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Formation(associationfootball)
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Inassociationfootball,theformationdescribeshowtheplayersinateamarepositionedonthepitch.
Differentformationscanbeuseddependingonwhetherateamwishestoplaymoreattackingor
defensivefootball.
Formationsareusedinbothprofessionalandamateurfootballmatches.Inamateurmatches,however,
thesetacticsaresometimesadheredtolessstrictlyduetothelessersignificanceoftheoccasion.Skill
anddisciplineonbehalfoftheplayersisalsoneededtoeffectivelycarryoutagivenformationin
professionalfootball.Formationsneedtobechosenbearinginmindwhichplayersareavailable.Some
oftheformationsbelowwerecreatedtoaddressdeficitsorstrengthsindifferenttypesofplayers.

Contents
1Nomenclature
2Choiceandusesofformations
3Earlydays
4Classicformations
4.1235(Pyramid)
4.1.1DanubianSchool
4.1.2Metodo(2323)
4.2WM
4.3WW
4.4334
4.5424
5Commonmodernformations
5.1442
5.1.14411
5.2433
5.2.14312
5.3442diamondor41212
5.3.14132
5.44321(the"ChristmasTree"formation)
5.5532
5.5.1532withsweeperor1432
5.6343
5.7352
5.8361
5.9451
5.104231
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5.11460
5.12541
5.13163
5.144222(MagicRectangle)
5.153313
5.163331
5.174213
6Incompleteformations
7Seealso
8References
9Externallinks

Nomenclature
Formationsaredescribedbycategorisingtheplayers(notincludingthegoalkeeper)accordingtotheir
positioningalong(notacross)thepitch,withthemoredefensiveplayersgivenfirst.Forexample,442
meansfourdefenders,fourmidfielders,andtwoforwards.
Traditionallythosewithinthesamecategory(forexamplethe4midfieldersin442)wouldgenerally
playasafairlyflatlineacrossthepitch,withthoseoutwideoftenplayinginaslightlymoreadvanced
position.Inmanymodernformationsthisisnotthecase,whichhasledtosomeanalystssplittingthe
categoriesintwoseparatebands,leadingtofourorevenfivenumberedformations.Acommonexample
is4213,wherethemidfieldersaresplitintotwodefensiveandoneoffensiveplayerassuchthis
formationcanbeconsideredakindof433.
Thenumberingsystemwasnotpresentuntilthe424systemwasdevelopedinthe1950s.

Choiceandusesofformations
Thechoiceofformationisoftenrelatedtothetypeofplayersavailabletothecoach.
Narrowformations.Teamswithasurfeitofcentralmidfielders,orteamswhoattackbestthrough
thecentre,maychoosetoadoptnarrowformationssuchasthe41212orthe4321which
allowteamstofielduptofourorfivecentralmidfieldersintheteam.Narrowformationshowever
dependonthefullbacks(theflankplayersinthe"4")toprovidewidthandtoadvanceupfieldas
frequentlyaspossibletosupplementtheattackinwideareas.
Wideformations.Teamswithasurfeitofforwardsandwingersmaychoosetoadoptformations
suchas4231,352and433,whichcommitforwardsandwingershighupthepitch.Wide
formationsallowtheattackingteamtostretchplayandcausethedefendingteamtocovermore
ground.
Teamsmaychangeformationsduringagametoaidtheircause:

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Changetoattackingformations.Whenchasingagameforadesirableresult,teamstendto
sacrificeadefensiveplayeroramidfieldplayerforaforwardinordertochasearesult.An
exampleofsuchachangeisachangefrom451to442,352to343,oreven532to4
33.
Changetodefensiveformations.Whenateamisinthelead,orwishestoprotectthescorelineof
agame,thecoachmaychoosetoreverttoamoredefensivestructurebyremovingaforwardfora
moredefensiveplayer.Theextraplayerindefenceormidfieldaddssoliditybygivingtheteam
morelegstochaseopponentsandrecoverpossession.Anexampleofsuchachangeisachange
from442to532,352to451,oreven442to541.
Formationscanbedeceptiveinanalysingaparticularteam'sstyleofplay.Forinstance,ateamthatplays
anominallyattacking433formationcanquicklyreverttoa451ifacoachinstructstwoofthethree
forwardstotrackbackinmidfield.

