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Formation (association football)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In association f ootball, the formation describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch.
Different formations can be used depending on whether a team wishes to play more attacking or
defensive football.
Formations are used in both professional and amateur football matches. In amateur matches, however,these tactics ar e sometimes adhered to less strictly due to the lesser significance of the occasion. Skill
and discipline on behalf of the players is also needed to effectively carry out a given formation in
professional football. Formations need to be chosen bearing in mind which players are available. Some
of the formations below were cr eated to address deficits or strengths in different types of players.
Contents
1 Nomenclature
2 Choice and uses of formations
3 Early days
4 Classic for mations
4.1 2– 3–5 ( Pyramid )
4.1.1 Danubian School
4.1.2 Metodo (2–3–2–3)
4.2 WM4.3 WW
4.4 3–3–4
4.5 4–2–4
5 Common modern formations
5.1 4–4–2
5.1.1 4–4–1–1
5.2 4–3–3
5.2.1 4–3–1–2
5.3 4–4– 2 diamond or 4–1–2–1–2
5.3.1 4–1–3–2
5.4 4–3–2–1 (the "Christmas Tree" formation)
5.5 5–3–2
5.5.1 5–3–2 with sweeper or 1–4–3–2
5.6 3–4–3
5.7 3–5–25.8 3–6–1
5.9 4–5–1
5.10 4–2–3–1
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5.11 4–6–0
5.12 5–4–1
5.13 1–6–3
5.14 4–2–2–2 (Magic Rectangle)
5.15 3–3–1–3
5.16 3–3–3–1
5.17 4–2–1–3
6 Incomplete formations
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
NomenclatureFormations are described by categorising the players (not including the goalkeeper) according to their
positioning along (not across) the pitch, with the more defensive players given first. For example, 4–4–2
means four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards.
Traditionally those within the same category (for example the 4 midfielders in 4–4–2) would generally
play as a fairly flat line across the pitch, with those out wide often playing in a slightly more advanced
position. In many modern formations this is not the case, which has led to some analysts splitting the
categories in two separate bands, leading to four or even five numbered formations. A common example
is 4–2–1–3, where the midfielders are split into two defensive and one offensive player; as such thisformation can be considered a kind of 4–3–3.
The numbering system was not present until the 4–2–4 system was developed in the 1950s.
Choice and uses of formations
The choice of formation is often related to the type of players available to the coach.
Narrow formations. Teams with a surfeit of central midfielders, or teams who attack best throughthe centre, may choose to adopt narrow formations such as the 4–1–2–1–2 or the 4–3–2–1 which
allow teams to field up to four or five central midfielders in the team. Narrow formations however
depend on the full-backs (the flank players in the "4") to provide width and to advance upfield as
frequently as possible to supplement the attack in wide areas.
Wide formations. Teams with a surfeit of forwards and wingers may choose to adopt formations
such as 4–2–3–1, 3–5–2 and 4–3–3, which commit forwards and wingers high up the pitch. Wide
formations allow the attacking team to stretch play and cause the defending team to cover more
ground.
Teams may change formations during a game to aid their cause:
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Change to attacking formations. When chasing a game for a desirable result, teams tend to
sacrifice a defensive player or a midfield player for a forward in order to chase a result. An
example of such a change is a change from 4–5–1 to 4–4–2, 3–5–2 to 3–4–3, or even 5–3–2 to 4–
3–3.
Change to defensive formations. When a team is in the lead, or wishes to protect the scoreline of
a game, the coach may choose to revert to a more defensive structure by removing a forward for a
more defensive player. The extra player in defence or midfield adds solidity by giving the team
more legs to chase opponents and recover possession. An example of such a change is a change
from 4–4–2 to 5–3–2, 3–5–2 to 4–5–1, or even 4–4–2 to 5–4–1.
Formations can be deceptive in analysing a particular team's style of play. For instance, a team that plays
a nominally attacking 4–3–3 formation can quickly revert to a 4–5–1 if a coach instructs two of the three
forwards to track back in midfield.
Early days
In the football matches of the 19th century defensive football was not played, and the line-ups reflected
the all-attacking nature of these games.
In the first international game, Scotland against England on 30 November 1872, England played with
seven or eight forwards in a 1–1–8 or 1–2–7 formation, and Scotland with six, in a 2–2–6 formation. For
England, one player would remain in defence, picking up loose balls, and one or two players would hang
around midfield and kick the ball upfield for the other players to chase. The English style of play at the
time was all about individual excellence and English players were renowned for their dribbling skills.
