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More of a reiteration than an enlightening, the "channels" on a football pitch are becoming important again.

Channel one is straight through the middle of the pitch on the attack, but it's channels two and three which are becoming increasingly essential in modern football.

Channels two and three are located on either side of the central channel one and, to put it into perspective, can sometimes go straight through the gap between an advanced full-back and a central defender.

Antonio Di Natale is a master of the channels, as are Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent.

Italy's goal against Spain in the Euro 2012 group stage is a wonderful example of running the channels successfully.

Full-backs are becoming more and more attacking again, with the likes of Rafael and Alvaro Arbeloa showing us exactly how far they are prepared to wander forward.

Hitting the channels early is one of the best way to break down the popular 4-2-3-1 formation.