Earlydays
Inthefootballmatchesofthe19thcenturydefensivefootballwasnotplayed,andthelineupsreflected
theallattackingnatureofthesegames.
Inthefirstinternationalgame,ScotlandagainstEnglandon30November1872,Englandplayedwith
sevenoreightforwardsina118or127formation,andScotlandwithsix,ina226formation.For
England,oneplayerwouldremainindefence,pickinguplooseballs,andoneortwoplayerswouldhang
aroundmidfieldandkicktheballupfieldfortheotherplayerstochase.TheEnglishstyleofplayatthe
timewasallaboutindividualexcellenceandEnglishplayerswererenownedfortheirdribblingskills.
Playerswouldattempttotaketheballforwardasfaraspossibleandonlywhentheycouldproceedno
further,wouldtheykickitaheadforsomeoneelsetochase.ScotlandsurprisedEnglandbyactually
passingtheballamongplayers.TheScottishoutfieldplayerswereorganisedintopairsandeachplayer
wouldalwaysattempttopasstheballtohisassignedpartner.Ironically,withsomuchattentiongivento
attackingplay,thegameendedina00draw.

Classicformations
235(Pyramid)
Thefirstlongtermsuccessfulformationwasfirstrecordedin1880.[1]However,in"Association
Football"publishedbyCaxtonin1960,thefollowingappearsinVolII,page432:"Wrexham...thefirst
winneroftheWelshCupin1877...forthefirsttimecertainlyinWalesandprobablyinBritain,ateam
playedthreehalfbacksandfiveforwards..."
The235wasoriginallyknownasthe"Pyramid",withthenumericalformationbeingreferenced
retrospectively.Bythe1890s,itwasthestandardformationinEnglandandhadspreadalloverthe
world.Withsomevariations,itwasusedbymosttoplevelteamsuptothe1940s.
Forthefirsttime,abalancebetweenattackinganddefendingwasreached.Whendefending,thetwo
defenders(fullbacks),wouldzonallymarktheopponentforwards(mainlythecentraltrio),whilethe
midfielders(halfbacks)wouldfillthegaps(usuallymarkingtheopposingwingersorinsideforwards).

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Thecentrehalfbackhadakeyroleinbothhelpingtoorganisetheteam's
attackandmarkingtheopponent'scentreforward,supposedlyoneof
theirmostdangerousplayers.
Itwasthisformationwhichgaverisetotheconventionofshirt
numbers.[2]
DanubianSchool
TheDanubianSchooloffootballisamodificationofthe235
formationinwhichthecentreforwardplaysinamorewithdrawn
position.AsplayedbytheAustrians,Czechs,andHungariansinthe
1920s,itwastakentoitspeakbytheAustriansinthe1930s.Itreliedon
shortpassingandindividualskills.Thisschoolwasheavilyinfluenced
bythelikesofHugoMeislandJimmyHogan,theEnglishcoachwho
visitedAustriaatthetime.

ThePyramidformation

Metodo(2323)
TheMetodowasdevisedbyVittorioPozzo,coachoftheItaliannational
teaminthe1930s.[3]ItwasaderivationoftheDanubianSchool.The
systemwasbasedonthe235formation,Pozzorealisedthathishalf
backswouldneedsomemoresupportinordertobesuperiortothe
opponents'midfield,sohepulledtwooftheforwardstojustinfrontof
midfield,creatinga2323formation.Thiscreatedastrongerdefence
thanprevioussystems,aswellasallowingeffectivecounterattacks.The
ItaliannationalteamwonbacktobackWorldCupsin1934and1938
usingthissystem.IthasbeenarguedthatPepGuardiola'sBarcelonaused
amodernversionofthisformation.[4]Thisformationisalsosimilarto
thestandardintablefootball,featuringtwodefenders,fivemidfielders
andthreestrikers(whichcannotbealteredasthe"players"aremounted
onaxles).

Metodoformation

WM
TheWMsystemwascreatedinthemid1920sbyHerbertChapmanof
Arsenaltocounterachangeintheoffsidelawin1925.Thechangehad
reducedthenumberofoppositionplayersthatattackersneededbetween
themselvesandthegoallinefromthreetotwo.Thisledtothe
introductionofacentrebacktostoptheopposingcentreforward,and
triedtobalancedefensiveandoffensiveplaying.Theformationbecame
sosuccessfulthatbythelate1930smostEnglishclubshadadoptedthe
WM.Retrospectively,theWMhaseitherbeendescribedasa325or
asa343,ormorepreciselya3223reflectingtheletterswhich
symbolisedit.Thegapinthecentreoftheformationbetweenthetwo
winghalvesandthetwoinsideforwardsallowedArsenaltocounter
attackeffectively.TheWMwassubsequentlyadaptedbyseveral
Englishsides,butnonecouldapplyitinquitethesamewayChapman
WMformation
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had.ThiswasmainlyduetothecomparativerarityofAlexJamesintheEnglishgame.Hewasoneof
theearliestplaymakersinthehistoryofthegame,andthehubaroundwhichChapman'sArsenal
revolved.

