Contents
What is a 4-3-3?
The 4-3-3 is a formation that uses a line of four defenders, made up of two centre-backs and two full-backs, behind a midfield line of three. The most common configuration in the midfield includes a deeper player, the pivot, and two slightly more advanced interior players on each side. The attacking line is made up of two wingers, usually with a switched leg, who play on either side of a single center forward.
Where does the 4-3-3 originate?
Before losing to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final, Brazil began using a four-man defense in a 4-2-4 formation. It was this design that they later developed in the 1958 World Cup, which they won. In 1962, Brazil made a deeper adjustment to create a 4-3-3 formation, with coach Mario Zagallo asking his attacking players to retreat in midfield. In the next World Cup, in England in 1966, the hosts and champions used a more defensive midfielder, Nobby Stiles, in a 4-1-2-3 formation. Although 4-3-3 was used in Italy, Argentina and Uruguay for many years, the Dutch national team in the 1970s and Ajax of Rinus Michels and Stefan Kovacs They were two of the famous teams that sought inspiration to use this design. The tactics of these teams led to the concept of total football and encouraged players such as Johan Cruyff to use the 4-3-3 when he also became a coach.
What are the responsibilities of the players in the 4-3-3?
The wingers' main responsibility is to isolate opposing full-backs and attack in one-on-one situations, either outside their opponents to cross or diagonally inside to link up. This last option is common for wingers on foot or inside forwards looking to leave the wing, also with options to shoot on goal. Wingers who maintain an outside position can help open up space to be filled by an interior's runs. Meanwhile, a winger who moves inside creates space on the outside for a full-back to unfold.
The only center forward in the formation moves around the field as the offensive action develops, fixing the rival centre-back located closest to the ball. The striker can drop short to associate and generate superiority in the center of the midfield, or provide direct runs behind the rival defense. These runs often seek to try to reach deep balls, and in the process push the defense back. This, in turn, will create central spaces for midfielders or wingers to occupy.
Advantages of this system
- The occupation of space, since it is found with breadth and depth within the playing field.
- We have two players on the same lane, in the case of the winger with the winger, this can generate more effective solutions.
- The two inside players are important, because their position allows them to receive behind the line of pressure.