Players would attempt to take the ball forward as far as possible and only when they could proceed nofurther, would they kick it ahead for someone else to chase. Scotland surprised England by actually
passing the ball among players. The Scottish outfield players were organised into pairs and each player
would always attempt to pass the ball to his assigned partner. Ironically, with so much attention given to
attacking play, the game ended in a 0–0 draw.
Classic formations
2–3–5 ( Pyramid )
The first long-term successful formation was first recorded in 1880.[1] However, in "Association
Football" published by Caxton in 1960, the following appears in Vol II, page 432: "Wrexham ... the first
winner of the Welsh Cup in 1877 ... for the first time certainly in Wales and probably in Britain, a team
played three half-backs and five forwards ..."
The 2–3–5 was originally known as the "Pyramid", with the numerical formation being referenced
retrospectively. By the 1890s, it was the standard formation in England and had spread all over the
world. With some variations, it was used by most top level teams up to the 1940s.
For the first time, a balance between attacking and defending was reached. When defending, the twodefenders (full-backs), would zonally mark the opponent forwards (mainly the central trio), while the
midfielders (halfbacks) would fill the gaps (usually marking the opposing wingers or inside forwards).
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The Pyramid formation
Metodo formation
WM formation
The centre halfback had a key role in both helping to organise the team's
attack and marking the opponent's centre forward, supposedly one of
their most dangerous players.
It was this formation which gave rise to the convention of shirt
numbers.[2]
Danubian School
The Danubian School of football is a modification of the 2–3–5
formation in which the centre forward plays in a more withdrawn
position. As played by the Austrians, Czechs, and Hungarians in the
1920s, it was taken to its peak by the Austrians in the 1930s. It relied on
short-passing and individual skills. This school was heavily influenced
by the likes of Hugo Meisl and Jimmy Hogan, the English coach who
visited Austria at the time.
Metodo (2–3–2–3)
The Metodo was devised by Vittorio Pozzo, coach of the Italian national
team in the 1930s.[3] It was a derivation of the Danubian School. The
system was based on the 2–3–5 formation, Pozzo realised that his half-
backs would need some more support in order to be superior to the
opponents' midfield, so he pulled two of the forwards to just in front of
midfield, creating a 2–3–2–3 formation. This created a stronger defence
than previous systems, as well as allowing effective counter-attacks. The
Italian national team won back-to-back World Cups in 1934 and 1938using this system. It has been argued that Pep Guardiola's Barcelona used
a modern version of this formation.[4] This formation is also similar to
the standard in table football, featuring two defenders, five midfielders
and three strikers (which cannot be altered as the "players" are mounted
on axles).
WM
The WM system was created in the mid-1920s by Herbert Chapman of
Arsenal to counter a change in the offside law in 1925. The change had
reduced the number of opposition players that attackers needed between
themselves and the goal-line from three to two. This led to the
introduction of a centre-back to stop the opposing centre-forward, and
tried to balance defensive and offensive playing. The formation became
so successful that by the late-1930s most English clubs had adopted the
WM. Retrospectively, the WM has either been described as a 3–2–5 or
as a 3–4–3, or more precisely a 3–2–2–3 reflecting the letters which
symbolised it. The gap in the centre of the formation between the two
wing halves and the two inside forwards allowed Arsenal to counter-
attack effectively. The W-M was subsequently adapted by several
English sides, but none could apply it in quite the same way Chapman
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The 4–2–4 formation
had. This was mainly due to the comparative rarity of Alex James in the English game. He was one of
the earliest playmakers in the history of the game, and the hub around which Chapman's Arsenal
revolved.
WW
The WW was a development of the WM created by the Hungarian coach Márton Bukovi who turned the
3–2–5 WM into a 2–3–2–3 by effectively turning the M "upside down".[5] The lack of an effectivecentre-forward in his team necessitated moving this player back to midfield to create a playmaker, with a
midfielder instructed to focus on defence. This created a 2–3–1–4, which morphed into a 2–3–2–3 when
the team lost possession, and was described by some as a kind of genetic link between the WM and the
4–2–4. This formation was successfully used by fellow countryman Gusztáv Sebes in the Hungarian
national team of the early 1950s.
