal screen on the opposing team's pivots. The two wide midfielders move in to protect the inside channels (below). The defence will try to force the ball wide by sliding all four players out and having the fullbacks close down passing lanes aggressively.

José Mourinho stressed the need for a tight, well-organized defence during his coaching career. Whilst playing for Real Madrid, he sometimes used a zonal defence to thwart the opposition's attacking schemes. Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso worked well together as a double pivot, sliding across and blocking passes in the middle of the field while charging forward to press or squeeze opponents .

With the help of a withdrawn Harry Kane, Tottenham's central-midfield pair cover the middle of the pitch when Antonio Conte's team defends with a zonal back five. One of the central midfielders will rush out if the opponent gains possession of the ball as part of the team's opposition-focused strategy. The wider centre-back will also leave their defensive position to fill the space in the second line.