Lay out the pitch
The pitch measures 660 x 505mm and will fit on most kitchen or dinner tables
Choose your team
The game box comes with these two teams but there are many, many more to choose from in the shop
Pick the referee card
There are 4 in the set. The referee’s Leniency attribute will determine whether or not you receive a yellow or red card when you foul an opponent
Begin the player draft
There are 46 unique player cards in the game box. Shuffle them and turn over 4. You and your opponent then take turns selecting a player. Deal 4 more and continue the pattern.
Build up your squad
Make sure you have a balanced team – too many tacklers and not enough dribblers might mean you’ll struggle to create chances. Do you have enough tall players in your team? Does your opponent have all the fast players? Pay attention and build the best team possible!
Line up your team
Decide where you want your players to play and line them up accordingly. 433, 442, 640…play any formation you want. Just make sure that your slow fullback isn’t covering your mate’s speedy winger!
Kick off!
Start with a pass. Use the distance stick to measure how far passes, shots and headers can travel, and whether an opponent can try for a block or an intercept.
The Movement Phase
This is when you and your opponent move players around the pitch. Follow the 4-5-2 sequence. The attacking team should try to make spaces and stretch the defence. The defensive team are looking to close down space and win the ball.
Refer to the Quick Play Guide
Not sure what you are allowed to do next? Refer to the Quick Play Guide!
Moving in…
If a defender gets within 1 hex of the ball, a tackle can be attempted.
The tackle
Take the attacker’s dribbling attribute and add it to a dice roll. Measure that against the defender’s tackling + dice roll. Highest score wins the duel.
In the event of a tie, the ball will break free.
The attacker has won this one 8 – 7
Careful in the tackle…(1)
Remember the referee’s Leniency attribute? If you roll a 1 when making a tackle, you’ve committed a foul. You then run a leniency check with the referee. Fail it and you’ll receive a yellow card…or even a straight red card if it was a tackle from behind!
Careful in the tackle…(2)
…and attackers can be injured when they are fouled! After a foul, roll the dice. If your roll is equal to or higher than the player’s Resilience then you are injured. An injured player loses 2 Pace for the rest of the game.
Cross incoming
Ajax are in a dangerous position. A cross into the box is incoming…
After a high pass has been made, each team gets to move 1 player up to 3 hexes. Usually those are the players who challenge for the header.
Heading duel
The striker is being challenged by defender number 6. Both players roll the dice and add their roll to each player’s Heading attribute. Highest score wins…and this one is won by the attacker!
Goooaaaalll!!!
The keeper gets a chance to save it if the ball comes within 3 hexes of them. On this occasion the keeper couldn’t stop it so it’s a goal!
Goooaaaalll!!! (part 2!)
Celebrating by the corner flag is entirely optional 😉
Goooaaaalll!!! (part 3!)
However, celebrating in person is mandatory!
There’s so much more…
It’s a 90-minute match so don’t despair if you lose an early goal!
There is so much you can do in Counter Attack, including free kicks, corners, penalties, offside traps, 1-touch passes…
Like what you see? Get yourself a copy!