Importance of First Touch

[aberger]

Here is a tip that could help. 

[EWSoccer64]

aberger, thanks for posting that link.
While I agree fervently on the importance of the first touch, the analyst was terrible in his opinions on the central defender.    The analyst totally misread the role and responsibilities of the central defender- who actually made the best decisions for the situatin he found himself in as the other central defender was caught up by 5-8 yards, and not in a position to mark in the middle.   That caused the central defender in question to stay home and mark rather than lending support to the outside defender who was the first defender.  Once the other central defender (the third defender) got back to cover the central attacker (Keita?) then the central defender in question (second defender) was able to drop off and go to support the first defender.   Of course, by that time, it was too late. 
But as I see it, the issue was the third defender being caught out of position, locking the second defender into a marking role rather than a supporting one.   Thus the first defender was unsupported, beat, and earned the assist.   

[metz123]

Gotta disagree a bit on this EW. Sure the other central defender was out of position, however, the most dangerous person on the field is the guy with the ball. Especially if he's in the attacking 3rd of the field. The central defender who was in position should have started swinging over to provide cover to his outside defender earlier in the play. Then the rest of the defense should have been shifting toward the ball, leaving the player the farthest from the ball open.

[anyudes]

This is a first touch example. The defensive shape was awful from the start. Barca had 2 unmarked making runs. This is definitively not a video on how not to defend.

(The defender on the ball did his job. The keeper went near post as he should & was helpless)

[Turner b1kr]

I do not think the zoom reports analyst was criticizing the central defender at all.  I think his point was because of the good first touch, the central defender was unable to provide support.  If the touch was not so perfect, the central would have had time to support the first defender.