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Soccer Formations - 9 Of The Best Explained

04 May, 2022

Soccer formations can vary immensely depending on factors like personnel, opposition, and preferred style of play. If you take a look at the world's top leagues, you'll find that there are a few core formations coaches opt for. So which ones are the best? In this article, we'll take you through 9 of the most used soccer formations, explaining the uses, benefits, and weaknesses of each. Let's begin.

4-3-3

We'll start with one of the most popular formations around. Both Liverpool and Manchester City have enjoyed serious recent success using the 4-3-3 formation. It's often favoured for the balance it offers between defence and attack, allowing teams to dominate possession and press the opposition high up the pitch. Our article on The 4-3-3 formation and its uses, benefits, and weaknesses delves into this shape in a lot more depth.

Strengths:

Midfield 3 provide defensive solidity and opportunities for possession football.
Full-backs offer width going forward.
Front 3 can press the opposition defence high up the pitch, applying pressure and winning possession in advanced areas.

Weaknesses:

Gaps can grow in defence when full-backs push up high.
High defensive line can leave teams vulnerable to opposition counter-attacks.
Requires high levels of energy and stamina across the pitch.

Used By:

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have used a 'false nine' to link midfield and attack in their 4-3-3 variation.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have enjoyed huge success playing the 4-3-3 formation.
Guardiola's Barcelona side dominated European football in the late noughties playing 'tiki-taka' football using a similar shape.

One of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona lineups- widely regarded as one of the best club teams ever

3-5-2

Originally developed by Argentine coach Carlos Bilardo as a way of creating space up front for legendary attacker Diego Maradona, while simultaneously ensuring defensive solidity, this formation led Argentina to 1986 World Cup triumph. In recent years, the 3-5-2 formation has become fashionable again, due largely to its immense flexibility.

Strengths:

Highly flexible, with wing-backs easily able to switch between defence and attack (although primarily, their role tends to be offensive).
3 central midfielders offer opportunities for dominating midfield battle.
Central defenders are able to move forward into midfield with adequate defensive cover.
Two central forwards able to link up and avoid isolation up top.

Weaknesses:

Can be susceptible to counter-attacks if heavy midfield is breached.
Defending wide positions can be difficult if wing-backs bomb forwards a lot.
Highly dependent on well-trained, well-disciplined players who know their roles well - it's an advanced formation that requires serious coaching.

Used By:

Antonio Conte's teams often stray more into 3-4-3, but he's employed a 3-5-2 successfully at Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter Milan.
Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea have been known to use 3-5-2 regularly. The German coach often used this formation at PSG and Borussia Dortmund.

Argentina's lineup for 1986 World Cup Final, where they went on to defeat West Germany 3-2

4-2-3-1

Spain's footballing world domination between 2008-12 helped pioneer this system, which is made up of a back four, 2 defensive midfielders, and a creative midfield 3 operating behind a lone central striker. Its often used by possession-oriented sides.

Strengths:

Plenty of defensive stability due to the combination of a back four and two central defensive midfielders.
Meanwhile, lots of width is provided by the two full-backs and offensive wide midfielders.
Good for building up possession from back four through central midfield.
Offensive midfield 3 can combine fluidly and move freely in advanced positions.

Weaknesses:

In order to stay compact and organised, a lot of communication is needed between each section of the formation.
Two wide midfielders must be fast and dominant in one-on-one situations - if not, they can end up being weak links.

Used By:

Vincent Del Bosque's Spain national team were one of the most influential pioneers of this system, winning Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012 playing 4-2-3-1.
With Julian Naglesmann and Hansi Flick in charge, Bayern Munich have totally dominated the Bundesliga in recent seasons, playing 4-2-3-1.
Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid also used this formation to great effect.

Often regarded as one of the greatest national sides of all time, this 4-2-3-1 lineup led them to World Cup victory in 2010, thanks to Andres Iniesta's extra-time winner

4-4-2

The 4-4-2 formation was the go-to system for English sides from the advent of the Premier League in 1992 until the rise of 4-2-3-1 in the late noughties. It usually revolves around a solid back four, a midfield four comprised of two central players and two wingers, and an attacking partnership of 2 central strikers. These days, it's a little out of fashion, but it still has its benefits.