WW
TheWWwasadevelopmentoftheWMcreatedbytheHungariancoachMrtonBukoviwhoturnedthe
325WMintoa2323byeffectivelyturningtheM"upsidedown".[5]Thelackofaneffective
centreforwardinhisteamnecessitatedmovingthisplayerbacktomidfieldtocreateaplaymaker,witha
midfielderinstructedtofocusondefence.Thiscreateda2314,whichmorphedintoa2323when
theteamlostpossession,andwasdescribedbysomeasakindofgeneticlinkbetweentheWMandthe
424.ThisformationwassuccessfullyusedbyfellowcountrymanGusztvSebesintheHungarian
nationalteamoftheearly1950s.

334
The334formationwassimilartotheWW,withthenotableexceptionofhavinganinsideforward(as
opposedtocentreforward)deployedasamidfieldschemeralongsidethetwowinghalves.This
formationwouldbecommonplaceduringthe1950sandearly1960s.Oneofthebestexponentsofthe
systemwastheTottenhamHotspurdoublewinningsideof1961,whichdeployedamidfieldofDanny
Blanchflower,JohnWhiteandDaveMackay.FCPortowonthe200506Portuguesenational
championshipusingthisunusualformationundermanagerCoAdriaanse.

424
The424formationattemptstocombineastrongattackwithastrong
defence,andwasconceivedasareactiontoWM'sstiffness.Itcouldalso
beconsideredafurtherdevelopmentoftheWW.The424wasthefirst
formationtobedescribedusingnumbers.
Whiletheinitialdevelopmentsleadingtothe424weredevisedby
MrtonBukovi,thecreditforcreatingthe424lieswithtwodifferent
people:FlvioCosta,theBraziliannationalcoachintheearly1950s,as
wellasanotherHungarianBlaGuttman.Thesetacticsseemedtobe
developedindependently,withtheBraziliansdiscussingtheseideas
whiletheHungariansseemedtobeputtingthemintomotion.[5][6][7]The
fullydeveloped424wasonly"perfected"inBrazil,however,inthe
late1950s.
The424formation

Costapublishedhisideas,the"diagonalsystem",intheBrazilian
newspaperOCruzeiro,usingschematicsastheonesusedhereand,for
thefirsttimeever,theformationdescriptionbynumbersasusedinthisarticle.[6]The"diagonalsystem"
wasanotherprecursorofthe424andwascreatedtospurimprovisationinplayers.
GuttmannhimselfmovedtoBrazillaterinthe1950stohelpdevelopthesetacticalideasusingthe
experienceofHungariancoaches.
The424formationmadeuseoftheplayers'increasinglevelsofskillandfitness,aimingtoeffectively
usesixdefendersandsixforwards,withthemidfieldersperformingbothtasks.Thefourthdefender
increasedthenumberofdefensiveplayersbutmostlyallowedthemtobeclosertogether,thusenabling
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effectivecooperationamongthem,thepointbeingthatastrongerdefencewouldallowanevenstronger
attack.
Therelativelyemptymidfieldreliedondefendersthatshouldnowbeablenotonlytostealtheball,but
alsoholdit,passitorevenrunwithitandstartanattack.Sothisformationrequiredthatallplayers,
includingdefenders,aresomehowskilfulandwithinitiative,makingitaperfectfitfortheBrazilian
player'smind.The424neededahighleveloftacticalawareness,ashavingonlytwomidfielders
couldleadtodefensiveproblems.Thesystemwasalsofluidenoughtoallowtheformationtochange
throughoutplay.
424wasfirstusedwithsuccessatclublevelinBrazilbyPalmeirasandSantos,andwasusedby
Brazilintheirwinsat1958WorldCupand1970WorldCup,bothfeaturingPel,andMrioZagallo,
thelatterofwhichplayedin1958andcoachedin1970.Theformationwasquicklyadoptedthroughout
theworldaftertheBraziliansuccess.

Commonmodernformations
Thefollowingformationsareusedinmodern
football.Theformationsareflexibleallowing
tailoringtotheneedsofateam,aswellastothe
playersavailable.Variationsofanygiven
formationincludechangesinpositioningof
players,aswellasreplacementofatraditional
defenderbyasweeper.

Commonmodernformations

442
Thisformationwasthemostcommonin
footballinthe1990sandearly2000s,sowell
knownthatitinspiredthetitleofthemagazine
FourFourTwo.Themidfieldersarerequiredto
workhardtosupportboththedefenceandthe
attack:typicallyoneofthecentralmidfieldersis
expectedtogoupfieldasoftenaspossibleto
supporttheforwardpair,whiletheotherwill
playa"holdingrole",shieldingthedefencethe
twowidemidfieldplayersmustmoveupthe
flankstothegoallineinattacksandyetalso
protectthefullbacks.[8][9]OntheEuropean
level,themajorexampleofateamusinga44
2formationwasMilan,trainedbyArrigo
SacchiandlaterFabioCapello,whichwon
threeEuropeanCups,twoIntercontinental
Cups,andthreeUEFASuperCupsbetween
1988and1995.[10]UnderMilan'sexample,it
becameverypopularinItalyinthelate1980s
andearly1990s.

