How Football Actually Works

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The game of football can be divided, split, and broken down into many elements. But as a team, there are certain passages of play you will always encounter.
In this video, we will explain the 10 categories of phases of play; In-possession, out of possession, transitions, and set-pieces.
Explained by Eric Laurie. Illustrated by Philippe Fenner.
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About Tifo Football:
Tifo loves football. We create In-depth tactical, historical and geopolitical breakdowns of the beautiful game.
We know there’s an appetite for thoughtful, intelligent content. For stuff that makes the complicated simple.
We provide analysis on the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, World Cup and more.
Our podcasts interview some of the game’s leading figures. And our editorial covers football with depth and insight.
Founded in 2017 and became a part of The Athletic in 2020. For business inquiries, reach out to [e-mail].
Music sourced from epidemicsound.com
Additional footage sourced from freestockfootagearchive.com
#FootballExplained

[@satriaeerlangga]

Cant wait for the next episode: What is life

[@Svalbaz]

I can answer that. Pain, struggle, brief fleeting moments of happiness followed by long stretches of mind numbing mundanity and constant financial doping by oil clubs

[@djgk53]

Football. 5s video.

[@OlieWoli]

Surely before that it will be What is Love

[@barnsey_4173]

@@OlieWoli baby don’t hurt me

[@patrickrabey4498]

@@Svalbaz Alex Stewart, its you! Hope you're good mate

[@barnsey_4173]

Next episode: What sport do Manchester United actually play

[@grantkassan6561]

fair question

[@aarush130]

Fake football

[@sushrutgokhale3857]

business management

[@godofdespair1314]

Possibly some sort of vehicle sport? After all ole is at the wheel

[@tesla5297]

Fredball

[@nakulmohod4923]

Ole telling his coaching staff: WRITE THAT DOWN! WRITE THAT DOWN!!

[@mm5so24]

I refuse to believe Ole shouts at anyone, about anything

[@nakulmohod4923]

@@mm5so24 consider it his excitement

[@sejn195]

@@mm5so24 Same, hes more of a silent 'Thats fantastik!1' person

[@zdsrtgnzetmyet]

😂

[@nakulmohod4923]

@@liamhemmings9039 I don't think Woodward would let him have a KZbin premium account 😂😂

[@mrseaweed1000]

Not sure if this is the most complicated way of explaining a simple game, or the simplest way of explaining a complicated game… Either way, it’s fascinating. Top work

[@aliali-ce3yf]

could be both per The Phantom Tollbooth

[@arish2611]

this is not the simplest way, football is more complicated

[@colouredIncognito]

It's the basic way to explaining the basics?

[@lekkerkoffie8605]

'Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.' Johan Cruyff.

[@zipboy4630]

The simplest way of explaining a complicated game which is seen as simple I think lol

[@snakeobias]

Ole: "Oh, this is fantastic." *Adds to favourites.

[@geoemm]

Ole-" Carricky carricky, look at this video, I don't understand anything, but it seems important"

[@TamoBG23]

*fantastikk*

[@_Super_Hans_]

Good idea this, not everybody who enjoys watching football necessarily knows the formalities of it

[@danieleatwell7757]

Yes, this has given me a bit more understanding of the actual game on the pitch.

[@johnnysecular]

did you accidentally run to Windsor again?

[@drago939393]

Nah most of us just yell at the TV, cursing the players we dislike and cheering the players we like (for basic, arbitrary reasons).

[@mundea]

Good, I was very confused on football after watching multiple games of Man United

[@Illuso07]

Man city literally trained for 10 minutes to prepare cause United have no identity

[@soulmortal200]

😅😅

[@Wreckedandruinedand]

@@Illuso07 nah dude, City trained full 90+ minutes... At Old Trafford.

[@aakarmamtora3470]

@@Illuso07 Not the actual reason but ok make up narratives to get likes sure.

