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Below are 6 lessons about soccer skills and soccer training that I learned from the 2010 World Cup:
1. One-Touch Play is Critical in Order to Play Fast. Good soccer players must play fast. There often isn't time for 2-touch. You can use the Dribble Around Cone & Pass Relay Race Practice Game to teach one-touch play.
2. Teach Soccer Players to Block the Ball When they are Running Onto it Near the Goal Rather than Trying a Big Shot. Landon Donovan's goal vs. Algeria is a perfect example. He blocked it into the corner using the inside of his foot - there was NO backswing. The ball had plenty of power because he was running onto it. Think of how many shots went wide over the top because players kicked the ball too hard. Donovan kept his eyes on the ball, ran onto it and blocked it (one-touch) for the goal.
3. What Makes a Great Soccer Goal Scorer? In this World Cup, Klose of Germany and David Villa of Spain were 2 of the best. Both of them are smart players who anticipate where the ball will be and move to the right place. They are persistent, opportunistic and determined. I don't think either of them would win a skills contest, but they know how to score. Klose isn't flashy, but he is very smart.
4. Teach Your Attackers to Stay a Step or 2 Behind the Ball on a Counterattack. If you watched Klose, he would stay a step or 2 behind the ball on a fast counterattack. This gave him 2 advantages: he was less likely to be called offside and he could run onto the ball and block it into the net.
5. All Forwards Should Pressure the Goalkeeper Like David Villa. I was very impressed with David Villa of Spain, not just because of his scoring but because late in the Germany game (75th minute and later) with Spain leading, he kept pressuring the German goalkeeper. That didn't let the German Keeper take his time on punts or kicks off the ground. (Remember, a player can't "harass" the Keeper, but a player can pressure them to pick up the ball). I thought his hustle set an example for his team. At that point he had scored 5 of Spain's 7 goals and had assisted on another, so he was responsible for 6 of the 7 goals, and if he had just stood there like most Forwards no one would have said anything.
6. A Great Dribbler Who Can Break Down the Defense is Very Valuable, BUT He Must Know When to Pass. Messi is the ultimate example. He uses the dribble to set up the pass. He pulls defenders out of position to create space for a teammate and then passes the ball and follows up the shot. Arjen Robben is also a great dribbler and can disrupt defenses, but he has the reputation of sometimes dribbling too much when he should pass.
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