What is false nine in football ?

False 9

A false 9 is a player who plays between the midfield and the defense lines. The most prominent example is Pep’s Barca squad utilizing Messi as a false 9. In modern-day football, more and more teams are shifting to a false 9 striker rather than a true 9 with a 10 playing behind. It is like a combination of a 9 and a 10. Also, with the introduction of inverted winger who cut in rather than be in the ‘wings’, it seems more like a favorable option. It is always used in a 4–3–3 formation in football.

Qualities

It is one of THE HARDEST ROLE to play in a team. This player has to pack a bunch of skillsets. The most important skills are- really good dribbling, good vision and passing and, the most important, awareness and creativity. Other skills include flair, speed, and a hella lot stamina. Quite a lot of qualities to ask for, resulting in a lesser number of these players.

Advantages and Disadvantages

It is a tricky position to play. The most advantage of playing a false 9 is the marking problem. The player sits in between the lines confusing the other team's players which player to mark on that person. If the defense marks them, the other team can be in a tricky situation where there are spaces in the back for wingers. If you don’t mark them, then you are giving them time and space to think their attack which WILL cause havoc. But if your midfielders are marking, then you lose firepower in the front. Without a true 9, you can be in a difficult spot, as you do lose some attacking threat and pressure on center backs. The player WILL always be tired no matter what. This is really tricky because if your team depends on a false 9, they have to perform no matter what. A bad false 9 can ruin a whole team while a good false 9 can ruin the other team.