[@aakarmamtora3470]

Sure add man united's name for no reason just to get likes and comments. Hated adored but never ignored. You trolls are funny

[@player-coach]

What international break does to a man

[@rsturba]

Football has changed so much, on one hand it’s a science but can completely be derailed by a moment of genius or a simple mistake. And you don’t have to understand any of this to be a lifetime fan

[@colouredIncognito]

And where did this quasi-philosophy come from?

[@craigmalcom6294]

Exactly. I see it as a game of strategy, similar to chess or even war. Two sides each with their own tactics, strategies and start talent. With so many variables at play who’s going to come on top?

[@imgdan1el182]

Tifo football at 3 am hits different

[@evansokolson9221]

If it’s 3am for you right now then you’re in the middle of the Atlantic

[@franciscomarcelino1251]

@@evansokolson9221 he can be in Azores that are in the middle of the Atlantic

[@DRDR3ADSA]

Same comment on every video. Original

[@mohammedmohsen1474]

Understanding the game in-depth makes watching it 100x times better and fun

[@dariobanze4801]

I love how he said set pieces can often be overlooked and he proceeds with his statement😂

[@nektarioss]

You took the words out of my keyboard 😅

[@dishantdalvi]

Just made a comment about it 😂😂😂

[@yateendradwivedi3905]

This is actually what i have been asking myself after watching barcelona this season.

[@joshuaworden274]

I'd love to see more videos explaining these basic terms and concepts in more depth. I'm new to soccer, and have been watching a lot of this channel and Tifo IRL in an effort to piece together an understanding of the "tactics" and "systems" that the pundits are always talking about.

[@theportugueselegend]

Cool! I hope you succeed at that, it's a beautiful game. But the first step is actually to stop calling it "soccer", and start calling it football

[@adahobbs6479]

Hi mate, read Allen Wade principles of team play, 1998. It is a very well respected book that explores the foundations on which a team is constructed. It is perfect for beginners, allowing you to do get to grips with the basic principles of football and providing a springboard to learn more intricate concepts.

[@joshuaworden274]

@@adahobbs6479 Thanks for the tip, that sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

[@CoIumbo]

@@adahobbs6479 great book.

[@ahmedabdo13]

Actually playing the game will help you understand it more than anything.

[@m.crasto1249]

PSG be like: "SEND THEM ALL AHEAD!! THEY CAN'T STOP ALL OF US!!"

[@yateendradwivedi3905]

Tifo- u can now get a 30 day trial to experience a football work on the athletic for free.

[@allyc311]

Just in time for a new football manager game. Lovely

[@tshepourbanlaser4515]

The Video we never thought we needed ❤️

[@jzilla1234]

This video is the most coaching Harry maguire has ever received in his block head

[@leviathan76]

Like a lot of Americans I didn’t grow up playing the sport and have only started following it later in life. I’ve picked up a lot of stuff for watching games but this video was very informative for someone like myself.

[@sumnetsumnet6189]

I like to watch so many Americans watch 'soccer' now. It's like a kid learning about a new toy and dunno what to do with it quite yet.

[@willsaenz6320]

Finally, Tifo is making sense of this thing we keep watching every week

[@thesupporterssection3692]

This is a great video I've used it twice now to help get people into soccer. Once with a 61 year old man and the other with elementary school kids. Both thought it was super cool and now have developed an interest in following this great game. Thank you for all the great content!

[@Njwatson23]

Thank god Tifo have finally made a video on how football works, I’ve been watching them for years with no idea what a football is

[@elessar0009]

Aaah this is beautiful. Love this hierarchical way of watching football. So helpful, wish you could turn it into a series, explaining more details in this simple format and language for Each phase. That would be wonderful. Thank you.

[@nadeemafzal5409]

Love love love this video. Please do an indepth video looking at each topic in detail

[@containedhurricane]

Great video! All fans should understand and enjoy the tactical aspect of the games, before making unconstructive comments about a particular manager or player

[@mtk3755]

True

[@Ollay245]

this comment deserves better exposure!

