USA At Copa America 2024 – USMNT Gianni Vio Set Piece Analysis

Short-option manipulation

Starting with the first corner against Bolivia, which ended with a goal, Bolivia defended with five zonal defenders, three-man markers, a short-option defender and a rebound defender, as shown in the photo below in which a short-option attacker goes quickly to receive a short touch from the taker, Christian Pulisic. In contrast, there are only three attackers near the zonal line, and the others are still walking slowly near the edge of the box, making the man markers wait for them, and we will explain why.

In the photo below, the short-option defender attends on time. Still, the close short attacker and  Christian Pulisics overlap puts him against a quick 2-v-1 situation because the one who is asked to help him is the first zonal defender who is late because of this trick. In contrast, there is an attacker stands in front of the second zonal defender, in black, to fix him preventing him from going to help into the targeted area where Pulisic will dribble, at the corner of the box where the referee stands.

This routine is well-designed. An attacker stands on the edge of the box to fix the rebound defender and prevent him from going to the same area, making sure that this area is empty.