Theflip flap (also known as theelástico,akka,snakebite, andla culebrita) is adribbling move, orfeint, infootball used to trick a defensive player into thinking the offensive player, in possession of the ball, is going to move in a direction they do not intend to. Players perform it by using the outside of their dominant foot to push the ball towards their dominant side, then quickly move the dominant foot around the ball and using the inside to push the ball to their non-dominant side. Although the footwork is the most distinctive aspect of the flip-flap, its success as a feint also relies heavily on the attacking player having an explosive acceleration from a stationary position.[1]
"He (Sérgio Echigo) says now that he invented it, but I perfected it."
The move was invented by the Brazilian-Japanese football playerSérgio Echigo.[3] In 1964, Brazilian playmakerRivellino learned the move from Echigo, who was his Corinthians teammate in the youth team, and performed it to a global audience during the1970 FIFA World Cup.[1] In an interview on the television seriesFootball's Greatest in 2012, Rivellino stated "He [Echigo] says now that he invented it, but I perfected it".Pelé, Rivellino's national teammate, was never able to learn the move.[2]
Rivellino was an idol to a number of players, and the trick was popularized early 1980s by AlgerianSalah Assad (who developed his own flip flap, which he called "El Ghorraf", and which was executed while running with the ball, unlike Rivelino's),and also PeruvianJulio César Uribe; late 1990s and 2000s by high-profile players such asRomário,Ronaldo andRonaldinho among others.[1][4][5] In recent years, Portuguese footballerCristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian footballerNeymar have also been known proponents of the move.[6]
In Africa, especially Nigeria, the move has been referred to as a "Snakebite" or "Zigima" because of the in-and-out feet movement of the perpetrator. However, it is now more commonly called "The Gaúcho" – after Ronaldinho (Gaúcho).[7]
Infutsal,freestyle andstreet football, an aerial variation of the flip flap moves has been referred to as a "Akka". The "Akka" has several variations, and can be used in combos withpannas and other ground moves for doling out maximum punishment.[8]
| General | |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | |
| Offensive tactics | |
| Defensive tactics | |
| Basic skills | |
| Advanced skills | |
| Related | |
