I was watching Australia’s goal against France this morning, and what caught my attention was the assist — a well-executed cutback. In that moment, it dawned on me: cutbacks are becoming increasingly prevalent in national teams as a strategic approach to maximise goal-scoring potential. This article delves into the growing prominence of cutbacks in women’s international football, examining their role in unlocking defenses, creating scoring opportunities, and shaping the outcomes of crucial matches.

The well-executed cutback by Raso not only confounded the French defenders but also provided her teammate with a prime scoring opportunity. It was a testament to the evolving tactics of national teams, where cutbacks are increasingly being embraced as a powerful weapon in their offensive arsenal as a way of creating high-quality chances.

Fowler’s goal against France

https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fplayer.vimeo.com%2Fvideo%2F845526966%3Fapp_id%3D122963&dntp=1&display_name=Vimeo&url=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F845526966&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.vimeocdn.com%2Fvideo%2F1698064671-1de6bab2b53c0c685b0f00453ce1598c8c1ceb565ed6245fabd4e2e6d258f7c6-d_1280&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=vimeo

The surge in the use of cutbacks among national teams can be attributed to their ability to disrupt and dismantle even the most resolute defenses. When executed with precision and timing, cutbacks bypass defenders who are often fixated on tracking the primary threat from the wings or marking attackers from deeper positions. This diversionary tactic creates a momentary gap in the defense — a golden opportunity that can be seized by an onrushing teammate. By redirecting the ball towards the center of the field, cutbacks introduce an element of chaos and unpredictability, leaving defenders scrambling to recover and attackers primed to capitalise.

The advantages of Cutbacks

Cutbacks, also known as pull-backs, offer several advantages in football, providing teams with a potent attacking tool. Here are some of the key advantages of utilising cutbacks in the game:

1. Disrupting Defences: Cutbacks have the ability to disrupt well-organised defenses by introducing unpredictability and creating confusion among defenders. By playing the ball back toward the center of the field, cutbacks bypass defenders who may be focused on marking attacking players or covering the primary threat from the wings. This diversionary tactic opens up gaps in the defense, creating valuable space for onrushing attackers to exploit.
2. Creating Space: One of the primary advantages of cutbacks is their ability to create space for attacking players. As the ball is played back toward the center, it draws defenders away from the goalmouth, creating room for teammates to make intelligent runs into scoring positions. The diagonal nature of the pass also allows attackers to receive the ball with momentum, making it harder for defenders to recover and close down the space.
3. Maximising Goal-Scoring Opportunities: Cutbacks are an effective means of maximising goal-scoring opportunities. By redirecting the ball toward the center of the field, cutbacks offer attacking players a clear sight of the goal, often providing them with better shooting angles. Additionally, the pace and trajectory of cutbacks make it difficult for goalkeepers to anticipate and react quickly, increasing the likelihood of finding the back of the net.
4. Exploiting defensive gaps: Cutbacks capitalise on gaps in the defense, exploiting the momentary disorganisation that arises when defenders are forced to adjust their positioning. As defenders react to the threat from the wings or track runners from deeper positions, spaces emerge in central areas. Cutbacks can be precisely timed to exploit these gaps, allowing attackers to receive the ball in advantageous positions, unmarked or with limited defensive pressure.
5. Variability and unpredictability: Cutbacks add an element of variability and unpredictability to an attacking team’s repertoire. By utilising cutbacks along with other attacking strategies such as crosses, through balls, or dribbles, teams keep defenders guessing and make it harder for opponents to anticipate their next move. This tactical diversity can unsettle defenses and create openings for scoring opportunities.

Theory of cutbacks

In its simplest form, a cutback in football involves pulling the ball back from the backline, typically near the end of the penalty area, towards the central area of the field. This maneuver is executed by a player who has advanced toward the opposition’s goal line or the edge of the penalty area. Instead of crossing the ball directly towards the goal or delivering it into a crowded area, the player plays a pass back, parallel to the goal line, into the space near the penalty spot or the edge of the penalty area.

The purpose of the cutback is to create a scoring opportunity by capitalising on the space and positioning of teammates who are in or around the penalty area. By pulling the ball back away from the crowd and focusing on players at the periphery of the penalty area, the passer aims to find teammates who are arriving later in the play. These late-arriving players have a better chance of converting the ball into a goal due to the space available to them.

The advantage of a cutback lies in its ability to exploit the disorganisation and attention of defenders. As the initial attacker approaches the backline or the goal line, the opposition’s defense is often preoccupied with preventing a direct shot or cross towards the goal. This diversionary tactic draws defenders towards the player with the ball, creating space behind them in the central area. By playing a well-timed cutback, the passer can deliver the ball into this space, where attacking teammates can take advantage of the reduced defensive pressure.

The success of a cutback depends on precise timing, awareness, and communication among the attacking players. The passer must assess the movement and positioning of teammates in the penalty area, anticipating their runs and timing the cutback pass accordingly. Meanwhile, the supporting attackers need to read the situation, make intelligent runs towards the edge of the penalty area, and be ready to receive the ball and convert it into a scoring opportunity.

Case study: Australia

https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fplayer.vimeo.com%2Fvideo%2F845534599%3Fapp_id%3D122963&dntp=1&display_name=Vimeo&url=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F845534599&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.vimeocdn.com%2Fvideo%2F1698076097-2e1b9e866e121323f04c3df7a76d37aa3c6018039a50e5218084474a3dfd1779-d_1280&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=vimeo

Australia executed a very good counter-attack in which three players were central to the goal: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Hayley Raso and Mary Fowler. Raso passes the ball to Cooney-Cross, after which Raso gets in the space in the wide area to receive the ball. Fowler begins her run in the middle.

As soon as Cooney-Cross passes the ball to Raso, Raso accelerates and moves in the wide area and draws opposition to the right wing. In the same time Fowler remains in the central areas and moving forward, where she is relatively unmarked.

When Raso passes the ball to Fowler, we see that three players are very deep and not concerned with defending Fowler, and other players come too late. Fowler arrives a bit later, but between the two lines and that’s exactly where the ball is passed. She finished the ball adequately.
Usually, cutbacks are coming from a little bit higher and for players arriving later, but this is a very good tactic to create high-scoring goal opportunities for players during games.

Final thoughts

Cutbacks are revolutionising women’s international football, confounding defenders and creating scoring opportunities. National teams strategically employ this tactic to disrupt defenses and exploit gaps. By redirecting the ball towards the center, cutbacks create space for attackers to make decisive runs and find better shooting angles. Their unpredictability keeps defenders guessing, while precise timing and communication among players are vital. Australia’s goal against France exemplified the art of the cutback, showcasing the potential for success. As the game evolves, cutbacks will continue to shape outcomes, forever etching their mark on the beautiful game.