Football is a game that is constantly changing and evolving. Schemes and constructions are very susceptible to this, since every year the approach becomes a little different, and some of them become less relevant, while new ones are gaining popularity. For example, the concept of “winger” in football is not something that has always existed. It did not appear immediately, because the flank attacks were not confessed in this game from the very beginning. But over time, the edges of the field began to be used more and more often, which is why there was a need for players who will play there.
Now you will learn basic information about who the winger in football is. This is a very interesting position, which plays a key role in many constellations. You also need to understand that the winger often requires certain skills and abilities, on which a lot depends.
Winger Circuits
There are a large number of football schemes and constructions, and some of them do not use wingers or do not pay special attention to them. For example, the herringbone 4-3-2-1 scheme involves a game of four defenders, three central midfielders, two playmakers and one forward. Thus, for the wingers there is no space left on the field.
Roughly the same thing can be said about the 4-4-2 rhombus scheme, in which there are also four defenders, but one defensive midfielder, two central midfielders, one playmaker and two strikers. But the most popular today can not do without such a player as a winger. In football, this is a very important position, and the 4-2-3-1 scheme provides for both the right and left winger (as well as the 4-3-3 scheme). Accordingly, the players in this position today are in very high demand. Winger in football is a very important player who plays very serious roles in concrete constructions.
What does a winger do?
Now you know what “winger” means in football, and it's time to figure out what responsibilities on the field he should fulfill. So, on the field most often there are two wingers - left and right, each of them has its corresponding attack flank. As you already understood, the winger is an attacking player, his task is to develop the attack not through the center of the field, but along the flank. It can be anything: a solo passage with an offset into the penalty area, a passage on the flank and a canopy or a cross into the penalty area for the attacker, and so on. Simply put, wingers generate attacks on their flanks. Most often, they work closely with the extreme defenders of their team - they help them in organizing attacks, and if necessary, they come back to help in defensive actions.
The main opponents of the wingers are all the same flank midfielders, but only the enemy’s teams. The best wingers in football can neutralize the flank defenders without any problems, however, what exactly does a football player need to become the best in this position?
Winger qualities
The best football wings of the world have a certain set of qualities that set them apart from other players in other positions. Given the fact that they need to make passes along the flanks, fast and technical players most often become wingers. Of course, they need to have a very good vision of the field and reaction speed, so that breaking through the flank, they immediately make a decision about what to do with the ball further - drag it into the box, make a canopy or cross to the goal, or give the ball back so as not to lose it if no options were better.
The ability to make accurate and accurate passes also plays an important role, because it is not enough just to break through the flank and send the ball into the box. You need to be able to find with a ball a partner who can score a goal. Often, wingers also have a good hit, which allows them to diversify their game - to move from the flank to the center and complete the attacks on their own.
New trends
It is also worth mentioning that in recent times in football, wings have begun to gain great popularity, which, in combination, are also extreme defenders. This means that the attacking line of the team is mainly concentrated in the center, while the entire flank is left to one player, who fulfills both the attack and the defense. Here the speed and endurance of the player, who should be able to run off the entire match on the flank, having time to go on the offensive or return to defense, is of great importance.
The best left wingers to date
Of course, any rating will be relative, but according to most sources, experts, and football fans, the best left winger in football today is Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. Of course, often he also plays the role of the central striker, but still his main position is the winger. Also among the best are Neymar from Barcelona, Eden Azar from Chelsea, Koke from Atlético or Marco Royce from Dortmund Borussia. Today, Rahim Sterling from Manchester City, Yannick Carrasco from Atlético and Memphis Depay from Manchester United are considered to be one of the most promising left wings.
Best Right Wingers
As for the right side of the football field, here at the moment definitely the best is Lionel Messi from Barcelona, who stopped playing the false nine with the arrival of Luis Suarez and completely shifted to the right flank. Also worth mentioning is Gareth Bale from Real Madrid, Angel di Maria from PSG or Arjen Robben from Bavaria. As for young people, there is also someone to hope for in the future. Very promising are Domenico Berardi from Sassuolo, João Mariou from Sporting or Leroy Sane from Schalke.