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Striking the ball with the end of your boot rather than your laces or instep. Coaches used to tell kids never to do it because it's inaccurate, but sometimes it's the only way to get a shot off quickly. When a defender is about to block or the ball is bouncing awkwardly, a toe poke can surprise the keeper because the shot comes out faster than expected.
Inzaghi was a master of the toe poke. Half his goals came from stabbing at the ball before defenders could react, like his winner against Liverpool in the 2007 Champions League final.
Robbie
Feb 8, 2026
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