Defenders in the beautiful game seem to have the biggest task to do with the leftbacks seen to have the toughest, IKENWA NNABUOGOR tries to find out…
The game’s defence traditionally made of four actors has the daunting tasks of keeping the opposing strikers at bay and shielding the goalkeepers from conceding goals and ultimately preventing defeats.
The defence line made up of the centre-backs or the central defenders, the rightback and the leftback and the last line of defence – the goalkeeper – is believed to be the game’s department that feels the most heat in the game.
The fewer defeats conceded and less goals let in are credited to the defence as they continue to carry the beautiful bride tag as long as defeats are distant or few and far between.
Such is the difficulty as well as the mouth-watering task of defenders, but it appears the leftbacks bear the most brunt as well as the biggest heat of the fiery force of the opposing teams.
This is quite debatable to heap the most daunting defensive tasks on the shoulders of the leftbacks.
One thing is for sure – there are few left-footed players in the world and as such cannot be compared of the sea of legs that are right-footed. That said, leftbacks are hard to come by as left-footed players are sometimes not automatic leftbacks.
It’s also argued that leftbacks are left with the much job to do as well as the heat that accompanies when they are faced with fast, skilled and crafty strikers.
Strikers love to operate from the right and most often are prevented with leftbacks, whose right feet are just for decoration.
Bad news for the leftback and the team in general as the team will be rest assured that they will be under serious siege for 90 minutes.
Leftbacks are left for dead by opposing strikers or wingers whose dribbling abilities are top notch and before the team could realize what hit them the ball is in the net.
The job of leftbacks is made even worse should a smart striker revels in driving the ball on his right foot and ultimately making a meal of him and opening the team for impending danger.
The central defenders will sadly leave their space badly yawning and inviting the opposing team to make hay should they stray to left side to help the tormented left backs.
Another tough task leftbacks have to contend with is positioning – which the opposing striker could exploit gamely of he’s faster.
Aerially, leftbacks are not the best in the defence, making them vulnerable to rangy and tall strikers.
Leftbacks, sadly but true, are most times beaten for space at counter tasks or at direct plays as fast opposing strikers grab the advantage to punish the team.
What about conceding penalties? Leftbacks are the worst hit! Desperate bids to stop fast strikers have left teams on the receiving end, most times, and could ultimately lead to defeats.
Generally, the defence will be put on their toes for 90 minutes, but the leftbacks appear to have more socks to work off.
