After the clearance: who controls the second ball?

Do not stop observing as soon as a defender clears the ball. Follow where it lands and the positions of nearby players. Here, the second ball means the loose ball available after the initial contact.

ZTVmm exercise: select five clearances from a match. Record the direction, landing area and team that gains controlled possession. Mark an incident as unclear if the camera does not show enough.

The team making first contact may not secure the next possession. Look for supporting players and whether the receiver has a useful passing option.

This is an original viewing exercise, not a statistical prediction. FIFA Training Centre’s defending session offers related reading on clearances and defensive positioning.