Football is called the beautiful game for a reason. Football is an art if a person knows how to watch it, where to look and what to observe. There is a lot going on provided the viewer knows where to look and what to look at.
There is more to football than just 11 players on each side chasing a ball. The viewer needs to take everything in and make their eyes move quickly enough to observe the game completely.
This is a summarised list of five things a viewer should keep in mind while watching football matches that will enhance their overall viewing experience.
#1 Don’t just “ball watch”
Rule number one, which is perhaps the most important, is to get out of the habit of ‘ball watching’. Everyone does it, we’re conditioned to watch only the ball all times because nobody has told us to do otherwise.
If a viewer wants to analyse football to its finer details, he/she must stop ball-watching. It’s a habit that will go away with time.
While watching the game, if the viewer stops watching the ball, the game opens up and he/she is able to watch every player playing and observe what they‘re doing. This is very important because it allows the viewer to take other details into account. Viewers can watch the game in its entirety which will, in turn, help them with the next few points.
#2 Watch the off-the-ball movement
Off the ball movement is perhaps one of the most crucial aspects of football. When a midfielder or defender has the ball, watch the players and the various runs they make. At every given instant, there are a variety of options to choose from for the player with the ball. Try to see where the players are running and which is the best option for a pass.
Whether it is the full back across the field or the winger running inside or the striker turning off the opposition defender’s shoulder. Keep an eye out for 2v1, 3v1, 3v2 situations and the options available. Watch the overall movement unfold, i.e. the vertical, diagonal and lateral movement.
While defending, watch the pressure applied on and off the ball. While watching the game, it will impart an idea of which teams pressure the ball more and which do it less.
#3 Watch each player’s positioning and the team’s shape
Paulo Maldini once said, “If I have to make a tackle, then I have already made a mistake.” That's how important the art of positioning is. It is without a doubt a vital aspect of football. Teams who are more compact and have a better shape that move dynamically together in synchronised fashion, generally do better in the game. Most Italian managers will have this aspect perfected and Jose Mourinho’s teams do the same.
Watch how the midfield and defence are positioned when they don’t have the ball, it’ll give the viewer an idea of how well drilled they are. Consequently, watch the positioning of the players when they have the ball as well, this will give viewers an idea of how the team’s formation works when they are in possession of the ball.
Shape and positioning are crucial and often separate the best teams from the average ones.
#4 Watch the space and try to anticipate the next pass
Thomas Muller once said in an interview when he was asked to describe himself as a footballer, “Ich bin ein Raumdeuter,” which translates to “I’m an interpreter of space”. Space is king in football. When there is space somewhere on the pitch it must be utilised.
For example, Pep Guardiola’s teams thrive on situations where they can create space by their gameplay and possession. Watch the space and try to anticipate where the ball will go. If the striker, winger or full back have acres of space ahead of them and the midfielder ignores it and passes it to a more crowded area of the pitch, there is more reason to be livid with him.
Paul Scholes and Andrea Pirlo were pass masters who never missed the opportunity of playing the ball into the vacant space ahead of their team-mates. Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, Marco Verrati and Andres Iniesta are the few players who do this the best currently.
Interpret the space and try to observe how teams are creating that space.
#5 Admire the defending and offside traps – It is an art
If a goal gets people out of their seats and on their feet cheering, a great tackle should too. Tackling is a masterful part of football and one that is more often than not under-appreciated. Last ditch tackles that prevent goals and in general, winning the ball back should be appreciated more.
Both the tackling and defensive aspect of the game must be admired. Watch the man-to-man marking, the organisation, the defenders who are more aggressive and the less aggressive defenders. The closing down of attackers and how quick or slow players close down the opposition; the defenders who are tight on their players and the ones that cover, are other aspects of the game to observe closely.
Most games feature battles between the centre forward and centre backs; winning aerial balls first, running past defenders and the one-on-one duels keep the fans on the edge of their seats.
Offside traps are another thing to look out for – one thing to observe during games is when the back-line run forward in tandem to set up an offside trap for the attackers. Defending as a whole must be admired and appreciated as much as attacking.
Train those eyes to take it all in and observe it all quickly. Watch the beautiful game like a coach and enhance the complete viewing experience.
