#4 The Last man
When the game is stretched, it can be pretty difficult to maintain that defensive line. In such a scenario, the last man of the defence becomes the most important player for the team. This defender has the responsibility to make sure he is never in line or behind the opponent's strikers when the ball is played.
By doing so, the strikers will automatically become inactive and will be ruled offside. This trick can be an effective one to implement where the defence has lost its shape completely, becoming scattered and thus, vulnerable. It can also be used in scenarios where a quick free-kick or a short corner catches the defence by surprise, who are then unable to organize themselves in time.
Take for example the following Women's World Cup 2015 match between USA and Columbia, The lurking striker Abby Wambach manages to score off the rebound, only to be ruled offside.
A careful look at the replay shows how the last defender manages to go beyond Abby just when the player on the 18-yard box is just about to touch the ball, thereby making Abby inactive in either situations, a through ball or in this case a rebound off the keeper.