3–3–4
The 3–3–4 formation was similar to the WW, with the notable exception of having an inside-forward (as
opposed to centre-forward) deployed as a midfield schemer alongside the two wing-halves. This
formation would be commonplace during the 1950s and early 1960s. One of the best exponents of the
system was the Tottenham Hotspur double-winning side of 1961, which deployed a midfield of Danny
Blanchflower, John White and Dave Mackay. FC Porto won the 2005–06 Portuguese national
championship using this unusual formation under manager Co Adriaanse.
4–2–4
The 4–2–4 formation attempts to combine a strong attack with a strong
defence, and was conceived as a reaction to WM's stiffness. It could also be considered a further development of the WW. The 4–2–4 was the first
formation to be described using numbers.
While the initial developments leading to the 4–2–4 were devised by
Márton Bukovi, the credit for creating the 4–2–4 lies with two different
people: Flávio Costa, the Brazilian national coach in the early 1950s, as
well as another Hungarian Béla Guttman. These tactics seemed to be
developed independently, with the Brazilians discussing these ideas
while the Hungarians seemed to be putting them into motion.[5][6][7] The
fully developed 4–2–4 was only "perfected" in Brazil, however, in thelate 1950s.
Costa published his ideas, the "diagonal system", in the Brazilian
newspaper O Cruzeiro, using schematics as the ones used here and, for
the first time ever, the formation description by numbers as used in this article. [6] The "diagonal system"
was another precursor of the 4–2–4 and was created to spur improvisation in players.
Guttmann himself moved to Brazil later in the 1950s to help develop these tactical ideas using the
experience of Hungarian coaches.
The 4–2–4 formation made use of the players' increasing levels of skill and fitness, aiming to effectively
use six defenders and six forwards, with the midfielders performing both tasks. The fourth defender
increased the number of defensive players but mostly allowed them to be closer together, thus enabling
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Common modern formations
4–4–2 formation
4–3–3 formation
4–4–2 diamond formation
4–4–1–1 formation
4–3–2–1 formation
5–3–2 formation
effective cooperation among them, the point being that a stronger defence would allow an even stronger
attack.
The relatively empty midfield relied on defenders that should now be able not only to steal the ball, but
also hold it, pass it or even run with it and start an attack. So this formation required that all players,
including defenders, are somehow skilful and with initiative, making it a perfect fit for the Brazilian
player's mind. The 4–2–4 needed a high level of tactical awareness, as having only two midfielders
could lead to defensive problems. The system was also fluid enough to allow the formation to change
throughout play.
4–2–4 was first used with success at club level in Brazil by Palmeiras and Santos, and was used by
Brazil in their wins at 1958 World Cup and 1970 World Cup, both featuring Pelé, and Mário Zagallo,
the latter of which played in 1958 and coached in 1970. The formation was quickly adopted throughout
the world after the Brazilian success.
Common modern formations
The following formations are used in modernfootball. The formations are flexible allowing
tailoring to the needs of a team, as well as to the
players available. Variations of any given
formation include changes in positioning of
players, as well as replacement of a traditional
defender by a sweeper.
4–4–2
This formation was the most common in
football in the 1990s and early 2000s, so well
known that it inspired the title of the magazine
FourFourTwo. The midfielders are required to
work hard to support both the defence and the
attack: typically one of the central midfielders is
expected to go upfield as often as possible to
support the forward pair, while the other will
play a "holding role", shielding the defence; the
two wide midfield players must move up theflanks to the goal line in attacks and yet also
protect the full-backs.[8][9] On the European
level, the major example of a team using a 4–4–
2 formation was Milan, trained by Arrigo
Sacchi and later Fabio Capello, which won
three European Cups, two Intercontinental
Cups, and three UEFA Super Cups between
1988 and 1995.[10] Under Milan's example, it
became very popular in Italy in the late 1980s
and early 1990s.
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5–3–2 Sweeper formation
3–4–3 formation
3–5–2 formation
3–6–1 formation
4–5–1 formation
4–2–3–1 formation
5–4–1 formation
More recently, commentators have noted that at
the highest level, the 4–4–2 is being phased out
in favour of formations such as the 4–2–3–1.[11]
In 2010, none of the winners of the Spanish,
English and Italian leagues, nor the Champions
League, relied on the 4–4–2. Following
England's elimination at the 2010 World Cup by
a 4–2–3–1 Germany side, England NationalTeam coach Fabio Capello (who was notably
successful with the 4–4–2 at Milan in the
1990s) was criticised for playing an
"increasingly outdated" 4–4–2 formation.[12]
4–4–1–1
A variation of 4–4–2 with one of the strikers
playing "in the hole", or as a "second striker",
slightly behind their partner.[13] The second
striker is generally a more creative player, the
playmaker, who can drop into midfield to pick
up the ball before running with it or passing to
team-mates.[13] Interpretations of 4–4–1–1 can
be slightly muddled, as some might say that the
extent to which a forward has dropped off and
separated himself from the other can be
debated. The system was most prominently used
during the 2009–10 season by Fulham F.C, withmidfielder Zoltan Gera playing behind forward
Bobby Zamora as they upset many teams across
Europe on their way to the 2010 UEFA Europa
League Final.
