Playing on the Right and Left Wing in Football: Secrets of the Winger Position

Winger — one of the most exciting and important positions in modern football. Stars like Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior play on the wings, providing goals and assists for their teams.

Classic and Inverted Wingers

Classic winger: A right-footed player plays on the right wing, and a left-footed player plays on the left wing. The advantage is convenience in running along the line and delivering crosses.

Inverted winger: A right-footed player plays on the LEFT wing, and a left-footed player plays on the RIGHT wing. This is a modern trend — it is easier for the player to cut inside to shoot or pass. Salah (left-footed, playing on the right wing) is the most prominent example of this.

Winger Responsibilities

1. Creating 1v1 situations: Going one-on-one with the opposing defender and beating them.

2. Crossing: Delivering accurate passes into the penalty area from the flanks.

3. Scoring goals: Modern wingers are expected to score 10-15 goals per year.

4. Defensive support: Tracking the opponent's winger and assisting their own defender.

Dribbling Drills

Strong dribbling is essential for playing on the wing. Practice individually with the ball for 15-20 minutes every day:

- Zigzag dribbling between cones (gradually increase speed)

- Stepovers exercise

- Elastico (pushing the ball inside and outside) exercise

- Rapid changes of direction

Playing as a Winger in 5x5

Playing on the wing is also important on small pitches. In 5x5, a winger should take a wider position and capitalize on 1v1 situations. Running deep along the line and cutting inside are the two primary movements.

Book a pitch via Playmatch and practice the winger position in 5x5 games with your friends. Try different tricks in every game — it will be easier to apply them in a real match.