The Formations

As the recent Euro just kicked off,you are going to be seeing a lot of coaches come up with different formations to give their team an advantage in the games.Soccer formation describes how the teams will line up on the field of play,from the defense,the midfield and the forward positions.The formation that is settled on will be greatly influenced by whether the team wants to play either an attacking or a defensive brand of football(soccer).There is also something that is called the number system that began in the 50s with the developing of the 4-2-4 formation.So you can have a 3 number formation like the 4-4-2, a 4 number formation like the 4-1-4-1 and at times a 5 number formation like the 4-1-2-1-2.Coaches will go with the formations that will match the talent that they have available.More that one formation can be used during a match,for example teams would go from a 4-3-3 attacking position when on the attack and switch to a 4-5-1 when on the defense.The types of players you have available will also influence the formation.The formations could be changed as the match progresses due to injury to a key player,substitution to try and get a goal,or substitution to try and preserve a lead.The best coaches are those that will be able to choose a system that will enhance the teams strength while covering its weaknesses.As you substitute during games,the formation is also likely to change.Here are some modern day formations and some of the teams that used them.4-4-2(Greece in their 2004 campaign,France,Italy,Germany,Croatia),4-2-3-1(French and Spanish teams,Portugal,Romania,Russia),4-1-4-1(Turkey),4-3-3(Greece),3-4-3,4-5-1(Austria,Poland),4-1-2-3(Spain),4-1-3-2(Switzerland,Czech Republic,Sweden,Romania),3-3-3-1,4-4-1-1(Italy in their 2006 world cup win),3-5-2,5-4-1,4-3-2-1(Holland) and 5-3-2,this last formation is the one that contains the sweeper or libero position which is fast fading.Remember Franz Beckenbauer,Franco Baresi.These are just some of the formations that you will get to see.You might have noticed by now that the 4-2-4 is not used anymore.It was one of the most offensive at its time(used by Brazil in their 1958 and 1970 world cup winning sides with a team that had the great Pele).It had four defenders,two midfielders and four forwards.You needed very skilled players who could hold that ball for extended period of times.The system put a lot of pressure on your defense and two midfield players when your opposition was on the attack.The 3-5-2 is a popular system today as games are won or lost by the play in the midfield.Coaches will line up five midfielders to fight for possession and for the creation of scoring chances for the two forwards.This system works well if two of your midfielders can play well on a defensive role.It looks like the key in the modern game,especially in the midfield is versatility.Skill and discipline is also needed for the teams to effectively carry out their formations.You need players that can defend very well as well as effectively provide an attack option.Going back in time I remember what is referred to as the pyramid,the 2-3-5.You had two defenders(referred to as fullbacks),three midfielders(referred to as halfbacks)and up front there were two wingers,left and right wingers,two inside forwards and a centre forward to complete the 2-3-5 package.Our primary school used this formation.This formation was popular up till the late 1940s.From the 50s to the 1970s it was mainly the 4-2-4.The modern formations now are plentiful and teams have adapted a caution first approach to the games instead of the attack,attack,attack approaches of the past.After a poor showing in their first outing against Romania using a 4-4-2 French Coach Domenech decided to go with the 4-2-3-1 that served the French national team well during their final run in the 2006 world cup.Italian Coach Roberto Donadoni started with this formation in their match against Romania,playing Toni as the lone striker and Del Piero lining up with midfielders Perrotta and Camoranesi.The four teams that made it to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 are Spain,Germany,Russia and Turkey.Spain and Germany like to line up with a 4-4-2 formation and just play.The Spanish two forwards are David Villa and Fernando Torres.Germany use Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski to spearhead their attack.Russia has been lining up in a 4-1-3-2 with Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko spearheading the attack.Turkey have lined up like the Russians in a 4-1-3-2 formation with Kazim Kazim and Nihat kahveci playing up front.