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Striker’s Boots

Dean Ariola

Strikers are the players who play nearest to the opposition’s goal, so they are mainly responsible for scoring goals. This advanced position brings with it limited defensive responsibilities, but strikers still require intelligence, as well as speed of execution and thought, to perform well in their role.

Strikers Forwards BootsWhat You’ll Find On This Page:

Top 8 Boots for Scoring Goals!

1. Nike Phantom GX 2

Preferred by the likes of Erling Haaland, the Phantom GX is the ultimate striker’s choice. With sticky Gripknit in the upper, the Phantom GX prevents the ball from slicking away and helps the striker control it on his first touch.

2. Nike Mercurial Vapor

The most popular boot among footballers includes the ever-clinical Robert Lewandowski. The Vaporposite+ upper is thin enough to get a perfect sense of where the ball is all the time, while the Zoom airbag provides a comfortable bouncy platform to go in and out of the box.

3. adidas X Crazyfast

Scorers like Heung-min Son, Lionel Messi and Mo Salah benefit from the clean, barefoot touch of the adidas speed boot. They also get into scoring positions a second faster because of the responsive Speedframe outsole.

4. Puma Ultra Ultimate

If you want a boot that is really tight in fit, secure in lockdown and assists you in going through on goal, the Ultra Ultimate has got you covered. The upper’s ULTRAWEAVE, the same material used for big Puma kits, gives a direct, barefoot ball sensation that is good for those who feels they strike more accurately if they can have a raw touch on the ball.

5. adidas Copa Pure II+

Headlined by Paulo Dybala, the adidas Copa Pure+ has shown it can be capable as a finisher’s boot. The supple premium leather forefoot on the Fusionskin upper truly dampens the touch. It also forms a thin upper profile together with the knitted midfoot for a speed bootquesque  fit and feel.

6. Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta  

The Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta gives you an excellent leather option upfront. Both the premium K-leather forefoot and synthetic Beta Mesh midfoot cling to your foot closely for a close, non-restricting fit, while their relatively thin profile means you significantly feel where the ball is all the time.

7. Puma Future Ultimate

Break down the deep block and waltz your way towards goal with the Puma Future, which has a Fuzionfit+ midfoot compression band for an adaptive fit and a pliable meshed forefoot for a boot that flexes naturally with your foot. Twist into a shooting position rapidly with the two-way flex of its Dynamic Motion System outsole.

8. Nike Mercurial Superfly

The same Mercurial Vapor boots, but only with a Dynamic Fit collar just like in Mbappe’s and CR7’s boots. And knowing that you’ll be wearing the same boot as these stars should give you a mental edge in front of the goal.

Playing Styles of a Striker

There are so many football philosophies about winning matches, but it all boils down to one thing and that is scoring goals. While certainly defenders and midfielders are not excluded in doing such, goals are the bread and butter of forwards. To score goals, forwards have varied roles depending on skills and positioning.

In a team’s frontline, there would always be the one player (or two at least in a 4-4-2 formation) whose primary function is to stay on the top to deliver the finish. Aptly called the ‘striker’ or the number 9, this forward uses clinical finishing to put the ball in the back of the net, much like Kun Agüero. However, aside from being an out and out striker, a number 9 like Zlatan Ibrahimovich has qualities that allow him to be the target man, designated to win the long balls using height, strength, and heading ability to hold up the ball and create goal-scoring chances for the other team members.

In contrast a false 9 drops deep (even reaching the midfield at times) both to possibly create spatial gaps and to confuse the defence in terms of their marking, Cesc Fabregas famously played the role for Spain and Lionel Messi was well known for playing this way at Barcelona.

A ‘second striker’ resembles a balance between the goal scoring of a number 9 and the creativity of a number 10. Instead of going all out in starting and positioning as an attacking midfielder, a ‘second striker’ instead would swing back and forth between supporting the main striker and dropping back to midfield to receive the ball. The second striker specifically acts as a support chain then between the main striker and the midfield. Wayne Rooney had at times been deployed to such roles at a time when Manchester United had the likes of Robin Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa.

Depending on if positioned narrower near the centre forward or advanced in the wings, a supporting set of ‘inside forwards’ or ‘outside forwards’ is positioned on either flank of the main forward. Inside forwards and outside forwards are prominent during the existence of the 2-3-5 formations.

Author

Dean Ariola

Dean has worked Chief writer at the Black & Orange team since 2020, he has an indepth knowledge of all the soccer shoes from the big brands, you have him to thank for all the updates to our Boot Secrets guide and he is first on the scene with all the new releases for you!

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