WM formation

Common modern formations

4–4–2 formation 4–3–3 formation 4–4–2 diamond formation 4–4–1–1 formation 4–3–2–1 formation 5–3–2 formation 5–3–2 Sweeper formation 3–4–3 formation 3–5–2 formation 3–6–1 formation 4–5–1 formation 4–2–3–1 formation 5–4–1 formation

In association football, the formation describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. Different formations can be used depending on whether a team wishes to play more attacking or defensive football.

Formations are used in both professional and amateur football matches. Skill and discipline on the part of the players is also needed to implement a given formation effectively in professional football. Formations need to be chosen bearing in mind which players are available. Some of the formations below were created to address deficits or strengths in different types of players.

Formations are described by categorising the players (not including the goalkeeper) according to their positioning along (not across) the pitch, with the more defensive players given first. For example, 4–4–2 means four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards.

Traditionally, those within the same category (for example the four midfielders in a 4–4–2) would generally play as a fairly flat line across the pitch, with those out wide often playing in a slightly more advanced position. In many modern formations, this is not the case, which has led to some analysts splitting the categories in two separate bands, leading to four- or even five-numbered formations. A common example is 4–2–1–3, where the midfielders are split into two defensive and one offensive player; as such, this formation can be considered a type of 4–3–3. An example of a five-numbered formation would be 4-1-2-1-2, where the midfield consists of a defensive midfielder, two central midfielders and an offensive midfielder; this is sometimes considered to be a kind of 4-4-2.

The numbering system was not present until the 4–2–4 system was developed in the 1950s.

The choice of formation is often related to the type of players available to the coach.

Teams may change formations during a game to aid their cause:

Formations can be deceptive in analysing a particular team's style of play. For instance, a team that plays a nominally attacking 4–3–3 formation can quickly revert to a 4–5–1 if a coach instructs two of the three forwards to track back in midfield.

In the football matches of the 19th century, defensive football was not played, and the line-ups reflected the all-attacking nature of these games.

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