4–3–3
The 4–3–3 was a development of the 4–2–4,
and was played by the Brazilian national team
in the 1962 World Cup. The extra player in
midfield allows a stronger defence, and the
midfield could be staggered for different effects.
The three midfielders normally play closely
together to protect the defence, and move
laterally across the field as a coordinated unit.
The three forwards split across the field to
spread the attack, and may be expected to mark the opposition full-backs as opposed to doubling back to
assist their own full-backs, as do the wide midfielders in a 4–4–2. When used from the start of a game,
this formation is widely regarded as encouraging expansive play, and should not be confused with the practice of modifying a 4–4–2 by bringing on an extra forward to replace a midfield player when behind
in the latter stages of a game. This formation is suited for a short passing game and useful for ball
retention.
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A staggered 4–3–3 involving a defensive midfielder (usually numbered four or six) and two attacking
midfielders (numbered eight and ten) was commonplace in Italy, Argentina, and Uruguay during the
1960s and 1970s. The Italian variety of 4–3–3 was simply a modification of WM, by converting one of
the two wing-halves to a libero (sweeper), whereas the Argentine and Uruguayan formations were
derived from 2–3–5 and retained the notional attacking centre-half. The national team that made this
famous was the Dutch team of the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, even though the team won neither.
In club football, the team that brought this formation to the forefront was the famous Ajax team of the
early 1970s, which won three European Cups with Johan Cruyff, and Zdenek Zeman with Foggia in
Italy during the late 1980s, where he completely revitalised the movement supporting this formation. It
was also the formation with which Norwegian manager Nils Arne Eggen won 15 Norwegian league
titles.
Most teams using this formation now use the specialist defensive midfielder. Recent famous examples
include the FC Porto and Chelsea teams coached by Jose Mourinho, as well as the Barcelona team under
Pep Guardiola. Jose Mourinho has also been credited with bringing this formation to England in his first
stint with Chelsea.
4–3–1–2
A variation of the 4–3–3 wherein a striker gives way to a central attacking midfielder. This formation
was adopted by Massimiliano Allegri for the 2010–11 Serie A season for Milan. The formation focuses
on the attacking midfielder moving play through the centre with the strikers on either side. It is a much
narrower setup in comparison to the 4–3–3 and is usually dependent on the "1" to create chances.
4–4–2 diamond or 4–1–2–1–2
The 4–4–2 diamond (also described as 4–1–2–1–2) staggers the midfield. The width in the team has tocome from the full-backs pushing forward. The defensive midfielder is sometimes used as a deep lying
playmaker. Its most famous example was Carlo Ancelotti's Milan, which won the 2003 UEFA
Champions League Final and made Milan runners-up in 2005. Milan was obliged to adopt this formation
so as to field talented central midfielder Andrea Pirlo, in a period when the position of offensive
midfielder was occupied by Rui Costa and later Kaká.[14] This tactic was gradually abandoned by Milan
after Andriy Shevchenko's departure in 2006, progressively adopting a "Christmas Tree" formation.
4–1–3–2
The 4–1–3–2 is a variation of the 4–1–2–1–2 and features a strong and talented defensive centre
midfielder. This allows the remaining three midfielders to play farther forward and more aggressively,
and also allows them to pass back to their defensive mid when setting up a play or recovering from a
counterattack. The 4–1–3–2 gives a strong presence in the forward middle of the pitch and is considered
to be an attacking formation. Opposing teams with fast wingers and strong passing abilities can try to
overwhelm the 4–1–3–2 with fast attacks on the wings of the pitch before the three offensive midfielders
can fall back to help their defensive line. Valeriy Lobanovskiy is one of the most famous exponents of
the formation, using it with Dinamo Kyiv, winning three European trophies in the process. Another
example of the 4–1–3–2 in use was the English national team at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, managed by
Alf Ramsey.