Strengths:

Width and numbers in attack make 4-4-2 great for counter-attacking football.
Two central forwards are able to face opposition centre-backs in 1-v-1 situations.
Two banks of four in defence and midfield can provide deep defensive solidity.

Weaknesses:

Can be difficult to maintain control over a game, particularly in terms of dominating possession.
The 2 central midfielders can become overrun when facing a 3-man midfield.
The wide midfielders are required to track back and defend aggressively, which takes real stamina and energy.

Used By:

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are probably the most famous current example of the 4-4-2 system. They use its compact shape to soak up pressure and hit teams on the break.
Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United won numerous trophies playing this system.

In arguably Alex Ferguson and Manchester United's finest moment, this 4-4-2 setup overcame a strong Bayern Munich side to Champions League glory in 1999.

4-3-2-1

A less orthodox formation, 4-3-2-1 is often described as "The Christmas Tree" due to its shape when displayed on a team sheet. It's essentially a variation of 4-5-1, designed to pack players into key areas of the pitch and progress the ball forwards effectively. 4-3-2-1 consists of 4 defenders, 3 central midfielders, 2 attacking midfielders, and a lone central striker.

Strengths:

2 attacking midfielders often operate essentially as forwards, supporting the striker as much as possible and forming a fluid 3 in attack.
Having relatively central 5 midfield players allows teams playing 4-3-2-1 to seriously dominate the ball and retain possession.

Weaknesses:

4-3-2-1 is quite a narrow formation, meaning that full-backs are relied upon heavily to provide width going forwards.
Due to the lack of players in advanced positions, it can be difficult for teams to mount successful counter-attacks using this formation.

Used By:

Legendary Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti is a big fan of this formation. With both AC Milan and Real Madrid, he was able to win the Champions League using 4-3-2-1.
Tottenham Hotspur's Terry Venables was one of many coaches to use this formation during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

4-5-1

With four defenders, 5 midfielders, and one striker, this formation is more focused on width than other 4-5-1 variations we've discussed previously. It spreads bodies across the midfield and encourages these players to support their lone striker as much as possible.

Strengths:

Here, the midfield 5 span the entire width of the pitch, allowing teams to easily spread the ball across midfield.
This means that rather than just promoting possession football, the 4-5-1 system also allows teams to cross the ball from wide positions.

Weaknesses:

There's a lot of pressure on the lone striker here. Not only will they be relied upon for goals, they also need to press the opposition backline, often alone.
If wide midfielders try to support this striker too much to prevent isolation, they can leave gaps in behind.

Used By:

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea employed the 4-5-1 system to great effect in the mid-2000s.
Throughout Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery's long careers at Bayern Munich, the 4-5-1 shape allowed the German giants to build their dominance on impressive wing play.

Mourinho's 2004/2005 Chelsea team still hold the record for least goals conceded in a Premier League campaign, shipping only 15 goals

3-4-3

This 3-man defence system places greater emphasis on stationing attacking players high and wide in support of a lone striker. With 3 central defenders, a midfield 4 containing 2 wide players, and a front 3 including wingers, this formation is built around developing width and stretching the opposition. It requires a strong balance in the centre of the field, with an energetic box-to-box midfielder typically being complemented by a deeper-lying, more defensive midfielder.

Strengths:

The inclusion of a ball-playing sweeper (referred to by the Italian term libero) allows the ball to be carried forwards from defence, initiating attacks.
Playing 3-4-3 effectively can wreak havoc for the opposition by overloading wide areas of the pitch with superior numbers of players.
Lone strikers are less likely to become isolated, with plenty of support provided not just by the two wingers, but also by central midfielders and wing-backs who have the freedom to advance forwards.

Weaknesses:

The wing-back roles in this formation are incredibly demanding. Without players who can offer speed, stamina, and defensive commitment, this system is difficult.
With only 1 or 2 central midfielders providing consistent support to the back 3, there can be a lack of defensive cover in the middle of the park at times.

