Lateral in football: the universal soldier on the wing Modern football changes faster than tactical encyclopedias are released. Not long ago, players on the flanks were clearly divided into defenders and midfielders. Today, the boundaries are blurred, and laterals are increasingly active on the wing. The term comes from Italian and Spanish football, and in Russia, more and more coaches and commentators are using it. Let's figure out who a lateral is, what tasks he solves, and how he differs from a full-back, winger, and wing midfielder. Who is a lateral in simple words A lateral is a wing field player who combines the functions of a defender and a midfielder. He acts all over the wing, participating in both defensive and attacking actions. Unlike the classic wing-back, a lateral often joins the attack and can score goals. Unlike a winger (wing attacker), he does not forget about his direct duties — to disrupt the opponent's attacks and cover the center. The ideal lateral is a footballer with incredible physical endurance. During the match, he runs more than anyone else in the team, as he must be able to cover both the defensive flank and the final third of the field. A good lateral knows how to pass, cross, perform a through ball, but at the same time, play hard in the tackle and choose the right position during a counter-attack. Lateral and full-back: what is the difference A full-back is a traditional wing defender in a scheme with four defenders. His main task is to neutralize the opponent's winger and rarely join the attack (only during set pieces or fast breaks). A lateral, however, acts more variably. He can start an attack from the back, go for a breakthrough, move to the center, and even play the role of a "false" midfielder. The difference is also visible in schemes. Full-backs fit perfectly into 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, where zones of responsibility are clearly divided. Lateralals, however, excel in schemes with three central defenders (3-5-2, 5-3-2, 3-4-3). In ... Read more