4–3–2–1 (the "Christmas Tree" formation)
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The 4–3–2–1, commonly described as the "Christmas Tree" formation, has another forward brought on
for a midfielder to play "in the hole", so leaving two forwards slightly behind the most forward striker.
Terry Venables and Christian Gross used this formation during their time in charge of Tottenham
Hotspur. Since then the formation has lost its popularity in England. It is however most known for being
the formation Carlo Ancelotti utilised on and off during his time as a coach of Milan.
In this approach, the middle of the three central midfielders act as a playmaker while one of the
attacking midfielders plays in a free role. However, it is also common for the three midfielders to be
energetic shuttlers, providing for the individual talent of the two attacking midfielders ahead.The
"Christmas Tree" formation is considered a relatively narrow formation and depends on full-backs to
provide presence in wide areas. The formation is also relatively fluid. During open play, one of the side
central midfielders may drift to the flank to add additional presence.
5–3–2
This formation has three central defenders (possibly with one acting as a sweeper.) This system is
heavily reliant on the wing-backs providing width for the team. The two wide full-backs act as wing- backs. It is their job to work their flank along the full length of the pitch, supporting both the defence
and the attack.[15]
5–3–2 with sweeper or 1–4–3–2
A variant of the 5–3–2, this involves a more withdrawn sweeper, who may join the midfield, and more
advanced full-backs.
3–4–3
Using a 3–4–3, the midfielders are expected to split their time between attacking and defending. Having
only three dedicated defenders means that if the opposing team breaks through the midfield, they will
have a greater chance to score than with a more conventional defensive configuration, such as 4–5–1 or
4–4–2. However, the three forwards allow for a greater concentration on attack. This formation is used
by more offensive-minded teams. The formation was famously used by Liverpool under Rafael Benitez
during the second half of the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final to come back from a three-goal
deficit.
3–5–2
This formation is similar to 5–3–2 except that the two wingmen are oriented more towards the attack.
Because of this, the central midfielder tends to remain further back in order to help prevent counter-
attacks. It differs from the classical 3–5–2 of the WW by having a non-staggered midfield. It was used
for the first time at international level by the Argentine coach Carlos Bilardo. [16] Terry Venables notably
used this formation (along with a 4–1–2–1–2) during England's campaign in Euro 96, with Gareth
Southgate or Paul Ince acting as defensive midfielder. Many teams also use a central attacking
midfielder and two defensive midfielders, so the midfielders form a W formation.
Sebastião Lazaroni used this formation for Brazil during the unsuccessful participation to the 1990 FIFAWorld Cup.
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Although it had fallen out of favour with most coaches who now prefer four at the back, it has recently
had a renaissance in both club and international football. At club level, it has been effectively used by
Juventus coach Antonio Conte, under whom Juventus won three back-to-back scudetti between 2012
and 2014, or more recently by Louis Van Gaal at Manchester United.[17]
At international level, it has been used as an alternative formation on two notable occasions to nullify the
challenge of possession football used by the Spanish national side. Cesare Prandelli used it for the Italy's
1–1 draw with Spain in the group stage of UEFA Euro 2012, with some commentators seeing DanieleDe Rossi as a sweeper.[18] The Netherlands used it to greater effect against Spain during the group stage
of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, completing a 5-1 win. This was successful in minimizing the Dutch
weaknesses - inexperience in defence - and their strengths - world-class forwards in Robin van Persie
and Arjen Robben. [19]
3–6–1
This uncommon modern formation focuses on ball possession in the midfield. In fact, it is very rare to
see it as an initial formation, as it is more useful for maintaining a lead or tie score. Its more common
variants are 3–4–2–1 or 3–4–3 diamond, which use two wingbacks. The lone forward must be tactically
gifted, not only because he or she focuses on scoring but also on playing the ball back towards the own
goal to assist with back passes to his teammates. Once the team is leading the game, there is an even
stronger tactical focus on ball control, short passes and running down the clock. On the other hand, when
the team is losing, at least one of the playmakers will more frequently play in the edge of the area to add
depth to the attack. Guus Hiddink is one of the few coaches who has used this formation, recently for
Australia during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
4–5–1
4–5–1 is a defensive formation; however, if the two midfield wingers play a more attacking role, it can
be likened to 4–3–3. The formation can be used to grind out 0–0 draws or preserve a lead, as the packing
of the centre midfield makes it difficult for the opposition to build up play. [20] Because of the
"closeness" of the midfield, the opposing team's forwards will often be starved of possession. Due to the
lone striker, however, the centre of the midfield does have the responsibility of pushing forward as well.
