I have a soccer strategy question.

What leagues are you watching?

I agree with you about the long FKs. I pass short whenever I play the video games.

Yeah, I can sometimes be seen getting frustrated when a team I'm pulling for does this. It's nice to have possession. I don't understand why either, unless you're concerned your back line will make a bad pass and give up a horrible turnover.

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ve been watching alot more soccer lately, and I notice everytime there is a goal kick or free kick in defensive territory most teams just lob the ball into the other half of the field for a header.

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Some reasons why you'll see teams boot the goal kick long:



A) The team long kicking feels they have a big/strong target man to kick toward who can win possession far up the pitch a better majority of the time


B) One team simply feels outmanned, so kicking up a 50/50 ball gives them the best chance to get it forward. (This is usual where there's a quality mismatch like when American football teams don't risk passing deep in their territory. )


C) When 2 teams are fairly evenly matched it may be more because one team is pressing high up the pitch and therefore the long kick avoids the costly turnover and, if completed, may lead to a numbers advantage attacking

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Im about to pick up the new fifa, ill be sure to do that.

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Go long on FIFA. Your opponent may intercept the short pass leaving him one-on-one with the goalie. That is way worse than a 50/50 ball.

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DONT

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Why not?


ETA: And thanks for some of the explanations

The USMNT does this alot and it drives me crazy.

Also, if you try to pass it on FIFA, you have to be really careful because normally you have an opponent right there waiting to pick it off.

But yea, I agree - why teams just lob it from a goal kick I don't know.

It's like playing "field position football" and punting the ball away. Most likely the ball will be put into play, deeper in your opponent's territory.

The idea is that it makes the opponent begin possession near his own end, or even at the edge of his penalty area. Means more pitch to try and cover, and the possible result of regaining possession farther up the pitch.