442formation

442diamondformation

4411formation

4321formation
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433formation

532formation
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Morerecently,commentatorshavenotedthatat
thehighestlevel,the442isbeingphasedout
infavourofformationssuchasthe4231.[11]
In2010,noneofthewinnersoftheSpanish,
EnglishandItalianleagues,northeChampions
League,reliedonthe442.Following
England'seliminationatthe2010WorldCupby
a4231Germanyside,EnglandNational
TeamcoachFabioCapello(whowasnotably
successfulwiththe442atMilaninthe
1990s)wascriticisedforplayingan
"increasinglyoutdated"442formation.[12]

532Sweeperformation

343formation

4411
Avariationof442withoneofthestrikers
playing"inthehole",orasa"secondstriker",
slightlybehindtheirpartner.[13]Thesecond
strikerisgenerallyamorecreativeplayer,the
playmaker,whocandropintomidfieldtopick
uptheballbeforerunningwithitorpassingto
teammates.[13]Interpretationsof4411can
beslightlymuddled,assomemightsaythatthe
extenttowhichaforwardhasdroppedoffand
separatedhimselffromtheothercanbe
debated.Thesystemwasmostprominentlyused
duringthe200910seasonbyFulhamF.C,with
midfielderZoltanGeraplayingbehindforward
BobbyZamoraastheyupsetmanyteamsacross
Europeontheirwaytothe2010UEFAEuropa
LeagueFinal.

352formation

361formation

451formation

4231formation

433
The433wasadevelopmentofthe424,
andwasplayedbytheBraziliannationalteam
inthe1962WorldCup.Theextraplayerin
midfieldallowsastrongerdefence,andthe
midfieldcouldbestaggeredfordifferenteffects.
Thethreemidfieldersnormallyplayclosely
541formation
togethertoprotectthedefence,andmove
laterallyacrossthefieldasacoordinatedunit.
Thethreeforwardssplitacrossthefieldto
spreadtheattack,andmaybeexpectedtomarktheoppositionfullbacksasopposedtodoublingbackto
assisttheirownfullbacks,asdothewidemidfieldersina442.Whenusedfromthestartofagame,
thisformationiswidelyregardedasencouragingexpansiveplay,andshouldnotbeconfusedwiththe
practiceofmodifyinga442bybringingonanextraforwardtoreplaceamidfieldplayerwhenbehind
inthelatterstagesofagame.Thisformationissuitedforashortpassinggameandusefulforball
retention.
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Astaggered433involvingadefensivemidfielder(usuallynumberedfourorsix)andtwoattacking
midfielders(numberedeightandten)wascommonplaceinItaly,Argentina,andUruguayduringthe
1960sand1970s.TheItalianvarietyof433wassimplyamodificationofWM,byconvertingoneof
thetwowinghalvestoalibero(sweeper),whereastheArgentineandUruguayanformationswere
derivedfrom235andretainedthenotionalattackingcentrehalf.Thenationalteamthatmadethis
famouswastheDutchteamofthe1974and1978WorldCups,eventhoughtheteamwonneither.
Inclubfootball,theteamthatbroughtthisformationtotheforefrontwasthefamousAjaxteamofthe
early1970s,whichwonthreeEuropeanCupswithJohanCruyff,andZdenekZemanwithFoggiain
Italyduringthelate1980s,wherehecompletelyrevitalisedthemovementsupportingthisformation.It
wasalsotheformationwithwhichNorwegianmanagerNilsArneEggenwon15Norwegianleague
titles.
Mostteamsusingthisformationnowusethespecialistdefensivemidfielder.Recentfamousexamples
includetheFCPortoandChelseateamscoachedbyJoseMourinho,aswellastheBarcelonateamunder
PepGuardiola.JoseMourinhohasalsobeencreditedwithbringingthisformationtoEnglandinhisfirst
stintwithChelsea.
4312
Avariationofthe433whereinastrikergiveswaytoacentralattackingmidfielder.Thisformation
wasadoptedbyMassimilianoAllegriforthe201011SerieAseasonforMilan.Theformationfocuses
ontheattackingmidfieldermovingplaythroughthecentrewiththestrikersoneitherside.Itisamuch
narrowersetupincomparisontothe433andisusuallydependentonthe"1"tocreatechances.

