Crossing and Finishing

To improve players’ ability to recognise when to combine or dribble in wide 1v1s and execute quality finishes from crosses under minimal pressure.

Setup: • Use the final third with one goal and a goalkeeper. • Place 2 mannequins (or cones) to act as passive defenders. • Minimum of 4 players in rotation (Players 1–4). • Wide cones or markers set up as activation reference points for crossing areas. Process: 1. Player 1 dribbles at the first mannequin and beats it on the outside (black line). 2. Combines with Player 3 using a 1-2 to re-enter. 3. Beats the second mannequin and finishes on goal. 4. As soon as Player 1 shoots, Player 4 drives at the top of the box and also finishes (red line). 5. Simultaneously, Player 3 passes out wide to Player 2, who: ◦ Drives at the wide mannequin (blue line), ◦ Beats it and delivers a cross for Players 1 and 4 to attack. 6. After the first cross, Player 3 moves into a wide position and delivers a second cross (white line) for Players 1, 2, and 4 to finish again.