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    The Vital Importance of Ball-Playing Centrebacks
    World Cup 2026

    The Vital Importance of Ball-Playing Centrebacks



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    As football evolves and player roles continue to shift, more and more importance has been given to the centreback. While they’re not the type of players to get all the media attention, modern systems and tactics have transformed the centreback into one of the most sought after positions, with the price tag of world class players in this position rapidly trending upwards.

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    #centreback #defender #rubendias #virgilvandijk #bastoni #tactics
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    Chapters
    00:00 The Rise of Ball Playing Centrebacks
    00:56 Centreback Principles
    02:34 Identifying Centreback Playstile
    02:52 Ruben Dias
    05:17 Virgil Van Dijk
    08:03 Alessandro Bastoni

    View 24 Comments

    24 Comments

    3. db91 on

      Top top video. I love the attention to the little details like Van Dijk stopping the ball. You're fast becoming my favourite football tactics channel.

      I'd love to see a series of these types of videos: different types of holding mids, different types of wingers etc

    7. teekay miller on

      Lisandro Martinez is also a beast and underrated, his carries and vision are superb and also his composure on the ball, doesn’t yield to an opposition press

    13. Miguel Porras on

      Moore, Beckenbauer and Scirea were the pioneers of this particular approach to center back role. They were really good with the ball and had excellent passing range, but short and long. They were also extra attackers when needed (specially Beckenbauer and Scirea). Baresi (the ultimate defender IMO), Stieleke, Tresor, Passarella, Krol, the other libero from 70's Ajax whose name I don't remember, were also excellent ball-playing defenders. Probably I missed some old players anyway.

      Then came lots of other defenders with these skills, many of them former CDMs or FBs: Koeman, Rijkaard at Ajax (94), Aldair, Mihajlovic, Nesta, Stam, De Boer, Maldini (when he played CB), Costacurta (who was far better technically than people give him credit for) Hierro, Onopko, Desailly, Blanc, Matthaus in the latest stage of his carreer, Lucio, Materazzi, Marquez (as good as Pique on the ball but far better all around defender, if you ask me), Ferdinand, Carvalho, Terry (yes, he had fairly good passing range), Bonucci, Pique (one dimensional player lucky enough to be someone's son), Ramos after Mourinho, Varane…

      My point being, it has always been important to have some order on the build up from the back. It gives the maneuver flow and speed to guarantee possession and a swift transition. Of course in recent times the importance of the role has gone to the limelight. But it has always been there.

    17. Michael Lehm on

      Great video, as always. I would love to see a similar video on the importance of goalkeepers in build-up, analyzing the characteristics of some of the world's top keepers within the context of their clubs (whether they use more short or long passes, safe or risky, etc)

    18. Mac_United on

      My favorite CB is Lisandro Martinez ❤
      He seems like a beast in tackling and Offensive Engagement but his ball Playing Qualities are just exceptional and he's very press resistant like Busquets etc.

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