The 1-4-3-3 formation

The 1-4-3-3 formation

Rationale

In the 1-4-3-3 formation there are 3 lines with a balanced spread of players over the pitch (‘triangles’ of players) which creates good conditions for:

 effective positioning play

 playing out

 combination football / short passing game

 creative and varied attacking play using the width of the field

 early disturbing and pressuring after losing possession

For youth players, the positions and the attached basic tasks are logical and recognizable, which makes learning to play as a team easier to develop

The Optus SSF formats 7 v 7 (1-3-3) and 9 v 9 (1-3-2-3) lead up to the 1-4-3-3 formation in a logical and methodical manner.

Basic forms

The 1-4-3-3 formation has 2 basic forms, with a number of derived(offensive or defensive) variations:

1. The midfield triangle with the ‘point’ (no.10) forward.

2. The midfield triangle with the ‘point’ (no.6) to the rear.

FFA advises that players in the age categories U/12 to U/15 should learn to master

basic form 1.

U/16 to U/19 should also learn to master basic form 2.

General defensive principles

1. Direct transition of all players (no time to ‘mourn’)

2. Restore formation (no mixing of the lines)

3. Make team compact: short distances between lines and players

4. Zone defending: everyone responsible for own zone

5. Pressurized defending by the whole team, forcing the opponent to play wide or back or lose the ball

6. Players to always coach the players in front of them (help your team mate).

Defensive principles per line

Defenders & Goalkeeper (1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5)

Always maintain the structure / organisation of the defence line and keep opponent away from own goal (communication)

Everyone responsible for own zone so:

1. Horizontal take over: pass players on in case of switching opponents (width of pitch)

2. Vertical take over: pass players on in case of overlapping opponents (length of pitch)

Cover each other (diagonal covering), full backs to squeeze until maximum 5m. area; goalkeeper to act as ‘sweeper’ if required

Sharpness, mobility and insight (positioning / timing) are absolute requirements for modern central defenders (Neill, Vidic, Terry)

Modern full backs need to be fast, explosive and mobile rather than just big and strong (Wilkshire, Cole, Evra).

Defensive principles per line

Midfield (6 – 8 – 10) pointed forward:

No’s 6 & 8

Cover the central and lateral defensive midfield                  

area’s

Screen / shield the lines to the strikers

Take over positions,‘fill’ gaps and stay ‘behind

the ball’ (at least one of both)

Ball ‘winners’ with strong tactical awareness /

insight

Grella, Culina, Carrick, Essien

No. 10

Connects with no.6 & no.8 to form a ‘block’ in the

midfield

Covers the central offensive midfield area

Supports no.9 in pressuring the opponents

central defenders

Bresciano, Cahill, Kaka

Defensive principles per line

Midfield pointed to the rear:

No. 6

Covers the central defensive midfield area                             

Screens / shields the line to the strikers

Takes over positions,‘fill’ gaps and always stays

‘behind the ball’

Ball ‘winner’ with strong tactical awareness /

insight, on field leadership

Toure, Mascherano

No’s 8 & 10

Connect with no.6 to form a ‘block’ in the midfield

Cover the lateral midfield area’s

Technical and tactical ‘all round’ midfielders that

are able to cover large spaces

Gerrard, Lampard, Ballack, Xavi, Iniesta

Defensive principles per line

Attackers (7-9-11)

Immediate transitioning from BP to BPO (especially important for attackers!)

‘Connect’ to the midfield ASAP

Work together as a ‘unit’ (communication!)

Squeeze and delay opponents playing out in a 3 v 4 situation while ‘leading’ them to a flank

Start pressuring collectively on the signal from (one of) the designated axis player(s)

Prevent opponent from playing a forward pass where possible, otherwise always force opponent to give the forward pass under pressure

Prevent defenders from moving into the midfield

Take over each others positions / tasks if necessary

General offensive principles

1. Immediate and quick transition BPO to BP by all players, open up the spaces and restore attacking formation

2. Always look for a forward pass as first option, if not possible:

3. Play out through good positioning play with dynamic participation of all players

4. Ball possession is of vital importance in order to control the rhythm / speed of the game and ‘feed’ the attackers in a structured manner

5. Starting from wide positions for improvisation and individual actions in the attacking third

6. Recognizing the value of set-piece specialists

Offensive principles per line

The defenders:

Playing out is a means to an end! The purpose is to go forward while keeping possession!

This requires dynamic participation of all players, good positioning play and fast and

precise passing:

1. Create the right moment for the forward pass or:

2. Have a defender move into midfield to create an ‘extra player’ in the midfield

The goalkeeper must be the 11th outfield player while playing out! (fast change of

direction; recognizing the right moment to play the forward pass; etc.)

If the opponent uses a formation with 2 strikers the emphasis is placed on building up

through the full backs (central defenders to create space)

If the opponent plays with 3 strikers the emphasis is on building up through central

defenders (full backs to create space)

Offensive principles per line

Midfield pointed forward:

No’s. 6 & 8:

‘transfer’ playing out to attacking

feed and support the attacking ‘unit’

good game (passing) skills, vision and handling

speed are required (Grella, Culina).

No.10 (key player in this formation):                     

attacking midfielder

(not a traditional ‘playmaker’)

good ‘interaction’ with the strikers

(especialy with no. 9)

penetrate in front line and look for

scoring chances

good anticipation/feeling for right moment

good tactical insight, technique and handling

speed (Kaka, Cahill, Bergkamp)

In this formation no’s. 7 & 11 are more traditional

‘wingers’ making attacking moves in the wide

positions and providing assists and crosses.

They can come inside but needs to be well

timed, not ‘closing’ the spaces for no.10.

(Robben, Giggs, Beckham)

Offensive principles per line

Midfield pointed to the rear:

No. 6 is the ‘controlling’ midfielder. He/she always

has to stay ‘behind the ball’ and take over the

positions of the players that go forward. No.6 also

holds a key role in playing out and is a player with

strong game (passing) skills and vision.                                        

(Essien, Mascherano, Toure, Carrick)

No’s 8 & 10 ‘feed’ and support the strikers. They

have strong individual skills, vision and handling

speed. They provide the assists for the strikers

and have goalscoring abilities. These are the

‘complete’ midfielders.

(Lampard, Gerrard, Xavi, Iniesta)

In this formation no’s. 7 & 11 are ‘multi functional’

attackers making attacking moves to the inside

(and outside) starting from wide positions. The 3

attackers often switch positions but the formation

should always be maintained.

(Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney, Henry)

Offensive principles per line

The attackers (7 – 9 – 11)

Wing attackers No’s. 7 & 11:

starting from wide positions going outside and inside

are creative and pro active (with the ball and running off the ball)

provide assists, crosses and have goal scoring ability

(Messi, C.Ronaldo, Rooney, Kewell)

Central striker No. 9:

strong in receiving and holding the ball with his / her back to the goal

strong in attacking combinations

goal scorer

(Drogba, Torres, Adebayor, Viduka)

Collective important aspects in the attacking third:

Fast / direct combinations (wall-pass; no look pass; 3rd man; etc.)

Individual attacking qualities and ability to improvise

Effective positioning in front of goal