Lateral in football: the universal soldier on the wing

Modern football is changing faster than tactical encyclopedias are released. Not long ago, players on the wing were clearly divided into defenders and midfielders. Today, the boundaries are blurred, and laterals are increasingly active on the wing. The term comes from Italian and Spanish football, and it is increasingly used by coaches and commentators in Russia. We find out who a lateral is, what tasks he solves, and what distinguishes him from a fullback, winger, and wingback.

Who is a lateral in simple words

A lateral is a full-back field player who combines the functions of a defender and a midfielder. He operates across the entire wing, participating in both defensive and attacking actions. Unlike the classic full-back, the lateral is more likely to join the attack and can take shots. Unlike the winger (a wing attacker), he does not forget about his direct responsibilities - destroying the opponent's attacks and covering the center.

The ideal lateral is a footballer with incredible physical endurance. During the match, he runs more than any other player in the team, as he must keep up with both the defense wing and the final third of the field. A good lateral knows how to pass the ball, cross, perform a corner kick, but at the same time play tough in the tackle and choose the right position during a counterattack.

Lateral and fullback: what is the difference

A fullback is a traditional wing defender in a scheme with four defenders. His main task is to neutralize the opponent's winger and rarely join the attack (only on set pieces or in quick breaks). The lateral, however, acts more variably. He can start an attack from deep, go for a one-on-one, shift to the center, and play the role of a "false" midfielder.

The difference is also evident in schemes. Fullbacks fit perfectly into 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, where zones of responsibility are clearly divided. Lateralals, on the other hand, excel in schemes with three central defenders (3-5-2, 5-3-2, 3-4-3). In essence, a lateral is a wing midfielder who moves to the defensive line when the ball is lost. That's why the best laterals in the world (such as Marcos Alonso, Hans Hatebur, Robin Gosens) have played or are playing in systems with three central defenders.

Lateral and winger: do they compete or complement each other

From a tactical point of view, the lateral and winger are on the same wing. However, their tasks are different, and often they even compete for a place in the lineup. A winger is an attacker. He must move to the center, take shots, and make assists. Defensive responsibilities are secondary for him. The lateral, however, remains a defender even when he actively moves forward. If there is a strong winger in the team, the lateral can cover him from behind and create a numerical advantage. If there is no winger, the lateral takes on the entire wing, acting as a "universal soldier".

In modern football, the 3-4-3 scheme is often used, where two laterals cover the entire wing without the help of wingers. In 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 schemes, a winger and a fullback may act on one wing - in this case, there is no pure lateral.

History of the term: Italian roots

The term "laterale" was used in Italian football to denote wing defenders in the 3-5-2 scheme back in the 1980s. However, the term gained worldwide fame at the beginning of the 21st century thanks to coaches who promoted aggressive wing football. In Russia and the countries of the former USSR, terms such as "full-back," "winger," and "wing midfielder" were used for a long time. Now "lateral" is actively entering the lexicon due to the mass influence of foreign tactical schools and the popularity of video games (in Football Manager and FIFA, players on the wings in three-center schemes are exactly marked as "lateralals").

The best laterals of the modern era

The ideal lateral should have speed, workability, and the ability to play on two touches. Here are a few outstanding examples from recent years.

• Ashraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco national team). Plays on the right wing. Great speed, deadly shot, excellent technique. Under Conte at Inter, he was a classic lateral in 3-5-2, playing almost like a winger.
• Robin Gosens (Germany national team). A fan favorite of "Atalanta" during Gasparrini's time. Scored 10-12 goals per season, acting on the left wing.
• Juan Cuadrado (formerly Juventus, Chelsea). Began as a winger but qualified as a lateral in Italy. He did not lose dribbling skills but improved in defense.
• Marco Alonso (Barcelona, Chelsea). Best revealed under Antonio Conte at Chelsea, where he often scored decisive goals, joining the attack from the back.

Among Russian examples, you can name Mario Fernandes (in his best years at CSKA he played as a lateral in a 5-3-2 scheme) and Sergey Terekhov ("Sochi," "Rostov") - a hardworking player with a good cross.

Tactical nuances: how to play a lateral

If a coach sets the task of playing with laterals, several points should be taken into account. First, a lateral must not lose position during transitions from defense to attack. He must be able to move forward and return. Therefore, laterals often have exceptional physical preparation (Vo2max at the level of swimmers).

Secondly, a lateral needs a partner who will cover his back. In 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 schemes, this role is played by the wing central defenders. They shift to the wing when the lateral moves forward. Without such insurance, the entire defensive structure collapses.

Thirdly, a lateral must be able to cross with both feet. If he acts in a 3-5-2, crosses are his main weapon. In 4-4-2, from a lateral (who is more likely to be called a full-back there), simpler crosses and touches are often required.

Minuses of playing with laterals: what is criticized about this tactic

The main drawback of laterals is the colossal load on specific players. Injuries on this position occur more often than in central defenders or holding midfielders. If there is no quality rotation, after 60 minutes of the match, the lateral "sits down," and the team falls off on the wings. The second drawback is vulnerability to teams that like to play sweeping counterattacks. If the lateral does not manage to return, any fast winger can use the free zone on his wing. Finally, a lateral requires a special team structure - not every lineup fits under a three-central defender scheme.

Lateral in youth football

Coaches in academies often force the training of playing on the lateral position. This is difficult because children do not have the necessary physicality yet. Instead of bending the line "lateral - universal player," knowledgeable coaches first teach the defender to defend and the midfielder to attack. Only after the age of 16, when the physical potential becomes clear, the most durable are transferred to laterals. In Russia, there are still problems with this: many young footballers are not ready for such a workload and burn out by the age of 22.

Conclusion: lateral - a trend or for a long time

The lateral is not just a tactical trend but a response to the increase in game intensity. Football is becoming faster, and players who can cover the entire wing are invaluable. Top clubs pay tens of millions for laterals, and demand for them is not decreasing. Even in the classic 4-3-3 formation, fullbacks are increasingly playing like laterals (remember Trent Alexander-Arnold or Joao Cancelo).

So the position is serious and here to stay. This means that every young footballer who wants to become in demand should at least try to play on the wing - maybe exactly in the role of a universal lateral.

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