Tactical builds in football

The numbers indicate the number of players on each line, counting from the goalkeeper. The first (permanent) line - the goalkeeper - is usually not mentioned in the schemes. In the case of three digits, they indicate, respectively, the number of defenders , midfielders and forwards . For example: 4-5-1 - four defenders, five midfielders, one striker. More numbers mean extra lines along with the three; assigning the role of their players to one or another class individually for each scheme.

In 1863, in England, football separated from rugby , and the first football rules were approved. At that time, the matches were held at a very low level. Of the eleven players, only the goalkeeper and one defender defended their own goal, and the remaining nine players crowded around the opponent’s goal and tried to score a goal. Such an uneven division could not be systematic and tactically literate - the attackers completely controlled most of the field. To help the defender in the middle of the field went two midfielders . They took part in defending the goal, and during the attacks did not go too close to the opponent’s goal. One could already say about such a primitive positioning: “tactical scheme”. Formally, it could be called “1-2-7” (defender, two midfielders and seven forwards).

The 1-2-7 system was used by the England team in the early 1870s in matches against the Scots . Scotland used one more defender - 2-2-6 - and won. Over time, the losers adopted this new product.

Scheme 2-3-5 ("pyramid")

In 1883, the University of Cambridge team entered the game with two defenders ( English full-backs ) and three midfielders ( English half-backs ), in front of which five forwards played ( English forwards ) (scheme 2-3-5). Extreme midfielders during the defense followed the flanks, and the middle played closer to the attack and often became one of the most productive players (for example, György Sharoshi ). In this scheme, the middle striker was pulled back a bit, creating room for flank players. This scheme was used by most of the leading teams at the beginning of the 20th century (until the 1930s).

Other variations:

Italian system

It was distinguished by the special role of welterweight forwards (“insiders”) - immediately after losing the ball, they attacked the opponent’s footballers, becoming, along with the midfielders, a kind of “breakwaters” on the opponent’s road. Three forwards played on the edge: two extreme and central. As a rule, these were fast, tough players with a strong and accurate shot ( Silvio Piola , Raimundo Orsi ).

Austrian system

It was developed in the 30s. The base coincided with the classic "pyramidal". In defense, the greatest attention was paid to the inner zone in front of their goal and were densely forced by the players. This system was designed for attack - in addition to five attackers, one or two midfielders went into the attack to create a numerical advantage. Thus, it was possible for a long time to keep the enemy’s gates under siege. With a free game, this positioning is almost perfect. But due to the imperfection of the system during the rapid transition from attack to defense, the defenders had serious problems. Finally, the Austrians refused such an arrangement only after the 1954 World Cup .

Swiss system ("castle")

Swiss coaches, realizing the weakness of national football, tried to place the defenders as reliable as possible. The main idea of ​​the “lock” system is the rear protector. He stood behind the line of four defense players and attacked everyone who broke through the first echelon of defense. The Swiss system is not balanced, because it relies only on protection. It was hard for the team to play on the result with such an arrangement. At the same time, it was an important step towards improving the defense game - the Swiss showed the ability to combine both personal guardianship and zone defense.

Scheme with three defenders - 3-2-5 (“WM” or “double-ve”)

In 1925, FIFA changed the rule about the “ offside ” position: now the player was not “offside” if at least two football players were standing in front of him (at him) (that is, in most cases, the goalkeeper and one field player ) Prior to this, the rule provided for three players. The defenders easily interrupted the enemy’s attacks - even if the goalkeeper and the defender were standing near the goal themselves, the other defender ran out almost to the center of the field and the entire territory between them was an offside zone. Since 1925, the attackers have received great freedom of action across the entire width of the field. In one pass, the forward could take him to a dangerous position both on the right and on the left. Two defenders could no longer control the entire width of the field. It was necessary to pull back an additional player. After long experiments, the basic principles of the game with three defenders were formulated by Arsenal coach Herbert Chapman . Thanks to effective innovations, Arsenal has won the championship five times and twice the FA Cup in eight years. In connection with the peculiar arrangement of the players, the scheme began to be called “ double-ve ” or “ double-ve em .”

The tasks of the players in the 3-2-5 system :

• 3 defenders . The right defender covers the left winger of the opponent, the left - the right winger. Middle plays against the center forward.
• 2 midfielders play against two welterweight strikers (insiders). Most of the time, defense helps.
• The first line of attack is two insiders. They play between midfielders and three spearheads. Tasks: bring one of the three forwards ahead, and during the defense move back, preventing opponents from playing the ball in the middle of the field.
• Closest to the opponent’s goal are two extreme and middle attackers. Extreme tasks: pass the flank at speed and give a pass to the average player who plays in the penalty area. Almost no defensive functions.

Scheme 4-2-4 (“Brazilian”)

Since the mid-50s, the game patterns with three defenders began to gradually change. First of all, in the line of attack. The average striker increasingly stepped back and played the role of organizer of attacks.

