There are very different roles and responsibilities tied to specific positions in soccer; it’s rarely as straightforward as it used to be.
Defenders defended, midfielders created, and strikers scored. Still, as the modern game has evolved, there has been the evolution of roles within roles, and certain physical or mental characteristics tend to push a soccer player towards a much more refined position than ever before.
When it comes to forward players, the difference between a striker and a center-forward is quite markedly different; a striker is an absolute goalscorer, the player who hovers as close to the opponent’s goal as possible. Their sole aim in life is to be the last person to touch the ball before a goal is scored.
A center-forward role is slightly different; their role is to be the focal point from which attacks usually take place.
Center-forwards can and does score goals, but in a two-person strikeforce, the center-forward receives the ball and either bring the wingers into play or, more ideally, sets the striker up with a clear goalscoring chance. Let’s delve more deeply into the two roles.
Striker Roles
A striker’s physical attributes are pace, acceleration, and a clinical eye for goal; their primary role is to score goals, and lots of them. A striker is expected to be selfish in front of goal, focused on getting as many goals as possible for the team.
Whereas a center-forward might come deep to make themselves available to receive the ball, a striker prefers to stay much closer to the opponent’s goalkeeper; if a cross or pass arrives in the area, but the striker is nowhere to be seen, questions need to be asked.
The six-yard box is the strikers hunting ground; every half-chance needs to be taken, just in case it’s the last chance.
A clever striker will use the space around them well; constant movement is key to finding space and losing their marker. A defender is pulled from one side of the penalty area, back to the edge of the box, and into the penalty area, all while the striker is watching out for the ball coming into the danger area.
Modern strikers now move more freely than in previous years; as the game has expanded and defenders have more cover from teammates, a striker can now shoot from distance if need be.
Waiting on the edge of the six-yard box means you’re unlikely to score; defenders simply overload the player and mark them out of the game.
Center-Forward Roles
Unlike the ever-moving striker, a center-forward needs to be seen; they’re the target man, the focal point for attacks heading into the area. Ideally, a center-forward is a large, strong player, preferably with an aggressive streak. Their role is to either accept passes upfield from midfielders or wingers and hold up the ball.
A great center-forward can take a ball at chest height, turn with the ball, and either play the striker in for a shot on goal or redistribute the ball to the wingers before moving further into the penalty area. The center-forward does all of this with a defender on their back, invariably kicking lumps out of them.
A tall, well-built center-forward is invaluable, don’t mistake this role for having a lack of finesse; if done correctly, this role allows a team to sit further back, protecting their defense, while the center-forward waits for the ball.
Once the center-forward has received and kept the ball, the rest of the team then joins the attack.
The Creative Center-Forward
Sometimes a center-forward may not be the biggest player on the team; it could be that a club has a creative center-forward whose role is to drop deeper into midfield and then carry the ball forwards themselves.
At times, this kind of player may roam wider towards the wings and then drift back inside when they receive the ball.
Some of the best players ever to play soccer have shone in this role. Sometimes it’s a talented, creative player with the intelligence to carry the ball into an opponent’s area, with the quality to score a goal out of nothing.
Dennis Bergkamp, Alessandro Del Piero, and Roberto Baggio all used the center-forward role to cause havoc; defenders hate a forward that needs following out of position.
Combining The Two Roles
Not as many teams play with two players up front in the modern game; the prevalence of a 4-2-3-1 formation means that a lone striker has to be able to fulfill several roles.
When a team does play with a striker and a center-forward, though, the possibilities are enormous. With a deep-lying center-forward collecting the ball and setting up the quick, agile striker, when it works well, it’s unstoppable.
The striker and center-forward combination were very popular during the 1980s and 1990s, with several of the most successful teams of the era employing the tactic to significant effect.
Even if the center-forward is unable to provide through-balls for the striker to run onto, it’s easy to lay the ball off to wingers who can cross with accuracy, move into the penalty area with the striker, and hunt as a pack.
Examples of Center-Forward & Striker Combinations
Great players can always play together, but sometimes forces align, and a strike partnership can become genuinely lethal.
Here are some examples of a two-person attacking lineup that often utilized a striker and center-forward partnership to scare defenses out of their minds.
Robbie Keane & Dimitar Berbatov – Tottenham Hotspur
A superb combination of Robbie Keane’s speed and goal threat and the mercurial talents of Dimitar Berbatov made Spurs a deadly threat.
Berbatov would often drop into a deeper role and dictate play, taking the ball into feet with his back to goal; the center-forward would then terrorize defenses or play the lightning-quick Keane in for a shot on goal.
Filipo inzaghi & Alessandro Del Piero – Juventus
Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed that Inzaghi was born offside, so you can guess what role the superb Italian played while at Juventus. With Del Piero dropping deep for the ball and often using the wings to confuse defenders further, Inzaghi would hug the six-yard box and wait.
Rarely seen running and always there to put out a foot and have the final touch before a ball crossed the line, Inzaghi was one of the best strikers of any generation.
Even later in his career, when playing for AC Milan alongside center-forward Andriy Shevchenko, Inzaghi would score goals by the hatful, and all of them within spitting distance of the goal line.
Alan Shearer & Chris Sutton – Blackburn
A perfect example of strength and power, the two English strikers would help Blackburn to lift the Premier League title in 1995. Alan Shearer would go on to be the most prolific goalscorer the Premier League has ever seen and is still the current record-holder for the most Premier League goals.
With Sutton acting as the center-forward, Shearer would play the striker role and score goals for fun. This partnership was interesting because both players were big, strong, and excellent shots, allowing them to interchange positions quickly. One of the best partnerships the Premier League has ever seen.
Conclusion
It’s very rare to see an elite team playing simultaneously with a striker and a center-forward, which is why the examples above are from teams that played many years ago.
Tactics change, though; what was once in fashion is now outdated, and it’s not impossible that we will see a return of the two-person strikeforce in the future.
Given how successful this tactic used to be, and with the defenses of the top teams now becoming even more frugal in giving goals away, perhaps a team may find itself with two players who fit the bill.
A tall, powerful center-forward playing alongside a quick goal poacher could be just what the fans want to see.