442diamondor41212
The442diamond(alsodescribedas41212)staggersthemidfield.Thewidthintheteamhasto
comefromthefullbackspushingforward.Thedefensivemidfielderissometimesusedasadeeplying
playmaker.ItsmostfamousexamplewasCarloAncelotti'sMilan,whichwonthe2003UEFA
ChampionsLeagueFinalandmadeMilanrunnersupin2005.Milanwasobligedtoadoptthisformation
soastofieldtalentedcentralmidfielderAndreaPirlo,inaperiodwhenthepositionofoffensive
midfielderwasoccupiedbyRuiCostaandlaterKak.[14]ThistacticwasgraduallyabandonedbyMilan
afterAndriyShevchenko'sdeparturein2006,progressivelyadoptinga"ChristmasTree"formation.
4132
The4132isavariationofthe41212andfeaturesastrongandtalenteddefensivecentre
midfielder.Thisallowstheremainingthreemidfielderstoplayfartherforwardandmoreaggressively,
andalsoallowsthemtopassbacktotheirdefensivemidwhensettingupaplayorrecoveringfroma
counterattack.The4132givesastrongpresenceintheforwardmiddleofthepitchandisconsidered
tobeanattackingformation.Opposingteamswithfastwingersandstrongpassingabilitiescantryto
overwhelmthe4132withfastattacksonthewingsofthepitchbeforethethreeoffensivemidfielders
canfallbacktohelptheirdefensiveline.ValeriyLobanovskiyisoneofthemostfamousexponentsof
theformation,usingitwithDinamoKyiv,winningthreeEuropeantrophiesintheprocess.Another
exampleofthe4132inusewastheEnglishnationalteamatthe1966FIFAWorldCup,managedby
AlfRamsey.

4321(the"ChristmasTree"formation)
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The4321,commonlydescribedasthe"ChristmasTree"formation,hasanotherforwardbroughton
foramidfieldertoplay"inthehole",soleavingtwoforwardsslightlybehindthemostforwardstriker.
TerryVenablesandChristianGrossusedthisformationduringtheirtimeinchargeofTottenham
Hotspur.SincethentheformationhaslostitspopularityinEngland.Itishowevermostknownforbeing
theformationCarloAncelottiutilisedonandoffduringhistimeasacoachofMilan.
Inthisapproach,themiddleofthethreecentralmidfieldersactasaplaymakerwhileoneofthe
attackingmidfieldersplaysinafreerole.However,itisalsocommonforthethreemidfielderstobe
energeticshuttlers,providingfortheindividualtalentofthetwoattackingmidfieldersahead.The
"ChristmasTree"formationisconsideredarelativelynarrowformationanddependsonfullbacksto
providepresenceinwideareas.Theformationisalsorelativelyfluid.Duringopenplay,oneoftheside
centralmidfieldersmaydrifttotheflanktoaddadditionalpresence.

532
Thisformationhasthreecentraldefenders(possiblywithoneactingasasweeper.)Thissystemis
heavilyreliantonthewingbacksprovidingwidthfortheteam.Thetwowidefullbacksactaswing
backs.Itistheirjobtoworktheirflankalongthefulllengthofthepitch,supportingboththedefence
andtheattack.[15]
532withsweeperor1432
Avariantofthe532,thisinvolvesamorewithdrawnsweeper,whomayjointhemidfield,andmore
advancedfullbacks.

343
Usinga343,themidfieldersareexpectedtosplittheirtimebetweenattackinganddefending.Having
onlythreededicateddefendersmeansthatiftheopposingteambreaksthroughthemidfield,theywill
haveagreaterchancetoscorethanwithamoreconventionaldefensiveconfiguration,suchas451or
442.However,thethreeforwardsallowforagreaterconcentrationonattack.Thisformationisused
bymoreoffensivemindedteams.TheformationwasfamouslyusedbyLiverpoolunderRafaelBenitez
duringthesecondhalfofthe2005UEFAChampionsLeagueFinaltocomebackfromathreegoal
deficit.

352
Thisformationissimilarto532exceptthatthetwowingmenareorientedmoretowardstheattack.
Becauseofthis,thecentralmidfieldertendstoremainfurtherbackinordertohelppreventcounter
attacks.Itdiffersfromtheclassical352oftheWWbyhavinganonstaggeredmidfield.Itwasused
forthefirsttimeatinternationallevelbytheArgentinecoachCarlosBilardo.[16]TerryVenablesnotably
usedthisformation(alongwitha41212)duringEngland'scampaigninEuro96,withGareth
SouthgateorPaulInceactingasdefensivemidfielder.Manyteamsalsouseacentralattacking
midfielderandtwodefensivemidfielders,sothemidfieldersformaWformation.
SebastioLazaroniusedthisformationforBrazilduringtheunsuccessfulparticipationtothe1990FIFA
WorldCup.