The defensive midfielder will often control the pace of the game.[21]
4–2–3–1
This formation is widely used by Spanish, French and German sides. While it seems defensive to the
eye, it is quite a flexible formation, as both the wide players and the full-backs join the attack. In
defense, this formation is similar to either the 4–5–1 or 4–4–1–1. It is used to maintain possession of the
ball and stopping opponent attacks by controlling the midfield area of the field. The lone striker may be
very tall and strong to hold the ball up as his midfielders and full-backs join him in attack. The striker
could also be very fast. In these cases, the opponent's defense will be forced to fall back early, thereby
leaving space for the offensive central midfielder. This formation is used especially when a playmaker is
to be highlighted. The variations of personnel used on the flanks in this set-up include using traditional
wingers, using inverted wingers or simply using wide midfielders
At the international level, this formation is used by the French national team, the Dutch national team
and the German national team in an asymmetric shape, and often with strikers as wide midfielders or
inverted wingers. The formation is also currently used by Brazil as an alternative to the 4–2–4 formation
of the late 1950s to 1970. Implemented similarly to how original 4–2–4 was used back then, use of this
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formation in this manner is very offensive, creating a six-man attack and a six-man defence tactical
layout. The front four attackers are arranged as a pair of wide forwards and a playmaker forward who
play in support of a lone striker. Mário Zagallo also considers the Brazil 1970 football team he coached
as pioneers of 4–2–3–1.[22]
In recent years with full-backs having ever more increasing attacking roles, the wide players (be they
deep lying forwards, inverted wingers, attacking wide midfielders) have been tasked with the defensive
responsibility to track and pin down the opposition full-backs. A good example of an attacking full-back is Branislav Ivanovic, playing for Chelsea in a 4–2–3–1 formation.[23]
This formation has been very frequently used by managers all over the world in the modern game. One
particularly effective use of it was Liverpool F.C. under Rafael Benitez, who deployed Javier
Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard in central midfield, with Gerrard acting in a more
advanced role in order to link up with Fernando Torres, who acted as the central striker. Another notable
example at club level is Bayern Munich under Jupp Heynckes.
4–6–0
A highly unconventional formation, the 4–6–0 is an evolution of the 4–2–3–1 in which the centre
forward is exchanged for a player who normally plays as a trequartista (that is, in the 'hole'). Suggested
as a possible formation for the future of football,[24] the formation sacrifices an out-and-out striker for
the tactical advantage of a mobile front four attacking from a position that the opposition defenders
cannot mark without being pulled out of position.[25] Because of the intelligence and pace required by
the front four attackers to create and attack any space left by the opposition defenders, however, the
formation requires a very skilful and well-drilled front four. Due to these demanding requirements from
the attackers, and the novelty of playing without a proper goalscorer, the formation has been adopted by
very few teams, and rarely consistently. As with the development of many formations, the origins andoriginators are uncertain, but arguably the first reference to a professional team adopting a similar
formation is Anghel Iordănescu's Romania in the 1994 World Cup Round of 16, when Romania won 3–
2 against Argentina.[26][27] The first team to adopt the formation systematically was Luciano Spalletti's
Roma side during the 2005–06 Serie A season, mostly out of necessity as his "strikerless" formation,[28]
and then notably by Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side that won the Premier League and
Champions League in 2007–08.[29] The formation was unsuccessfully used by Craig Levein's Scotland
vs Czech Republic to widespread condemnation.[30] At UEFA Euro 2012, Spain coach Vicente del
Bosque used the 4–6–0 for his side's 1–1 group stage draw versus Italy and their 4–0 win versus Italy in
the final of the tournament.[31]
5–4–1
This is a particularly defensive formation, with an isolated forward and a packed defence. Again,
however, a couple of attacking full-backs can make this formation resemble something like a 3–6–1.
One of the most famous cases of its use is the Greek national team.
1–6–3
The 1–6–3 formation was first utilised by Japan at the behest of General Yoshijirō Umezu in 1936.
