The 1-4-3-3 formation

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2 3 4
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Second level
Third level
Fourth level
Fifth level 6 8
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 Rationale
 
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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:

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  effective positioning play
Second levelout
  playing
Third
  level
combination football / short passing game
Fourth
  level
creative and varied attacking play using the width of the field
Fifth 
level 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

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 Basic forms
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  The 1-4-3-3 formation has 2 basic forms, with a number of derived
(offensive or defensive) variations:
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Second
1.  level
The midfield triangle with the ‘point’ (no.10) forward.
Third level
2.  The midfield triangle with the ‘point’ (no.6) to the rear.
Fourth level
Fifth level
  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

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 5 11

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Fifth level

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Basic Form 1: 7
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"point" (no.10) forward 1 – 4 – 3 – 3 Formation 4 4
 5
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Second level
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Basic Form 2: 7
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"point" (no.6) to the rear1 – 4 – 3 – 3 Formation 5 5
 General defensive principles
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1.  Direct transition of all players (no time to ‘mourn’)

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2. 
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Restore formation (no mixing of the lines)
Second level
3. ThirdMake
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team compact: short distances between lines and players
Fourth level
4. Fifth Zone
level 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)

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 Defensive principles per line
Defenders & Goalkeeper (1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5)
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  Always maintain the structure / organisation of the defence line and keep opponent
away from own goal (communication)
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responsible for owntext styles
zone so:
Second
1.  level
Horizontal take over: pass players on in case of switching opponents
Third level (width of pitch)
Fourth level
2.  Vertical take over: pass players on in case of overlapping opponents
Fifth level (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)

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 Own zone
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Second level
Third level
Fourth level
Fifth level
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2
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 Horizontal take over
7 (switching opponents)
5
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Fifth level

6 8
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 Vertical take over
(overlapping opponents)

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7
5
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Fifth level 9
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6 4

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 Diagonal covering &
squeezing of full backs
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Second level
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23 Formation
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Defensive principles per line

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Midfield (6 – 8 – 10) pointed forward:

No’s 6 & 8

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  Cover the central and lateral defensive midfield
area’s
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7
Second level
  Screen / shield the lines to the strikers
  Take over positions,‘fill’ gaps and stay ‘behind
the Third level
ball’ (at least one of both)
  BallFourth
‘winners’level
with strong tactical awareness / 10
insight
Fifth level
Grella, Culina, Carrick, Essien 8 6

No. 10
5 4 3 2
  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
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Defensive principles per line

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Midfield pointed to the rear:

No. 6

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  Covers the central defensive midfield area
  Screens / shields the line to the strikers
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9
7
Second level
  Takes over positions,‘fill’ gaps and always stays
‘behind the ball’
  BallThird
‘winner’ level
with strong tactical awareness /
insight, on field leadership 8 10
Fourth
Toure, level
Mascherano
Fifth level
6
No’s 8 & 10

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

5 4 3 2
  Cover the lateral midfield area’s
  Technical and tactical ‘all round’ midfielders that
are able to cover large spaces
Gerrard, Lampard, Ballack, Xavi, Iniesta

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 Defensive principles per line
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Attackers (7-9-11) title style

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

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  ‘Connect’ to the midfield ASAP
  Second level
Work together as a ‘unit’ (communication!)
  Squeeze and delay opponents playing out in a 3 v 4 situation while ‘leading’
Third level
them to a flank
Fourth level
  Start pressuring collectively on the signal from (one of) the designated axis player(s)
Fifth level
  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

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Work as a ‘unit’ 2
Squeeze and delay

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style
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‘Leading’ to a flank 2

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 2

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Second level 10
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Pressuring collectively
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 General offensive principles
1. 
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Immediate and quick transition BPO to BP by all players, open up the spaces and
restore attacking formation

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2.  to edit
look forMaster textas first
a forward pass stylesoption, if not possible:

Second
3.  level
Play out through good positioning play with dynamic participation of all players
Third level
4. 
FourthBall possession is of vital importance in order to control the rhythm / speed of the
level
game and ‘feed’ the attackers in a structured manner
Fifth level
5.  Starting from wide positions for improvisation and individual actions in the
attacking third

6.  Recognizing the value of set-piece specialists

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 Offensive principles per line
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The defenders:

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

keeping possession!
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  This requires dynamic participation of all players, good positioning play and fast and
Second
precise level
passing:

Third level
1.  Create the right moment for the forward pass or:
Fourth level
2.  Have a defender move into midfield to create an ‘extra player’
Fifth level 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)

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 Full back building up
5

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 Central defenders building up
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 5 Purpose is forward pass

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 5 Defender in midfield

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Offensive principles per line
Midfield pointed forward:

No’s. 6 & 8: Click to edit Master title style

  ‘transfer’ playing out to attacking
  feed and support the attacking ‘unit’
  good game (passing) skills, vision and handling
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speed are required (Grella, Culina).
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9
7
No.10 Second
(key player inlevel
this formation):
  attacking
Third midfielder
level
(not a traditional ‘playmaker’) 10
  goodFourth levelwith the strikers
‘interaction’
Fifth level
(especialy with no. 9) 8 6
  penetrate in front line and look for
scoring chances
  good anticipation/feeling for right moment
  good tactical insight, technique and handling 5 4 3 2
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) 1 – 4 – 3 – 3 Formation 1 24 24
Offensive principles per line
Midfield pointed to the rear:

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  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.
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(Essien, Mascherano, Toure, Carrick)
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9
7
Second level
  No’s 8 & 10 ‘feed’ and support the strikers. They
have strong individual skills, vision and handling
Third
speed. Theylevel
provide the assists for the strikers
and have goalscoring abilities. These are the 8 10
Fourthmidfielders.
‘complete’ level
(Lampard, Gerrard, Xavi, Iniesta)
Fifth level
6
  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 5 4 3 2
should always be maintained.
(Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney, Henry)

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 Offensive principles per line
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The attackers (7 – 9 – 11)

Wing attackers No’s. 7 & 11:

  starting from wide positions going outside and inside
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  are creative and pro active (with the ball and running off the ball)
  provide assists, crosses and have goal scoring ability
Second level
(Messi, C.Ronaldo, Rooney, Kewell)
Third level
Central striker No. 9:
Fourth level
  strong in receiving and holding the ball with his / her back to the goal
Fifth level
  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

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Attacking combinations
11

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Second level
Third level
Fourth level 10 9
Fifth level

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Attacking combinations

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Third level 2 9
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 9
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Fourth level 8
Fifth level

Positioning in front of the goal29 29

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