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Althoughithadfallenoutoffavourwithmostcoacheswhonowpreferfourattheback,ithasrecently
hadarenaissanceinbothclubandinternationalfootball.Atclublevel,ithasbeeneffectivelyusedby
JuventuscoachAntonioConte,underwhomJuventuswonthreebacktobackscudettibetween2012
and2014,ormorerecentlybyLouisVanGaalatManchesterUnited.[17]
Atinternationallevel,ithasbeenusedasanalternativeformationontwonotableoccasionstonullifythe
challengeofpossessionfootballusedbytheSpanishnationalside.CesarePrandelliuseditfortheItaly's
11drawwithSpaininthegroupstageofUEFAEuro2012,withsomecommentatorsseeingDaniele
DeRossiasasweeper.[18]TheNetherlandsusedittogreatereffectagainstSpainduringthegroupstage
ofthe2014FIFAWorldCup,completinga51win.ThiswassuccessfulinminimizingtheDutch
weaknessesinexperienceindefenceandtheirstrengthsworldclassforwardsinRobinvanPersie
andArjenRobben.[19]

361
Thisuncommonmodernformationfocusesonballpossessioninthemidfield.Infact,itisveryrareto
seeitasaninitialformation,asitismoreusefulformaintainingaleadortiescore.Itsmorecommon
variantsare3421or343diamond,whichusetwowingbacks.Theloneforwardmustbetactically
gifted,notonlybecauseheorshefocusesonscoringbutalsoonplayingtheballbacktowardstheown
goaltoassistwithbackpassestohisteammates.Oncetheteamisleadingthegame,thereisaneven
strongertacticalfocusonballcontrol,shortpassesandrunningdowntheclock.Ontheotherhand,when
theteamislosing,atleastoneoftheplaymakerswillmorefrequentlyplayintheedgeoftheareatoadd
depthtotheattack.GuusHiddinkisoneofthefewcoacheswhohasusedthisformation,recentlyfor
Australiaduringthe2006FIFAWorldCup.

451
451isadefensiveformationhowever,ifthetwomidfieldwingersplayamoreattackingrole,itcan
belikenedto433.Theformationcanbeusedtogrindout00drawsorpreservealead,asthepacking
ofthecentremidfieldmakesitdifficultfortheoppositiontobuildupplay.[20]Becauseofthe
"closeness"ofthemidfield,theopposingteam'sforwardswilloftenbestarvedofpossession.Duetothe
lonestriker,however,thecentreofthemidfielddoeshavetheresponsibilityofpushingforwardaswell.
Thedefensivemidfielderwilloftencontrolthepaceofthegame.[21]

4231
ThisformationiswidelyusedbySpanish,FrenchandGermansides.Whileitseemsdefensivetothe
eye,itisquiteaflexibleformation,asboththewideplayersandthefullbacksjointheattack.In
defense,thisformationissimilartoeitherthe451or4411.Itisusedtomaintainpossessionofthe
ballandstoppingopponentattacksbycontrollingthemidfieldareaofthefield.Thelonestrikermaybe
verytallandstrongtoholdtheballupashismidfieldersandfullbacksjoinhiminattack.Thestriker
couldalsobeveryfast.Inthesecases,theopponent'sdefensewillbeforcedtofallbackearly,thereby
leavingspacefortheoffensivecentralmidfielder.Thisformationisusedespeciallywhenaplaymakeris
tobehighlighted.Thevariationsofpersonnelusedontheflanksinthissetupincludeusingtraditional
wingers,usinginvertedwingersorsimplyusingwidemidfielders
Attheinternationallevel,thisformationisusedbytheFrenchnationalteam,theDutchnationalteam
andtheGermannationalteaminanasymmetricshape,andoftenwithstrikersaswidemidfieldersor
invertedwingers.TheformationisalsocurrentlyusedbyBrazilasanalternativetothe424formation
ofthelate1950sto1970.Implementedsimilarlytohoworiginal424wasusedbackthen,useofthis
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formationinthismannerisveryoffensive,creatingasixmanattackandasixmandefencetactical
layout.Thefrontfourattackersarearrangedasapairofwideforwardsandaplaymakerforwardwho
playinsupportofalonestriker.MrioZagalloalsoconsiderstheBrazil1970footballteamhecoached
aspioneersof4231.[22]
Inrecentyearswithfullbackshavingevermoreincreasingattackingroles,thewideplayers(bethey
deeplyingforwards,invertedwingers,attackingwidemidfielders)havebeentaskedwiththedefensive
responsibilitytotrackandpindowntheoppositionfullbacks.Agoodexampleofanattackingfullback
isBranislavIvanovic,playingforChelseaina4231formation.[23]
Thisformationhasbeenveryfrequentlyusedbymanagersallovertheworldinthemoderngame.One
particularlyeffectiveuseofitwasLiverpoolF.C.underRafaelBenitez,whodeployedJavier
Mascherano,XabiAlonsoandStevenGerrardincentralmidfield,withGerrardactinginamore
advancedroleinordertolinkupwithFernandoTorres,whoactedasthecentralstriker.Anothernotable
exampleatclublevelisBayernMunichunderJuppHeynckes.