[@datdude6849]

It does

[@usmanrulezzz]

These types of videos are why I love Tifo! And JJ Bull offcourse! Hahaha

[@trini13archer]

Really lovely of you guys to help out my boy Ole

[@nharikrishna7818]

Super brilliant.. this is how a channel should be. Thanks Tifo

[@elky85]

Someone please forward this video to Ole, & maybe a subscription of The Athletic to him too

[@mlondimagubane8851]

No, he is doing fine...trust the process

[@vijayraj1344]

The video I was waiting for all day long... Just to learn the basics of football tactical analysis

[@nomdeplume9917]

If you could, please make a video about different set piece tactics. Great content.

[@ArnabThokderMusicandArts]

"Setpieces can often be overlooked". Ends the video. 🤷‍♂️

[@haoyuan5]

More managerial videos please! Tifo fans can manage a team too!

[@jr_xtreme8940]

Not sure if Tifo are aware but there is a demographic like myself (approaching early 30s) they can appeal to with vids like this One where you've always loved football but would like to transition into the more mature, tactical analytics and man management aspects of it. Basically the boring parts made interesting thru ur presentation

[@crossfitvoyage6810]

Great video I have to say. Very clear and informative

[@ingush1989]

Best video explaining this beautiful game

[@meanderer9705]

Love it when u break down football in simplest terms

[@elishakamble3539]

Thank you!!!!!!! This was needed Grateful

[@zakariachaibi8069]

A masterclass for beginners in coaching! Thanks

[@joeaob9816]

By far the best video on either channel

[@Red-wh3ok]

tifo never fails to simplify things for us!

[@_SJNicol]

This is good stuff. Could show this to people who want to get into watching but don’t understand the game yet.

[@ankurparajuli386]

Classifications are needed for coming up with easy to use terminologies but every phase has a fair amount of overlap and no phase of play can be a strictly one or the other.

[@colouredIncognito]

Uhm..... 😂

[@hodor6994]

Thank you! I needed this

[@Jonathanaturmom]

I regret paying for coaching badges when I could have just watched tifo all along

[@RobFera]

Honestly Football is simple. The difficult thing is doing the simple things correctly.

[@mwbone3116]

Love it❤. I can’t just like it when it teaches me so much in just 7 minutes

[@waseemalibrahim295]

Great video. I wish you explained the set pieces tactics

[@raulsekwati885]

Thanks for clarifying I've been watching without understanding

[@muhammedgamal5871]

Great and simple and very important

[@jaycfc3909]

Thanks for this Tifo💯

[@frankroughan9410]

Great video. I wpuld love to see a video of 5 a side tactics.

[@fardinhooo]

i feel like this was a lecture that i need to pay for. always top, top quality videos.

[@RezAM847]

Very nice Thank you for your good content🙌🏼

[@AryaYuyutsu42]

Amazing video. The style was incredibly reminiscent of Pink Tights and Plenty of Props by Rowan Atkinson. Which makes me love this that much more... :D

[@UnbiasedBayernFan]

I love how the red is for Man U and that juxtaposes their current state of coaching 😂 Tifo with some inadvertent (or advertent?) humour. Love it either way

[@TextbookBoxingGB]

As someone who’s team is struggling badly playing a 2-2-2 in 7 aside Could you do some basic tactics or formations for small sided games

[@christopherbryan1512]

struggled with that formation as well. 3-2-1 did better for us with a regista at the middle of 3atb. 2 mids playing destroyer-creator combo (sometimes both box-to-box in tougher games). with me playing as a pressing 9. sometimes we play 3-1-2 with a tall striker besides me because to think of it i fit the werner role

[@domkat2293]

You can't just do tactics out of nowhere not knowing what players you have, fitness, speed, players strengths and weaknesses

[@matafaka2060]

2-2-2 is a terrible formation for 7 aside

[@nicholaslagatta414]

Tifo’s analysis is off the charts. Fantastic stuff

[@TheRc361]

After this video! TIFO is officially my favourite KZbin channel( across any category) Big fan! , can you get a me autograph ✍️ ? Amazing stuff guys! :)

[@elijahmaina]

Wow! very insightful

[@ColorMeMozart]

Gives me a better understanding of the game!

