Being Different, Just Like Everyone Else
The 4-5-1
In Germany we have seen the rise of a new tactical revolution, the 4-5-1 formation. It’s not that the formation is all that new, but the sheer extent of its use at the World Cup shows that it is becoming more and more popular. Its defensive nature makes it difficult to break down. We will now look at 3 different variations of this formation.
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Based on the tactic employed by semi-finalist Portugal. It features a flat back four with a five man inline midfield and a lone striker. The outside fullbacks will occasionally attack, but their primary role is to defend.
The midfield players all fall into three basic roles. Starting in the middle, the central most midfielder will act as attacking midfielder. He will get forward and support the lone striker in the middle of the pitch. The right and left central midfielders have the defensive responsibilities. They won’t spend a lot of time going forward, but will be the primary link between attack and defense. The right and left midfielders are the wingers. They will be the players who are mostly responsible for whipping crosses into the lone striker. As for the striker, he will trill to finish the balls played to him, and also hold thing up for his attacking support.
4-1-4-1
This variation has a defined Defensive Midfielder which allows the other two central midfielders more freedom to attack. Just like the basic 4-5-1, it’s a narrow formation. The tempo will be slow, and the team will look to hold possession. The passing is mixed with the players in the back playing longer balls and the men up front playing shorter.
4-2-3-1
Made popular by France in World Cup 1998, and used by the finalists’ this year as well. It’s the most attacking variation, with 3 attacking midfielders playing in front of the 2 defensive minded central midfielders. The added support up front will help when in the final third, but will also be slightly more vulnerable to counters and easier to break down.
Conclusion
Although negative tactics might not be the most exciting thing to watch, one cannot deny the results they produce. They can be especially effective for underdogs in big matches. |