Famously, Japan defeated the heavily favoured Swedish team 3–2 at the 1936 Olympics with the
unorthodox 1–6–3 formation, before going down 0–8 to Italy. The formation was dubbed the
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"kamikaze" formation sometime in the 1960s when former US national team player Walter Bahr used it
for a limited number of games as coach of the Philadelphia Spartans to garner greater media and fan
attention for the struggling franchise.[32]
4–2–2–2 (Magic Rectangle)
Often referred to as the "Magic Rectangle" or "Magic Square",[33] this formation was used by France
under Michel Hidalgo at the 1982 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 1984, and later by Henri Michel
at the 1986 FIFA World Cup[34] and a whole generation, for Brazil with Telê Santana, Carlos Alberto
Parreira and Vanderlei Luxemburgo, by Arturo Salah and Manuel Pellegrini in Chile and Francisco
Maturana in Colombia.[35] The "Magic Rectangle" is formed by combining two box-to-box midfielders
with two deep-lying ("hanging") forwards across the midfield. This provides a balance in the distribution
of possible moves and adds a dynamic quality to midfield play.
This formation was used by former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini and met with considerable
praise.[36] Pellegrini also used this formation whilst at Villarreal and Málaga. The formation is closely
related to a 4–2–4 previously used by Fernando Riera, Pellegrini's mentor,[37] and that can be traced back to Chile in 1962 who (may have) adopted it from the Frenchman Albert Batteux at the Stade de
Reims of 50s.
Also before in the Real Madrid, this formation was most infamously used by Wanderley Luxemburgo
during his failed stint at Real Madrid in the latter part of the 2004–05 season and throughout the 2005–
06 season. This formation has been described as being "deeply flawed"[38] and "suicidal".[39]
Luxemburgo is not the only one to use this although it had been used earlier by Brazil in the early
1980s.[40][41] At first, Telê Santana, then Carlos Alberto Parreira and Vanderlei Luxemburgo proposed
basing the "Magic Rectangle" on the work of the wing backs. The rectangle becomes a 3–4–3 on theattack because one of the wing backs moves downfield.[42]
In another sense, the Colombian 4–2–2–2 is closely related to the 4–4–2 diamond of Brazil, style
different from the French-Chilean trend and is based on the complementation of a box-to box with 10
classic. Emphasises the triangulation, but especially in the surprise of attack. The 4–2–2–2 formation
consists of the standard defensive four (right back, two centre backs, and left back), with two centre
midfielders, two support strikers, and two out and out strikers.[43] Similar to the 4–6–0, the formation
requires a particularly alert and mobile front four to work successfully. The formation has also been used
on occasion by the Brazilian national team,[41][44][45] notably in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final.[46]
3–3–1–3
The 3–3–1–3 was formed of a modification to the Dutch 4–3–3 system Ajax had developed. Coaches
like Louis van Gaal and Johan Cruyff brought it to even further attacking extremes and the system
eventually found its way to FC Barcelona, where players such as Andrés Iniesta and Xavi were reared
into 3–3–1–3's philosophy. It demands intense pressing high up the pitch especially from the forwards,
and also an extremely high defensive line, basically playing the whole game inside the opponents' half. It
requires incredible technical precision and rapid ball circulation since one slip or dispossession can
result in a vulnerable counter-attack situation. Cruyff's variant relied on a flatter and wider midfield, butvan Gaal used an offensive midfielder and midfield diamond to link up with the front three more
effectively. Marcelo Bielsa has used the system with some success with Argentina's and Chile's national
teams and is currently one of the few high-profile managers to use the system in competition today.
Diego Simeone had also tried it occasionally at River Plate.
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3–3–3–1
The 3–3–3–1 system is a very attacking formation and its compact nature is ideally suited for midfield
domination and ball possession. It means a coach can field more attacking players and add extra strength
through the spine of the team. The attacking three are usually two wing-backs or wingers with the
central player of the three occupying a central attacking midfield (CAM) or second striker role behind
the centre-forward. The midfield three consists of two centre midfielders (CM) ahead of one central
defensive midfielder (CDM) or alternatively one central midfielder and two defensive midfielders. Thedefensive three can consist of three centre-backs (CB) or one CB with a full-back either side.
The 3–3–3–1 formation was used by Marcelo Bielsa's Chile in the 2010 World Cup, with three centre-
backs paired with two wing-backs and a holding player, although a variation is the practical hourglass,
using three wide players, a narrow three, a wide three and a centre-forward.[47]
4–2–1–3
The somewhat unconventional 4–2–1–3 formation was developed by José Mourinho during his time at
Internazionale including in the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final. By using captain Javier Zanettiand Esteban Cambiasso in holding midfield positions, he was able to push more players to attack.