On November 25, 1953, the Hungarian team arrived in London for a friendly match against England . Journalists and commentators were surprised by the play of the nominal center-forward of the guests Nandor Hidegkuti , who was constantly pulled back, forcing his guardian Harry Johnston to follow him to the middle of the field. The English defender was not ready for such situations, did not know what to do, and left behind a large hole in the center of defense. This was used by the other four Hungarian strikers. Hungary defeated the British 6: 3. For the first time in the history of English football, the hosts lost the team from the continent. Hungarians were one of the pioneers of the 4-2-4 scheme.

Finally, the world accepted the new product after the 1958 World Cup , in which Brazil used this arrangement, which became the champion.

Four players on the defensive - a reliable guarantee that the opponent’s counterattack can be stopped with decent forces. Thus, the space near its goal became denser filled with football players, and this facilitated the selection of the ball. In this system, the midfielders' capabilities have increased - now they could concentrate on attacking actions (whereas in the 3-2-5 scheme, the midfielders relentlessly covered the opponent’s insiders). When the team defended, all four attackers returned deep to the middle of the field. Thus, they created room for maneuvers and avoided getting offside.

Scheme 4-3-3 (“Total Football”)

Players located in this pattern evenly cover the entire field. With the development of the attack, six people participate in the attacking actions, and the defenders remain on the safe side. Given the fact that the entire attacking group is in the penalty area and near it, the defense advances to the center line - so as not to create gaps between midfield and defense. This automatically entails a choice in favor of pressure on another side of the field and densification of team building in the ball zone. So, the defenders are required to be able to cope with counterattacks, which begin with a long pass to the attacker, and the midfield is to quickly cover the player with the ball in order to minimize such counterattacks.

The main innovation that accompanied this scheme and gave it a name was that now the roles of the players were not fixed. Everyone could play the role of a defender, midfielder or striker depending on the game situation. This "fluidity" allowed the scheme to defeat the Italian catenaccio defensive scheme.

Origin and history

This scheme of the game originates, like many schemes, from 4-2-4. The success of the Brazilian national team at the world championships made it popular around the world. However, widespread use showed not only its strengths - namely, the attack, but also weaknesses - primarily defensive ones. Therefore, it was decided to “sacrifice” one forward and transfer him to midfield. So this 4-3-3 scheme appeared.

The golden age of this game scheme is the 70s of the XX century. It was this scheme that Ajax adhered to, having won three times in the Champions Cup finals. This scheme was the main for the Netherlands national team , which popularized it around the world.

Gradually, she lost the lead to the 4-4-2 scheme, which has a greater emphasis on defense and allows you to build a balanced team even in the absence of high-class players. But to this day it is used (mainly by clubs in the Netherlands and the national team of this country), although now the roles of players in this scheme are somewhat different from those in the “classic” 4-3-3.

Rethinking

Barcelona under Guardiol applied a rethinking of this scheme to ensure full or total ball control throughout the match, which in many ways allowed it to become the best team in the world in 2009, setting a world record (winning six cups per season at once).

Extreme defenders and extreme forwards here combine the role with the role of extreme midfielders, respectively, in attack and defense, and the front central midfielders - insiders, which makes the scheme similar to the “ method ”. ^[one]

Scheme 4-4-2

In this scheme, there are two pure hitters. Paradoxically, in modern conditions, the 4-4-2 scheme is essentially defensive. This is due to the fact that the most common schemes today are 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, which mean three central midfielders. In the 4-4-2 scheme, they are opposed only by two central midfielders, more focused on defensive actions. Thus, the opponent gets an advantage in the central zone, and the positional development of his attacks through the center becomes difficult. ^[2]

After selecting the ball, the defenders immediately pass the ball to the attacker, or the ball is pushed forward through the free flank zone. In fact, the team builds the game on counterattacks. High physical readiness and working capacity of all players without exception, high speed at the flank midfielders is desirable. Forwards, the ability to play tough power football, take and keep the ball in the face of strong opposition, being in a numerical minority in their own field, is desirable.

This scheme is considered classic in English football, but has its own characteristics: an abundance of physical struggle, awnings from the right flank in the direction of a tall striker ^[2]

4-4-1-1

This scheme assumes the presence of four defenders, two central and two extreme midfielders (acting in one line), an attacking midfielder and a pronounced scorer. It is assumed a good vision of the field from the attacking midfielder and support attack from the flanks. Guus Hiddink used this scheme during his work with the Russian national team , but the attacking midfielder (most often it was Andrei Arshavin ) sometimes moved to the flank.

4-2-3-1

The basic pattern in modern football. It is played in almost all countries, with the exception of Italy . Balanced combines effective attack and defense with a wide freedom of action for players on the field.

The extreme defenders are located slightly in front of the central ones and during the attack support it from the side-back, playing the role of extreme midfielders. The center of the field controls the “triangle” of the central midfielders, the rear of which also play the role of reference, and the front is a playmaker and / or false ten. Extreme midfielders combine the role with the role of extreme strikers.

