Two-footedness / Technique

Leo No.8 · January 10, 2006

Isn't it incredible how many players in the Premier League can't use their 'other' foot? You'd think they'd just train on it loads and improve. We've got players who are terrified to use their wrong foot (we all know who the offenders are!).

What is interesting to note though, is how superior our Spanish players are in that regard and generally in the technical aspects of the game.

Garcia is equally happy with either foot; he slightly favours his left but he can score from distance with either foot, say looking at Juve and Charlton at Anfield last season, which is pretty damned impressive.

Xabi is equally impressive in that respect; the newspapers certainly didn't pick up on the fact that not only did he score form 60 yards the other day, he did it with his 'wrong' foot.

So why is it then that the player coming from over there are so much more technically adept? Is it drummed in more at a young age, or is it the different tempo of the game allows them to get used to using both feet? Perhaps it's just a latin thing?

You see it said a lot that players from abroad are good technically, but none of the so-called experts really try to explain why.

Any thoughts?

Kite · January 10, 2006

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