[@sayansameer]

Yep, after watching this video, I'm officially more tactically adept than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a manager.

[@dr4aces]

Fantastic video!

[@denigster]

to be honest: a very nice idea - football is such a part of my life that i never thought about how it must feel when you never heard about it before and now you will understand it

[@scottedelsten1579]

Hey guys, great video 👍 could you give some recommendations of books or resources to help improve a person's knowledge of football, apart from watching TIFO IRL of course 😉 keep up the good work!

[@utieyinogedegbe147]

Thanks for this Tifo

[@joaari1]

Wow. U can see how the big clubs like chelsea, man city and liverpool play with their systems as well as appreciate how the smaller teams attempt to break them. I get what everton, Brentford, west ham and crystal palace more now as well

[@YCHarry]

Amazing video!

[@robinhocezar738]

Please do a more detailed video on set peices!

[@aadirao9401]

Omg watching every other tifo video with this knowledge in hand... I felt set pieces explanation was a bit rushed through tho

[@tariq8041]

Brilliant stuff

[@stephbingham7522]

This is fantastic

[@guitardude1933]

How could anyone dislike this video? Proof people will always find something to complain about when there is none.

[@PurpleScrafty]

streets are saying Ronald Koeman personally requested this video while he was still employed at Barcelona

[@leonardohenry17]

love videos like this

[@anthonyjudeaggabao2302]

This should be a required viewing whenever someone wants to comment something football related on social media. Im so sick of people treating everything like FIFA cause even pundits and some writers pander on those types of discussions cause of the clicks and attention they result to.

[@tesla5297]

Pundits are the worst analyists. They debate about trivial matters

[@whufc-essex]

Another top vid by tifo 😎👌

[@HereWeald]

I would like if you guys made your own custom XI, and make your own tactics and how your team would play, it would be very interesting

[@omeyiin1626]

Tifo in splendid form

[@alexorpin9893]

Finally someone willing to tackle the tough questions

[@winstong7438]

this was very good i will wathc more ❤

[@omageprosper9673]

Best video I've watched on football

[@niclas8265]

Great video

[@ak47groupAKM]

Very helpful for an American fan who has a general no idea what's going on

[@Haobey]

Would love it if you lot had 'the next [insert superstar]' series. Would love to know which stars today are most like the legends of yesterday statistically like Pirlo or Berkamp.

[@jerryrawlings9943]

Great 😊

[@laoganmafootballclub6632]

"Set pieces are hugely important but often overlooked" proceeds to overlook set pieces

[@lasseegelund3409]

C´mon guys. The three offensive phases are not decided by the balls position on the pitch, but the balls position compared to the defending teams pres. Phase 1: When then ball is in front of the first defensive pressing line. Phase 2: When the ball is in front of the second defensive pressing line. Phase 3: When the ball is in front of the third defensive pressing line (or behind it) But else good stuff you guys are making.

[@j.jupiter6164]

Thanks alot

[@dubbadubba875]

Where's the merch song? I was looking forward to it.

[@badman5356]

Thanks for explaining to The Glazers and Ole

[@jimibode4629]

Things you never knew you never knew. Aboot football

[@alphaoneil5197]

I had no idea !!

[@kingpeeprints445]

This was bsicly a Pep Masterclass.

[@tobiogunsina8426]

These are very basic principles of football. This is stuff even ole uses

[@WenSud]

very subtle tifo..very subtle..now someone tell ole to watch this

[@willevans8605]

Ole be watching this taking notes right now.

[@sorryminati4719]

basically the introduction to Jose's tactical periodisation 😬

[@sohammukherjee8730]

I'm wondering if recent tifo videos are for football enthusiasts or for Ole Gunnar Solskjær training manual

[@yakunats]

I have played football all my life (and I'm pretty skilled at it) but I never quite understood modern football strategy like I do watching Tifo Football.