When the last defender goes deep into the attack, the corresponding extreme or central midfielder secures him. Similarly, central midfielders hedge central defenders when they come to the opponent’s penalty box to draw standards.

During the defense, the midfielders go to the level of support, forming with the defenders two distinct lines of 4 people. The playmaker and the forward go to the center, imposing a fight there and giving partners the opportunity to pass and counterattack in the event of an interception.

4-6-0

This scheme is played without pure forwards. Six defenders are located above the four defenders, the role of which depends on the characteristics of the arrangement and tactical tasks. This scheme in the early 10s of the 21st century was used by the Scottish team led by Craig Levein . A more common version of this scheme with one false forward was applied by the Spanish national team for Euro 2012 .

4-4-2 Diamond (4-3-1-2)

The scheme, which is now often used in the " International ". In this scheme - two attackers, one attacking midfielder, three defensive midfielders and four defenders. Scheme 4-3-1-2 is essentially defensive. The team playing with this scheme has little control over the ball, and developing attacks through the flanks becomes difficult. For the normal functioning of this scheme, high-class strikers are needed ( Ibrahimovic ), because strikers with such a scheme often have to go back or to the flanks in search of the ball.

4-3-2-1 (herringbone)

This scheme consists of 4 defenders, 3 oporniks, 2 attacking midfielders and 1 striker. In the 4-3-2-1 scheme, three midfielders start the attack. They play closer to the opponent’s goal, so in this scheme it is very important to have reliable defense in order to successfully repel counterattacks. In the attack, this scheme uses only one striker, but it is supported by two forwards, who need a high skill of transmission and strikes from a long distance. Scheme 4-3-2-1 is used if it is necessary to control the center of the field and apply a lot of blows to the opponent’s goal.

5-3-2

This scheme was successfully used by the German team in the 1990s. It is rarely used nowadays; actually merged with 3-5-2.

3-5-2

The scheme in which the extreme midfielders are responsible for the entire brow, both in attack and in defense. We need strong defensive midfielders who can also give the first pass. If the extreme midfielders do not have time to return to the defense, one of the defenders “sits” in the place of the central defender, and the central extremes disperse along the flanks. In the attack, one of the extreme central defenders moves forward, depending on the location of the ball. 2 defensive midfielders serve as point guards; extreme midfielders should be able to beat one-on-one defenders and serve in the penalty area. The playmaker is located under the attackers and must be able to give the last pass. One of the attackers performs the functions of a targetman (fighting for the ball in the penalty area, playing the wall), the second is fast, agile, with a good kick (can move to the middle of the field to get the ball and “disperse” the attack). A vivid example is PFC CSKA of the era of Valery Gazzayev, who won for the first time for Russia the UEFA Cup and modern Turin Juventus .

3-3-3-1

The scheme is similar to 4-6-0, but has 3 defenders and there is a striker.

5-4-1

In this scheme, three central defenders, two extreme defenders, which are configured for both defense and attack, three defensive midfielders, one attacking midfielder and one forward. The defense scheme. Forward is often isolated from the rest of the team. The team’s game is based on breakthroughs of extreme defenders on the flanks and subsequent canopies on a single striker.

3-4-3

In this scheme, defensive extreme midfielders are needed, which, when defending, fall back and act as extreme defenders. In fact, during defense, the 3-4-3 scheme is rebuilt in 5-2-3. In another version, the two extreme strikers act closer to the middle of the field, freeing the edges for midfielders. In this case, the midfielders are responsible for the entire brow, both in attack and in defense. 3-4-3 is a super-attack, it is very susceptible to counterattacks, so the scheme involves high-speed central defenders.

4-2-2-2

In this scheme, we see four defenders, two defensive midfielders, two attacking midfielders who play both in the center and on the flanks, and two forwards.

4-1-2-1-2

In this scheme, we see four defenders, one central defensive midfielder (DSC), right and left midfielders, a central attacking midfielder, and two forwards. A key element of the 4-1-2-1-2 scheme is the rhombus of the players in the center of the field. When using this scheme, it is desirable to have a strong defensive midfielder (DSC), who will help the four defenders. A good complement to defensive skills will be a high dribbling skill, which helps to start an attack. Left (PL) and right (PP) midfielders will need high speed and canopy skill to send the ball to the attacking midfielder and two forwards. At the same time, they should be able to quickly go back if the ball is in the opponent's position.

4-2-1-3

The scheme currently used in Real Madrid . Scheme with a false nine. His role is played by a person who tries to disperse attacks, linking the area between the oporniks, attack flanks and the center. forward. Many encyclopedias and experts ^{[ who? ]} call such players DAC or central attacking midfielder.

• Arpad Chanadi. Football; Strategy: Per. with weng. Y. Herbst - Moscow: Physical Culture and Sports, 1981. - 2008 p.

• Game Evolution