460
Ahighlyunconventionalformation,the460isanevolutionofthe4231inwhichthecentre
forwardisexchangedforaplayerwhonormallyplaysasatrequartista(thatis,inthe'hole').Suggested
asapossibleformationforthefutureoffootball,[24]theformationsacrificesanoutandoutstrikerfor
thetacticaladvantageofamobilefrontfourattackingfromapositionthattheoppositiondefenders
cannotmarkwithoutbeingpulledoutofposition.[25]Becauseoftheintelligenceandpacerequiredby
thefrontfourattackerstocreateandattackanyspaceleftbytheoppositiondefenders,however,the
formationrequiresaveryskilfulandwelldrilledfrontfour.Duetothesedemandingrequirementsfrom
theattackers,andthenoveltyofplayingwithoutapropergoalscorer,theformationhasbeenadoptedby
veryfewteams,andrarelyconsistently.Aswiththedevelopmentofmanyformations,theoriginsand
originatorsareuncertain,butarguablythefirstreferencetoaprofessionalteamadoptingasimilar
formationisAnghelIordnescu'sRomaniainthe1994WorldCupRoundof16,whenRomaniawon3
2againstArgentina.[26][27]ThefirstteamtoadopttheformationsystematicallywasLucianoSpalletti's
Romasideduringthe200506SerieAseason,mostlyoutofnecessityashis"strikerless"formation,[28]
andthennotablybyAlexFerguson'sManchesterUnitedsidethatwonthePremierLeagueand
ChampionsLeaguein200708.[29]TheformationwasunsuccessfullyusedbyCraigLevein'sScotland
vsCzechRepublictowidespreadcondemnation.[30]AtUEFAEuro2012,SpaincoachVicentedel
Bosqueusedthe460forhisside's11groupstagedrawversusItalyandtheir40winversusItalyin
thefinalofthetournament.[31]

541
Thisisaparticularlydefensiveformation,withanisolatedforwardandapackeddefence.Again,
however,acoupleofattackingfullbackscanmakethisformationresemblesomethinglikea361.
OneofthemostfamouscasesofitsuseistheGreeknationalteam.

163
The163formationwasfirstutilisedbyJapanatthebehestofGeneralYoshijirUmezuin1936.
Famously,JapandefeatedtheheavilyfavouredSwedishteam32atthe1936Olympicswiththe
unorthodox163formation,beforegoingdown08toItaly.Theformationwasdubbedthe
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"kamikaze"formationsometimeinthe1960swhenformerUSnationalteamplayerWalterBahrusedit
foralimitednumberofgamesascoachofthePhiladelphiaSpartanstogarnergreatermediaandfan
attentionforthestrugglingfranchise.[32]

4222(MagicRectangle)
Oftenreferredtoasthe"MagicRectangle"or"MagicSquare",[33]thisformationwasusedbyFrance
underMichelHidalgoatthe1982FIFAWorldCupandtheUEFAEuro1984,andlaterbyHenriMichel
atthe1986FIFAWorldCup[34]andawholegeneration,forBrazilwithTelSantana,CarlosAlberto
ParreiraandVanderleiLuxemburgo,byArturoSalahandManuelPellegriniinChileandFrancisco
MaturanainColombia.[35]The"MagicRectangle"isformedbycombiningtwoboxtoboxmidfielders
withtwodeeplying("hanging")forwardsacrossthemidfield.Thisprovidesabalanceinthedistribution
ofpossiblemovesandaddsadynamicqualitytomidfieldplay.
ThisformationwasusedbyformerRealMadridmanagerManuelPellegriniandmetwithconsiderable
praise.[36]PellegrinialsousedthisformationwhilstatVillarrealandMlaga.Theformationisclosely
relatedtoa424previouslyusedbyFernandoRiera,Pellegrini'smentor,[37]andthatcanbetraced
backtoChilein1962who(mayhave)adopteditfromtheFrenchmanAlbertBatteuxattheStadede
Reimsof50s.
AlsobeforeintheRealMadrid,thisformationwasmostinfamouslyusedbyWanderleyLuxemburgo
duringhisfailedstintatRealMadridinthelatterpartofthe200405seasonandthroughoutthe2005
06season.Thisformationhasbeendescribedasbeing"deeplyflawed"[38]and"suicidal".[39]
LuxemburgoisnottheonlyonetousethisalthoughithadbeenusedearlierbyBrazilintheearly
1980s.[40][41]Atfirst,TelSantana,thenCarlosAlbertoParreiraandVanderleiLuxemburgoproposed
basingthe"MagicRectangle"ontheworkofthewingbacks.Therectanglebecomesa343onthe
attackbecauseoneofthewingbacksmovesdownfield.[42]
Inanothersense,theColombian4222iscloselyrelatedtothe442diamondofBrazil,style
differentfromtheFrenchChileantrendandisbasedonthecomplementationofaboxtoboxwith10
classic.Emphasisesthetriangulation,butespeciallyinthesurpriseofattack.The4222formation
consistsofthestandarddefensivefour(rightback,twocentrebacks,andleftback),withtwocentre
midfielders,twosupportstrikers,andtwooutandoutstrikers.[43]Similartothe460,theformation
requiresaparticularlyalertandmobilefrontfourtoworksuccessfully.Theformationhasalsobeenused
onoccasionbytheBraziliannationalteam,[41][44][45]notablyinthe1998FIFAWorldCupfinal.[46]

