Against a low block, possession has to be judged by what it changes. The split is between circulation outside the block and access that moves defenders or gives the next receiver an advantage.

A deep, compact defence protects central space near goal, concedes more of the ball, and often channels attacks wide. Aidy Boothroyd’s FIFA Training Centre session lays out the attacking tasks: switch play, use all five lanes, play through the defence, get around the back, and create cutbacks. For an analyst, that shifts the review away from possession share and toward the effect on the block.