⚽How top teams fill the box

Principles, Examples, and Trade-offs

Fussball Coach
August 02, 2025

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⚽How top teams fill the box
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⚽ How Top Teams Fill the Box

In modern football, dominating the penalty area is still one of the key factors when it comes to scoring goals. Sure, we’ve heard plenty over the years about pressing systems, positional play, or rest defense – but the way a team occupies the box remains one of the most direct and effective tools in the game.

It’s all about how many players a team commits into the opposition's box – and where they position themselves – when a cross, through ball or cutback is played into dangerous territory. So, what are the key principles? How many players should get into the box? And what are the potential trade-offs?

This article dives into recent trends using data and real-world examples from the top level.

The "Golden Zone" – Why the Box Still Matters

According to analysis by the German FA (DFB), over 85% of goals are scored in the area between the six-yard box and the penalty spot – what they call the golden zone. Coaches like Nico Koch and the DFB Academy stress that teams must create numerical superiority in this area, while defending teams should stay tight and track runners closely.

For attacking teams, the message is clear: you need bodies in the zone to take shots or pounce on second balls. And that’s exactly what smart box occupation is all about.

Two Key Approaches to Attacking the Box

So, how many players should you commit, and what runs make sense? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer – but we can highlight two distinct strategies:

1. Targeted Runs with Fewer Players
Some coaches prefer structure and timing over numbers. For example, the coaching blog Talktics suggests using just two dynamic runners when delivering a fast cross or cutback. One attacks the far post, the other arrives late around the penalty spot. The near post? Often left alone – a poor angle for finishes.
The aim here is to time the runs perfectly and get in behind the defensive line for high-quality chances from central areas.

2. Flooding the Box
Other teams opt for sheer numbers. In the 2024/25 season, Andoni Iraola’s AFC Bournemouth frequently sent up to seven players into the box. The logic: the more players you commit, the higher your chances of picking up loose balls and rebounds after a cross.
VfB Stuttgart showcased a similar approach, at one point committing four players – including the right back – to attack a single delivery into the area.

These contrasting styles already show that box occupation is closely linked to your overall game model. In the next part, we’ll break down some additional research and coaching insights to help you shape your own approach.

More Players, More Threat: Why Flooding the Box Works

Data from the FIFA Training Centre during the 2022 World Cup shows a clear trend: when teams attack down the wings, they average 3.3 players inside the box at the point of delivery. England (3.84) and Brazil (3.88) led the way – and unsurprisingly, also ranked among the top sides for goals from crosses.
By contrast, Argentina and the Netherlands managed to score with fewer bodies in the area, but only thanks to top-tier precision and timing. The takeaway? The more targets in the box, the higher the chance that a cross connects – or that your team can pounce on second balls.

Club-level examples back this up. In the 2023/24 season, AC Milan had a poor crossing success rate of just 19%, often sending in up to 26 crosses a match with just a lone striker inside. But in a key match against Napoli, Milan improved that rate to 38% – simply by loading the box with more runners.

Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich took it a step further in 2024/25: one sequence against Werder Bremen saw five Bayern players inside the box and three more arriving just outside – enough overload to produce a goal. Later in the same match, six players crashed the area while two others sat in the "cutback zone" to cover rebounds or late passes.

Bottom line: Getting numbers into the box creates chaos, forces defenders into difficult decisions, and dramatically increases scoring potential.

Why You Want Numbers in the Box

Higher chance of a clean shot: More teammates in the danger zone means more options to connect with crosses or cutbacks. Under Jesse Marsch, RB Salzburg often flooded the area with four or five players on quick attacks to create confusion and capitalize on loose balls.
Second balls and counterpressing: With more attackers close to goal, you’re in prime position to press immediately if the defense clears the ball. Julian Nagelsmann emphasizes that a packed penalty area helps win rebounds and launch instant second-wave attacks.
Overloading the defenders: When five or more players are positioned in or around the box, defenders struggle to track them all. Kompany’s Bayern use exactly this overload to open space through synchronized runs.

But It Comes at a Cost

Weaker defensive cover: Every extra player in the box leaves fewer behind the ball. That’s why top-level teams build what analysts call 2+3 or 3+2 rest-defense structures – two or three players remain deeper to guard against counter-attacks. If seven players flood the box, only four outfielders are left to cover – and one poor turnover can trigger a lethal break.
Congestion and poor spacing: Too many players can end up crowding each other. Liverpool manager Arne Slot is skeptical of high, lofted crosses. He prefers well-timed flat cutbacks into central zones, with four players making coordinated runs. He stresses the need for clarity: front post, back post, edge of the box – otherwise one defender can neutralize multiple attackers.
Reduced variety: If everyone charges the box, your attack becomes predictable. Sporting CP, for instance, mix things up: the striker, two inverted wingers and a No. 6 make late box entries, while a wing-back sneaks in at the far post. That kind of variation keeps defenders guessing.

When to Load the Box – and When Not To

How many players should commit to the box? It depends on several key factors:

Type of attack: On quick counters or low cutbacks, 2–3 well-timed runs may be enough (as seen in Talktics' two-zone concept). For aerial deliveries or set pieces, an overload of 4–6 players makes more sense.
Defensive balance: Coaches must assess how many players are needed to secure transition moments. Many modern teams use 2+3 or 3+2 setups behind the ball. If your back line is vulnerable in transition, reduce numbers forward.
Crossing quality: Filling the box is pointless if the delivery isn’t accurate. Arne Slot highlights that flat balls from the half-space carry much more danger than traditional high crosses – especially when pass angles and runs are synced.
Player profiles: Teams with aerial threats (think Bayern with Kane) benefit from numbers and crosses. Others, without a traditional target man, rely more on ground deliveries and combination play around the edge of the area.

Final Thought: It’s All About Balance

The data from the 2022 World Cup showed an average of 3.3 players in the box per cross – with top teams like England and Brazil pushing closer to four. In club football, numbers vary from two to seven, depending on philosophy. Sides like Bournemouth under Iraola or Kompany’s Bayern favor high numbers; others prefer precision and structured movement.

For coaches and analysts, box occupation can’t be looked at in isolation. It’s part of a bigger puzzle involving transition defense, delivery quality, and player roles. More bodies = more chances and rebounds, but also more risk. Fewer players = cleaner structure, but you’ll need pinpoint execution.

In the end, it’s all about managing the trade-off between risk and reward – and drilling your principles until they hold up under pressure.

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