3313
The3313wasformedofamodificationtotheDutch433systemAjaxhaddeveloped.Coaches
likeLouisvanGaalandJohanCruyffbroughtittoevenfurtherattackingextremesandthesystem
eventuallyfounditswaytoFCBarcelona,whereplayerssuchasAndrsIniestaandXaviwerereared
into3313'sphilosophy.Itdemandsintensepressinghighupthepitchespeciallyfromtheforwards,
andalsoanextremelyhighdefensiveline,basicallyplayingthewholegameinsidetheopponents'half.It
requiresincredibletechnicalprecisionandrapidballcirculationsinceoneslipordispossessioncan
resultinavulnerablecounterattacksituation.Cruyff'svariantreliedonaflatterandwidermidfield,but
vanGaalusedanoffensivemidfielderandmidfielddiamondtolinkupwiththefrontthreemore
effectively.MarceloBielsahasusedthesystemwithsomesuccesswithArgentina'sandChile'snational
teamsandiscurrentlyoneofthefewhighprofilemanagerstousethesystemincompetitiontoday.
DiegoSimeonehadalsotrieditoccasionallyatRiverPlate.
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3331
The3331systemisaveryattackingformationanditscompactnatureisideallysuitedformidfield
dominationandballpossession.Itmeansacoachcanfieldmoreattackingplayersandaddextrastrength
throughthespineoftheteam.Theattackingthreeareusuallytwowingbacksorwingerswiththe
centralplayerofthethreeoccupyingacentralattackingmidfield(CAM)orsecondstrikerrolebehind
thecentreforward.Themidfieldthreeconsistsoftwocentremidfielders(CM)aheadofonecentral
defensivemidfielder(CDM)oralternativelyonecentralmidfielderandtwodefensivemidfielders.The
defensivethreecanconsistofthreecentrebacks(CB)oroneCBwithafullbackeitherside.
The3331formationwasusedbyMarceloBielsa'sChileinthe2010WorldCup,withthreecentre
backspairedwithtwowingbacksandaholdingplayer,althoughavariationisthepracticalhourglass,
usingthreewideplayers,anarrowthree,awidethreeandacentreforward.[47]

4213
Thesomewhatunconventional4213formationwasdevelopedbyJosMourinhoduringhistimeat
Internazionaleincludinginthe2010UEFAChampionsLeagueFinal.ByusingcaptainJavierZanetti
andEstebanCambiassoinholdingmidfieldpositions,hewasabletopushmoreplayerstoattack.
WesleySneijderfilledtheattackingmidfieldroleandthefrontthreeoperatedasthreestrikers,rather
thanhavingastrikerandoneplayeroneachwing.Usingthisformation,MourinhowonTheTreblewith
Interinonlyhissecondseasoninchargeoftheclub.
Asthesystembecomesmoredevelopedandflexible,smallgroupscanbeidentifiedtoworktogetherin
moreefficientwaysbygivingthemmorespecificanddifferentroleswithinthesamelines,andnumbers
like4213,4123andeven4222occur.
Manyofthecurrentsystemshavethreedifferentformationsineachthird,defending,middle,and
attacking.Thegoalistooutnumbertheotherteaminallpartsofthefieldbuttonotcompletelywearout
alltheplayersontheteamusingitbeforethefullninetyminutesareup.Sotheonesinglenumberis
confusingasitmaynotactuallylooklikea4213whenateamisdefendingortryingtogain
possession.Inapositiveattackitmaylookexactlylikea4213.

Incompleteformations
Whenaplayerissentoff(i.e.afterbeingshownaredcard)orleavesthefieldduetoaninjuryorother
reasonwithnoabilitytobereplacedwithasubstituteteamsgenerallyfallbacktodefensiveformations
suchas441or531.Onlywhenfacinganegativeresultwillateamwithtenplayersplayinarisky
attackingformationsuchas432oreven423.

Seealso
Associationfootballtacticsandskills
Associationfootballpositions
Catenaccio
TotalFootball

References
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Externallinks
Introductiontoformations
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197420.stm)atBBCSport
Thedevelopmentofearlyformations(http://www.nscaa.com/subpages/20060331154402100.php)
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title=Formation_(association_football)&oldid=645649619"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formation_(association_football)

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