Lateral in football: the universal soldier on the wing

Modern football changes faster than tactical encyclopedias can be published. Not long ago, players on the flanks were clearly divided into defenders and midfielders. Today, the boundaries are blurred, and laterals are increasingly active on the wing. The term comes from Italian and Spanish football, and it is increasingly used by coaches and commentators in Russia. We look at who a lateral is, what tasks they solve, and how they differ from full-back, winger, and wing-back.

What is a lateral in simple terms

A lateral is a full-back who combines the functions of a defender and a midfielder. They operate on the entire wing, participating in both defensive and attacking actions. Unlike the classic full-back, the lateral is more likely to get involved in the attack and can deliver shots. Unlike the winger, he does not forget about his direct duties — to disrupt the opponent's attacks and cover the center.

The ideal lateral is a footballer with incredible physical endurance. During a match, he runs more than anyone else in the team, as he must be able to cover both the wing defense and the final third of the field. A good lateral knows how to pass, cross, perform a through ball, but at the same time, play hard in the tackle and correctly choose a position during a counter-attack.

Lateral and full-back: what is the difference

The full-back is a traditional full-back in a 4-4-2 scheme. His main task is to neutralize the opponent's winger and rarely get involved in the attack (only during set pieces or fast breaks). The lateral, on the other hand, is more versatile. He can start an attack from the back, go for a one-on-one, move into the center, and play the role of a "false" midfielder.

The difference is also evident in the schemes. Full-backs fit perfectly into 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, where zones of responsibility are clearly defined. Lateralals thrive in schemes with three central defenders (3-5-2, 5-3-2, 3-4-3). In essence, the lateral is a wing midfielder who moves back to the defensive line when the ball is lost. This is why the best laterals in the world (such as Marcos Alonso, Hans Hateboer, Robin Gosens) have played or are playing in systems with three central defenders.

Lateral and winger: do they compete or complement each other

In terms of tactics, the lateral and winger are on the same wing. But their tasks are different, and often they even compete for a place in the team. The winger is an attacker. He should move into the center, deliver shots, and make goal-scoring passes. Defensive duties are secondary for him. The lateral, however, remains a defender even when he is actively moving forward. If there is a strong winger in the team, the lateral can cover him from behind and create a numerical advantage. If there is no winger, the lateral takes on the entire wing alone, acting as a "universal soldier".

In modern football, the scheme 3-4-3 is often used, where two laterals cover the entire wing without the help of wingers. In schemes 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2, a winger and a full-back may act on one wing — in this case, there is no pure lateral.

History of the term: the Italian influence

In Italian football, the word "laterale" was used to refer to full-backs in the 3-5-2 scheme as early as the 1980s. However, the term gained worldwide fame in the early 21st century thanks to coaches who promoted aggressive wing football. In Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union, terms such as "full-back," "browner," and "wing midfielder" were used for a long time. Now "lateral" is actively entering the lexicon due to the massive influence of foreign tactical schools and the popularity of video games (in Football Manager and FIFA, players on the flanks in three-center schemes are exactly labeled as laterals).

The best laterals of the modern era

The ideal lateral should have speed, work rate, and the ability to play with two touches. Here are a few outstanding examples from recent years.

• Ashraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco national team). Plays on the right wing. Great speed, powerful shot, excellent technique. In Inter, under Conte, he was a classic lateral in the 3-5-2, playing almost like a winger.
• Robin Gosens (Germany national team). The idol of all fans of Atalanta during Gaspere's time. Scored 10-12 goals per season, playing on the left wing.
• Juan Cuadrado (formerly Juventus, Chelsea). Began as a winger but turned into a lateral in Italy. He did not lose dribbling skills but improved in defense.
• Marco Alonso (Barcelona, Chelsea). Best revealed by Antonio Conte in Chelsea, where he often scored decisive goals, getting involved from the back.

Among Russian examples, one can mention Mario Fernandes (in his best years in CSKA, he played as a lateral in the 5-3-2 scheme) and Sergey Terekhov ("Sochi," "Rostov") — a hardworking footballer with a good cross.

Tactical nuances: how to play as a lateral

If the coach sets the task of playing with laterals, several points should be considered. Firstly, the lateral should not lose position during transitions from defense to attack. He must be able to go forward and return. This is why laterals often have exceptional physical fitness (Vo2max at the level of swimmers).

Secondly, the lateral needs a partner who will cover him from behind. In schemes 3-5-2 and 3-4-3, this role is played by the full-backs. They move to the wing when the lateral goes forward. Without such coverage, the entire defensive structure collapses.

Thirdly, the lateral must be able to cross with both feet. If he plays in a 3-5-2, crosses are his main weapon. In a 4-4-2, from the lateral (who is more likely to be called a full-back there), more often require crosses and passes in one touch.

Disadvantages of playing with laterals: what is criticized about this tactic

The main disadvantage of laterals is the colossal workload on specific players. Injuries in this position occur more often than among central defenders or pivot players. If there is no quality rotation, after 60 minutes of play, the lateral "sags," and the team falls apart on the flanks. The second drawback is vulnerability against teams that like long-range counter-attacks. If the lateral does not manage to return, any fast winger can use the free zone on his wing. Finally, the lateral requires a special team structure — not every lineup is suitable for a tactic with three central defenders.

Lateral in youth football

Coaches in academies often force the study of playing as a lateral. This is difficult because children do not yet have the necessary physicality. Instead of pushing the line "lateral — universal player," knowledgeable coaches first teach the defender to defend and the midfielder to attack. Only after 16 years, when the physical potential becomes clear, the most enduring are transferred to laterals. In Russia, there are still problems with this: many young footballers are not ready for such a workload and burn out by the age of 22.

Conclusion: lateral — a trend or for the long haul

The lateral is not just a tactical trend, but an answer to the increasing intensity of the game. Football is becoming faster, and players who can cover the entire wing are invaluable. Top clubs pay tens of millions for laterals, and demand for them does not decrease. Even in the classic 4-3-3 formation, full-backs are increasingly playing as laterals (remember Trent Alexander-Arnold or Joao Cancelo).

So the position is serious and for the long haul. This means that every young footballer who wants to become sought after should at least try playing on the wing — perhaps in the role of a universal lateral.

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