120 Game

In a cup game or friendly using cup rules, it is possible to play extra time. These count as played time, so players can get training for them. For the starting players this has no use, because they have already had their trainable minutes for the week in the normal time, but through substitutions and position switches, this time can be used to get other players at a trainable position.

This system is used by some teams to get extra training. Two teams arrange to play a friendly, and both teams choose an extremely defensive tactic. That way the chance of a 0-0 score after 90 minutes is increased, sometimes to far above 50%. Such a match, where both players attempt to get 120 minutes of training time, is called a 120 game.

To play a 120 game both teams, as far as is possible given their other requirements (filling up the training positions, fielding players for form and stamina training, building up formation experience etcetera), do the following:

• use the pressing tactics
• play in a defensive formation, preferably 5-5-0
• have little scoring on their forwards, wing on their wingers, passing on their forwards, wings and midfields etc.
• have much defense on their defenders, midfields and wingers, use good keepers
• play wingbacks, wingers, midfields and forwards with the personal order 'defensive' (for forwards with much passing and little wing 'towards wing' can be better)
• use a set pieces taker with low set pieces skill
• avoid fielding players that can have goal special events - no fast or unpredictable forwards or wingers, no headers unless they are the set pieces taker

The extra training can be used in two ways:

• use it to give additional training in a second skill of some players - train your defenders on playmaking, or your midfielders and keeper on defense
• make a scheme involving also the league game to give extra players full training - with a good scheme one can give a full player extra training

One thing to watch out for when playing a 120 game is that one is allowed only 3 substitutions, so if one wants to use it to the maximum when training defending or playmaking, one should use at least 2 of the available substitutions for position exchanges.