Wesley Sneijder filled the attacking midfield role and the front three operated as three strikers, rather
than having a striker and one player on each wing. Using this formation, Mourinho won The Treble with
Inter in only his second season in charge of the club.
As the system becomes more developed and flexible, small groups can be identified to work together in
more efficient ways by giving them more specific and different roles within the same lines, and numbers
like 4–2–1–3, 4–1–2–3 and even 4–2–2–2 occur.
Many of the current systems have three different formations in each third, defending, middle, andattacking. The goal is to outnumber the other team in all parts of the field but to not completely wear out
all the players on the team using it before the full ninety minutes are up. So the one single number is
confusing as it may not actually look like a 4–2–1–3 when a team is defending or trying to gain
possession. In a positive attack it may look exactly like a 4–2–1–3.
Incomplete formations
When a player is sent off (i.e. after being shown a red card) or leaves the field due to an injury or other
reason with no ability to be replaced with a substitute teams generally fall back to defensive formationssuch as 4–4–1 or 5–3–1. Only when facing a negative result will a team with ten players play in a risky
attacking formation such as 4–3–2 or even 4–2–3.
See also
Association football tactics and skills
Association football positions
Catenaccio
Total Football
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attacking_midfieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenacciohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javier_Zanettihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football_tactics_and_skillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treble_(association_football)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre-backhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcelo_Bielsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football_positionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mourinhohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misconduct_(association_football)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.C._Internazionale_Milanohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_UEFA_Champions_League_Finalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sneijderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esteban_Cambiassohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_(association_football)#Centre-forwardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defender_(association_football)#Full-backhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midfielder
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11. ^ Wilson, Jonathan (18 December 2008). "The Question: why has 4–4–2 been superseded by 4–2–3–1?"
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2008/dec/18/4231-442-tactics-jonathan-wilson). The Guardian
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idNews=83677). AC Milan. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
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16. ^ Wilson, Jonathan (19 November 2008). "The Question: is 3–5–2 dead?"(http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/nov/19/argentina-napoli). The Guardian (London). Retrieved
19 November 2008.
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External links
Introduction to formations
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197420.stm) at BBC Sport
The development of early formations (http://www.nscaa.com/subpages/20060331154402100.php)
from National Soccer Coaches Association of America
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Formation_(association_football)&oldid=645649619"
35. ^ "Sistemas de Juego: [Capítulo I : 4–4–2] – Fútbol Gol" (http://www.futbolgol.es/futbol-gol/sistemas-de-
juego-capitulo-i-4-4-2.html). Futbolgol.es. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
36. ^ "I Like Pellegrini's 4–2–2–2 formation — Real Madrid Star Kaka"
(http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/09/19/1510122/i-like-pellegrinis-4-2-2-2-formation-real-madrid-
star-kaka). Goal.com. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
37. ^ "El hombre que cambió la vida a Pellegrini"
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38. ^ "Real Madrid manager madness: Spurs flop Juande Ramos becomes 10th in 10 years"
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10th-in-10-years-article34645.html). Mirrorfootball.co.uk. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
39. ^ "Curses, wallies and the return of the Russian linesman"
(http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/championsleague/archive/2009/02/20/curses-wallies-amp-the-return-of-the-
russian-linesman.aspx). Fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
40. ^ Wilson, Jonathan (24 June 2009). "The Question: How is Brazil's 4–2–3–1 different from a European 4–2–
3–1?" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jun/24/the-question-brazil-4-2-3-1). The Guardian
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41. ^ a b "Tim Vickery column" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6517085.stm#questions). BBC News. 2
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42. ^ " "El cuadrado mágico nace con los ángulos mágicos" – Luxemburgo"
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44. ^ "Football Tactics: 4–2–2–2 | Deak's Football Blog" (http://deak.co.uk/2009/04/11/football-tactics-4-2-2-2/).Deak.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
45. ^ Roberticus (19 May 2009). "santapelota: Overview of Brazilian Football Part II:"
(http://santapelota.blogspot.com/2009/05/overview-of-brazilian-football-part-ii.html).
Santapelota.blogspot.com. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
46. ^ "FIFA World Cup Finals — France 1998" (http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sports/football/br-fr.html).
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47. ^ Wilson, Jonathan (25 May 2012). "The Question: How best for Manchester United to combat Barcelona?"
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/may/25/manchester-united-barcelona-champions-league). The
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