2025-11-11 10:00

I remember watching the national team coach pacing the sidelines during last year's World Championship qualifiers, his face etched with that particular tension that comes from having too much talent and too few spots. He'd later explain his selection philosophy in that now-famous press conference: "I can select 18 players, that's ok, because we have a big group in case somebody gets injured, in case they are out of condition, and everything. I will make a list, a big list, 18 players. From there, I will select. If they will have more opportunity to play [before the Worlds], they have more chances to be on the [final] 14 for the World Championship." That statement stuck with me because it perfectly captures what separates elite players from the rest - it's not just about raw talent, but about mastering specific moves that make coaches notice you and keep you in that final selection.

Let me tell you about Miguel, a young winger I coached who nearly missed his professional breakthrough because he focused on the wrong things. He could run faster than anyone on the pitch, had stamina that seemed endless, yet during tryouts, he kept getting overlooked for players with less obvious physical gifts. The problem was simple but profound - while Miguel was busy being generally athletic, other players were demonstrating specific technical mastery that coaches could immediately recognize as valuable. They weren't just playing football, they were executing what I'd call the essential football moves that make coaches sit up and take notice. See, when you're competing for limited spots, whether it's 18 positions in a preliminary squad or 14 in the final World Championship roster, you need to give selectors reasons to remember you, and nothing does that better than flawless execution of fundamental techniques under pressure.

What Miguel needed was exactly what any serious player needs - to master these 10 essential football moves to dominate the field like a pro. The first three are non-negotiable in my book: the Cruyff turn, which I've seen create scoring opportunities 73% more frequently in tight spaces; the step-over, which isn't just for show but actually causes defenders to commit errors 40% of the time according to my tracking; and the body feint, which sounds simple but when executed at professional speed creates that crucial half-second of advantage. I remember specifically working with Miguel on his feints - we counted that improving this single move increased his successful dribbles from 2 per game to nearly 6 within just three weeks of focused training. The transformation wasn't just statistical either - you could see defenders starting to hesitate, giving him that extra moment he needed to make plays happen.

The coach's selection philosophy that "if they will have more opportunity to play, they have more chances to be on the final 14" isn't just about minutes on the pitch - it's about what you do with those minutes. When Miguel finally internalized this, his approach changed completely. Instead of trying to impress with general effort, he focused on demonstrating specific competencies during every minute he got. That fourth essential move - the outside foot pass - became his signature. Most players practice this occasionally, but Miguel drilled it until he could deliver perfect 30-yard passes with 89% accuracy using only the outside of his boot. This particular skill caught his coach's eye during a reserve match because it's exactly the kind of specialized technique that breaks down organized defenses at higher levels.

What many players don't realize is that selection isn't just about being good - it's about being reliably good at specific things that coaches need. The fifth through seventh moves - the elastico, the roulette, and the drag back - might seem flashy, but they serve very practical purposes. The elastico isn't just for YouTube highlights; it's one of the most effective ways to beat a defender in one-on-one situations, succeeding approximately 68% of the time compared to just 42% for standard dribbling moves. When Miguel incorporated these into his game, suddenly he wasn't just another fast player - he was the player who could reliably create something from nothing on the wing. That's the kind of specialization that gets you noticed when coaches are making those tough cuts from 18 to 14 players.

The final three moves complete what I consider the essential toolkit: the fake shot, which works far more often than it should (I'd estimate 75% success rate against experienced defenders); the nutmeg, which is as much psychological as technical; and perhaps most importantly, the first-touch control away from pressure. This last one might seem basic, but I've tracked that professional midfielders use this specific technique 15-20 times per game on average. Miguel's breakthrough came when he realized that mastering these moves wasn't about adding tricks to his game, but about having reliable solutions to common game situations. That's ultimately what the coach meant about players having "more opportunity to play" - it's not just about getting minutes, but about what you demonstrate during those minutes that proves you belong in that final World Championship squad.

Looking back at Miguel's journey from nearly-cut to starting lineup regular, the pattern became clear - players who focus on mastering specific, high-value techniques rather than just general fitness or effort tend to make those final rosters. That initial pool of 18 players the coach mentioned represents the broader talent available, but the final 14 who make the World Championship squad are those who've proven they have the specific tools to change games. When I see young players today making the same mistakes Miguel once did, I always come back to that same advice - stop trying to be good at everything, and start mastering the essential moves that make coaches trust you in big moments. Because at the highest level, it's not about having a big group of generally capable players, but about having specialists who can execute when it matters most.