How do numbers work in football

Box-to-box midfielders are often built like middleweight boxers, fit enough to dominate the game in attacking and defensive phases, sometimes seconds apart, and McKennie fits the bill. Schalke are rebuilding after a disappointing season — Nabil Bentaleb and Hamza Mendyl are among those to have left — but McKennie has had his contract extended until For the Royal Blues, this box-to-box midfielder ticks all the boxes.

Bundesliga archetype: Filip Kostic. It barely seems fathomable that Kostic suffered two relegations just two years apart with first Stuttgart and then Hamburg. His delivery is akin to a left-footed David Beckham, but he has a top speed of If the opposition full-back marks him tight, Kostic simply races past his man and squares it. His duels won last season were a league fifth-best mark, and came in at a rate of seven per game. Dictates play from behind the strikers Creates goalscoring chances for the attackers Technique and creativity crucial Ability to shoot from range an advantage Historically associated with the No.

Bundesliga archetype: Marco Reus. The classical No. Current Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane wore the number on his jersey in steering France to their maiden FIFA World Cup triumph in , and the most recent Bundesliga player in that mould was perhaps James Rodriguez , who returned to play under the Frenchman in Madrid in June following his two-year loan spell at Bayern. But just as full-backs have become wing-backs and defensive midfielders have evolved into ball-players, so too has the role of the attacking midfielder changed.

Dortmund captain Reus may occupy a similar starting position to Zidane the player, or James, but he is just as likely to send himself flying forward to join the attack as he is the ball.

The results speak for themselves. Reus still plays slick through-balls — his eight assists last season were no accident — but his 17 league goals, a best Bundesliga return for him in seven years, told the story of a No.

The widest attacking player Takes on opposition defenders Provides crosses into the box Meets crosses from the opposite wing Often the fastest player on the field.

Bundesliga archetype: Jadon Sancho. Sancho may only be 19, but he is already the ultimate modern-day winger. Recent years have seen the rise of overlapping full-backs expected to put crosses in from wide areas.

Wingers naturally became inverted — right-footers on the left and vice versa — with that particular task of old taken off their hands. He can outpace his opposition full-back and whip in a cross for a grateful centre-forward almost at will, but the fact he can also trick his way back inside leaves his defender guessing the whole time. Starts up front near the opposition goal Replaces the traditional striker in most formations Drops deep to pull opposition defenders out of position Often a converted midfielder Dribbles and creates chances.

Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, 13 July , 5. Maracana, Rio, 13 July , 6. The centre-backs knew who was marking Klose, a natural striker, and when, all game. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. In recent times, the number has come to recognise defensive midfielders as well. Cristiano Ronaldo was given the No. He is also famously known as 'CR7'. Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish sported the number during his many years at Anfield in which he established himself as a Kop great, along with Luis Figo and George Best.

The jersey tends to be worn by goalscoring midfield players who balance the ability to regularly hit the back of the net while also providing assists and chances for their team-mates. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, remembered as one of the greatest English attacking midfielders, is a classic example of the No. Frank Lampard, who had a similar role at Chelsea, is another famous one, along with the likes of ex-Barcelona and Spain talisman Andres Iniesta and Kaka during his time at Real Madrid.

Retired striker Fernando Torres embodied this shirt and role best when he earned a reputation as one of the Premier League's most lethal forwards during his years at Liverpool. Players may change squad numbers between seasons. A move from a high number to a low one may be an indication that the player is likely to be a regular starter for the coming season. Some players keep the number they start their career at a club with, such as Chelsea defender John Terry, who wore the number 26 during his spell at the club.

On occasion, players have moved numbers to accommodate a new player; for example, Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun handed new signing Juan Mata the number 10 shirt, and changed to the number 30, which doubles his «lucky» number Upon signing for Everton in , Yakubu refused the prestigious number 9 shirt and asked to be assigned number 22, setting this number as a goal-scoring target for his first season, a feat he ultimately fell one goal short of achieving.

Higher level clubs have a tendency to field reserve and fringe players in the English Football League Cup so high squad numbers are not uncommon. The first-choice goalkeeper is usually assigned the number 1 shirt as they are the first player in a line-up. The second-choice goalkeeper wears, on many occasions, shirt number 12 which is the first shirt of the second line up, or number In the A-League, second-choice goalkeepers mostly wear number 20, based on that competition have a man regulated «first team» squad size.

In international tournaments such as FIFA World Cup or continental cups each team must list a squad of 23 players, wearing shirts numbered 1 through Thus, in this case, third-choice goalkeepers often wear the number What is The meaning of SV is saves abbreviated in What is 1st Set Score betting?

How is it possible to benefit from 1st Set Score gambling? What are the general