Roks makes no secret of his excitement about the event in Southern Europe. “The game takes on a completely different dimension because it’s seven-a-side and there’s no offside. Many top teams with top players are taking part. That will undoubtedly lead to some great combinations, played at a high tempo. It’ll be interesting to watch.”
Each match, lasting two periods of fifteen minutes, is played on half a football pitch. The goals are also slightly smaller than the standard dimensions. Substitutions are unlimited during the match, and every game must have a winner. A five-minute extra time will be played if the score is level after thirty minutes. In extra time, teams switch to five-a-side.
The Ajax Women recently dedicated four training sessions entirely to getting used to seven-a-side football. “The first time, you immediately noticed an incredible level of dynamism. Of course, it also depends a bit on how the scoring goes, but with unlimited substitutions, the intensity remains very high.”
Help from the hockey world
To gain better insight into the element of rolling substitutions, Roks sought advice outside of football. “We spoke with top hockey coaches about how they do things at the Olympics or with their teams in the Netherlands,” he explains. “It was great to share knowledge, even though hockey is, of course, different. The ball moves faster, you can dribble in, and there’s the self-pass. That won’t be the case in Portugal. Otherwise, the standard football rules will apply, including throw-ins.”
In that light, there are more similarities with futsal. “People who’ve played futsal at a high level know that you get substituted every four or five minutes. This is a bit similar, but with seven-a-side and on a larger pitch.”
The entire Ajax Women’s squad will travel to Portugal, Roks confirms when asked. “Everyone is going, even the injured players. That’s also because the organisers have made it possible to bring everyone along. Fourteen players will be listed for each match: two goalkeepers and twelve outfield players. We may rotate a bit between matches.”
Formidable opponents
The competition is strong, with teams such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United. Nonetheless, Roks is clear about the objective. “We are Ajax, and we want to win the tournament. That won’t be easy, as there are top teams with larger budgets. But at Ajax, that doesn’t always have to matter.”
In the group stage, Ajax has been drawn against Manchester City, Rosengård and Bayern Munich. Only the top two teams will progress to the final day. “You always go to a tournament with the aim of winning.”
Finally, does Roks expect the World Sevens Football to become a household name? “That’s hard to say. Women’s football is developing step by step, and this brings a new dimension to top-level women’s football. I just don’t know how it will catch on abroad. It would be fantastic if lots of people came to watch. The organisers are giving it a lot of publicity; for example, they’re broadcasting all the matches. I do get excited about seven-a-side, although it will always remain alongside the league and regular eleven-a-side football.”
Discount code
Want to attend the Ajax matches? You can now buy tickets with a 25 per cent discount. Click here and use the code AJAX25.
