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Letting the ball run through your legs or past you to a teammate behind, fooling the defender. Instead of controlling or shooting, you show you're going to play the ball, then leave it. The defender buys the fake and is now out of position. Dummies require awareness that someone's behind you and trust that they know what you're doing. When they come off, they look effortless.
Bergkamp's dummy against Argentina in 1998 is legendary. He let Orie's pass run through him, fooling the defender, then controlled it on the other side and scored. The whole stadium thought he was going to control it one way.
Robbie
Feb 10, 2026
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