Used By:

As Barcelona manager, Johan Cruyff used a 3-4-3 to get the best out of his crop of world-class players, which included Pep Guardiola and Ronald Koeman.
Antonio Conte's Juventus used a 3-4-3 shape, with Italian central defender Leonardo Bonucci's acting as libero.

Based on his Total Football philosophy, Cruyff's Barcelona were incredibly fluid, constantly switching positions and moving the ball

4-1-3-2

Out of all the formations we've discussed in this article, 4-1-3-2 is perhaps the least commonly used one. Typically used by teams looking to dominate the final third of the pitch, 4-1-3-2 is generally seen as a very attacking formation. With just one central defensive midfielder shielding the back four, and five players in relatively advanced areas of the pitch, it can be super effective when it comes to creating chances and exploiting opposition defences.

Strengths:

This formation is essentially an attack-minded variation of 4-4-2 which ensures attacking power while reducing the chances of getting overrun in the middle by narrowing the midfield.
The back four are given protection by a single central defensive midfielder tasked with sitting deep and cutting out opposition attacks. This allows the forward 5 to press high up the pitch, winning the ball back in advanced areas.

Weaknesses:

It's possible for a team's midfield 3 to become too narrow, and if they're not helped out by their advancing full-backs, it can be hard to create moves via the wings.
Due to this potential exposure in the flanks, teams playing 4-1-3-2 can be vulnerable to fast counter-attacks.

Used By:

One of the best-known examples of this system in action comes from Slaven Bilic's Croatian national team, who used 4-1-3-2 to get the best out of the likes of Modric, Rakitic, and Olic.
Italian manager Roberto Mancini led Manchester City to their first ever Premier League title in the 2011-12 season, using a 4-1-3-2 system on a regular basis.

Aguerooooooooo!...

4-1-2-1-2

The 4-1-2-1-2 is also often called the "Diamond", due to its midfield shape. With one central defensive midfielder protecting the back four, supported by 2 central midfielders slightly further forward, and one central attacking midfielder positioned behind a strike partnership, this is a super narrow formation. This means width has to be provided by the full-backs. Let's explore how this works in action.

Strengths:

A diamond shape can be great for flooding central midfield areas and becoming more combative against a team that likes to dominate possession.
This formation gives teams the advantage of having a second striker. 4-1-2-1-2 allows you to set up with a strike partnership as well as a packed midfield behind them.

Weaknesses:

This shape narrows the typical 4-4-2 system, and this lack of width can leave teams exposed in wide areas.
The central defensive midfielder is crucial for dropping back between the two centre backs and shaping early stages of possession. If a team manmarks the CDM, it can become very difficult to move the ball out from defence.

Used By:

In Liverpool's ultimately unsuccessful 2013-14 title challenge, Brendan Rodgers used a 4-1-2-1-2 system to get the best out of strikers Suarez and Sturridge, while Steven Gerrard pulled strings in midfield.

Whilst Rodgers implemented a variety of formations across the campaign, his 4-1-2-1-2 allowed Gerrard to dictate play from deep

That's it for your guide to some of the leading soccer formations. Different shapes and systems are required in different situations, and over the years, formations drift in and out of fashion. Having a grasp of the most popular ones is crucial to understanding the tactical side of the game. If that's something you're interested in, check out our article on 10 great books about football coaching & tactics or check out some more formations we haven't covered above, such as the 4-2-2-2 formation. On the other hand, if you're just looking to develop your knowledge about the basics of our game, our blog is packed with useful explainer pieces. Check out our article, 'How Long is a Soccer Game?' for a comprehensive guide to how matches are structured.

Fred Garratt-Stanley is a freelance writer and long-suffering Norwich City fan with experience reporting on football for a number of titles. He also has a background in music and culture journalism, with bylines in NME, The Quietus, Resident Advisor and more. Currently, he's working as a content writer for a variety of online health and fitness publications.