We'll show you the 5 most effective 1-on-1 tricks and the corresponding exercises. Special tricks may look nice, but they hardly have any place in a real game. At most, a player like Neymar can leave his opponents standing with an unusual trick. That's exactly why we'll show you the 5 most effective tricks below that you can actually use in the game.
1. Body feint
Very popular with Lionel Messi, the body feint is the most effective skill of all when performed with speed. Although this trick looks simple, you will need a lot of practice to master it perfectly. The trick is to use a quick body movement to lead the opponent in the wrong direction and then pass in the other direction.
2. "Play left, go right"
This trick is ideal when you are coming at full speed and have some space. You play the ball past your opponent on the left and move past him on the right without the ball. If done correctly, your opponent has almost no chance because he has to turn completely. The trick requires precise timing and quick movements.
3. La Croqueta
You need very good technique here and timing is crucial. Only when the opponent actively tries to win the ball do you make the move. You guide the ball with the inside of one foot to the other side of your body and move past your opponent. Watch the video below to see what it looks like.
4. Simple stepover
When doing a stepover, the deception must be as believable as possible. You can't do the stepover too early, but you can't do it too late either. In contrast to the double stepover, the single stepover is more effective because you can do it faster. The trick is to position your standing leg in front of the ball and make a quick circular movement around the ball with the other leg to confuse your opponent.
5. Lucas Fake
This trick is great when you and your opponent are both standing still. You fake a sprint to one side but then go straight to the other side with the ball. This requires a quick trot and a sudden change of direction. In the video below you can see exactly how to do this trick.
Conclusion
It is better to practice a few simple tricks correctly than to learn the most unusual ones, which are then effectively useless in the game. If you need coaching from the professionals in this area, attend a one-on-one soccer training or private soccer training at 360Football.