Tactics With The 4-3-3 Formation In Football

Hello folks, as you must have guessed by the name of the article, it's all about football and it's in-depth anaylsis.

A Formation in football is the way in which a team lines up at the start of a match.
The 4-3-3 is one of the most common formations used by managers who prefer stability between their defence, midfield and attack.

Some of the ways/tactics which may be used in employing this formation are listed below :

1. 4-3-3 HOLDING :

As the name suggests, it has a 'holding/central defensive midfielder'(CDM) in the middle of the 3 midfielders. He will help in stopping counter attacks of the opposition by sliding in between the two center backs whilst their team is attacking. He may also make box to box runs, thus allowing an extra attacking option. The fullbacks here are allowed to run through the flanks to provide crosses inside the box. This is where the CDM provides an option for defensive cover for fullbacks.

Advantage : Defensive stability as one of the 3 midfielders is involved in defensive work.
Disadvantage : Less passing options for other 2 midfielders if they need to create chances from the middle, comparatively less midfield control than a standard 4-3-3 with 3 proper central midfielders. Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) has used this tactic quite often with Casemiro as the CDM, providing defensive cover for Marcelo and Carvajal who provided crosses for attackers like Ronaldo,Bale,Benzema,Morata,etc. Some of the best defensive midfielders are Sergio Busquets, Casemiro, N'Golo Kante,etc.

2. 4-3-3 ATTACKING :

Just one change from the previous tactic and it completely changes the approach to a more attacking one. Instead of a CDM, here is a CAM or Central Attacking Midfielder. Justifying the position, the CAM is the focal point of most of the attacks of the team. He provides the 'key pass' that results in a chance for goal. Here, the fullbacks need not attack because of an extra attacking option in the form of the CAM. With the change in a position from CDM to CAM, the approach of the opposition also changes.

Advantage : An extra player is available for attack which increases goal scoring options and more passing options.

Disadvantage : If the fullbacks go for attacking, there is less defensive cover and hence the other 2 midfielders need to cover them. This limits them for providing attacking outlets.

Carlo Ancelloti used this tactic with a number of teams using world class CAMs like Kaka(Milan) and James Rodriguez (Real Madrid). Some pure CAMs are Mesut Ozil, Isco,etc

So these were two ways in which the 4-3-3 may be used in a football match. Hope you were able to understand about them. Peace!!