A 4-3-3 formation is heavy on defense.
Soccer teams can line up in many ways, with some designed to enhance offense and others to fortify a defense. The 4-3-3 is an defensive-minded formation that has four defenders on the back line. The formation is most effective for teams with highly skilled forwards, so no extra defenders need to join attacks. West Germany used the 4-3-3 to win a World Cup in the '70s. It's also been deployed by Barcelona of the world's top soccer league.
Instructions
1. There are four defenders in this formation. The two central defenders should preferably be players that are tall, strong, and very good in the air. The right and left defenders, as with other formations, are usually quick with superior ball control skills.
2. The midfield is composed of a right, center, and left midfielder. In any formation, the midfielders have to know when to join an attack or fall back and help the defense. The right and left midfielders are usually creative players with high soccer intelligence. Players with good ball control are adequate in these positions.
3. The three forwards have to be able to attack at high speeds and under constant pressure from the defense. The center forward in some formations must have a strong kicking foot and a few moves. In a 4-3-3, the center forward is usually as quick and fast as the wings since he must have the ability to shake a defender on his own.
Tags: ball control, center forward, four defenders, must have, right left