A formation is the way that a team aligns its players on the field. A formation is named by the number of players in defense, midfield, and forward. For example, a 4–3–3 formation has 4 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 3 forwards. Teams choose formations based on two main criteria:
- Personnel: A team with many good midfielders may play a formation that uses a lot of midfielders, such as a 3–5–2 formation, to put its strength at midfield to best use.
- Strategy: A team may use a formation because it wants to play offensively or defensively. Generally, formations with more defenders and fewer forwards are more defensive.
Formations are not rigid and can bend to accommodate the situation. For instance, a 3–5–2 may suddenly look a lot like a 3–3–4 if two of the wing midfielders run in to join the attack. A team may also shift its formation entirely during a game. For instance, when a team gets a lead, rather than just playing more defensively, it may substitute a midfielder for a forward, going from a 4–4–2 to a 4–5–1. A number of the most common soccer formations are described below.
3–5–2
In the 3–5–2, the left and right midfielders are heavily involved in the attack, and the two center midfielders play farther back to provide defensive support.
The two forwards play complementary roles. One may be a target forward, who receives and controls passes from midfield, whereas the other may be more of a poacher, looking to pounce on passes into the box from midfielders, or to pounce on the rebounds of shots from midfielders or the other forward.
3–4–3
The 3–4–3 is an offensive formation. The three forwards give a team a lot of firepower to focus on the opposing goal. However, when the forwards fail to score or maintain possession of the ball, this formation puts a lot of pressure on the defense, which is undermanned compared to formations with four defenders, or even to the 3–5–2, which allows midfielders to play more defensive roles.
4–3–3
Despite its three forwards, a 4–3–3 formation is considered defensive because the midfielders play conservatively; they stay close together and move laterally through the midfield as a group. This formation sometimes uses a midfielder as a sweeper. In more offensive versions of the 4–3–3 formations, two of the midfielders may play a more attacking role.
4–4–2
The 4–4–2 is the most popular soccer formation today. To make this formation work, the midfielders must be strong offensively and defensively, providing support and scoring opportunities for the forwards but also getting back on defense to break up the opposing team’s attack. One central midfielder usually serves as an attacking midfielder, whereas the other serves as a defensive midfielder.
Some teams modify the 4–4–2 so that the midfielders form a diamond. This modification more formally separates the roles of the attacking and defensive midfielder. The attacking midfielder also plays even further upfield, and may more accurately be described as a withdrawn forward.
4–5–1
The 4-5-1 is predominantly a defensive formation. The five midfielders clog up the middle of the field, making it very difficult for the opposing team to build up its attack or pass the ball to its forwards. The 4-5-1 formation is often used when a team wants to preserve a tie or protect a lead. The formation can be made more offensive if the two outside midfielders move up the flanks and become more active in the attack.