Yahoo Sports What is a low block in football, and how does it work?
A low block is a tactic used in football.
It involves a team defending very deep in their own half of the pitch with the aim of restricting attacking space for the opposition.
Teams using a low block will typically defend in a tight, narrow shape which concedes possession to the opposition, who can control territory until the final third. Defenders remain in - or just outside - their penalty area, with midfielders and attackers not much further in front.
When the opposition meets the low block, the weight of numbers and lack of space makes it very hard to create chances to score.
With no space behind the defence either, opponents may be forced to cross into a crowded penalty area or shoot from distance, both of which bring a relatively low probability of scoring.
The use of a low block often draws criticism from pundits and fans as it is perceived as a negative tactic.
Who uses a low block?
A low block is most commonly used by a team playing against a better or more creative rival, and often in an attempt to hold on to either a win or a draw in difficult circumstances.
As well as stifling the opposition, a team using a low block may still try to score - despite not aiming to hold on to the ball very often - through counter-attacks or from set-pieces.
Managers including Diego Simeone, Jose Mourinho and Sean Dyche are among the most prominent proponents of the low block in modern football.
Simeone has won two La Liga titles and reached two Champions League finals with Atletico Madrid, who have typically employed a narrow, defensive 4-4-2 shape to frustrate opponents throughout the Argentine's time in charge.
Mourinho won a historic treble with Inter Milan in 2009-10 using a low block, including knocking out Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League with one of the most impressive defensive performances of all time in the second leg at the Nou Camp.
Dyche has built up a reputation for frustrating Premier League opponents and leading his teams to survival during his time in charge of Burnley and Everton.
Some managers who don't typically use a low block may do so in special circumstances, including if on of their players is sent off, or they are desperately holding on to a result in the final minutes of a match.
