Ranked: The best tactical formations in football

Football fans across the world can argue about tactical planning and formations until the cows come home! While some focus on a more defensive approach like 'catenaccio', others enjoy the complexities of 'champagne football'. Let's take a look at a ranking of some of the best football formations and why.

Football formations have a big impact on team strategy and ultimately the game's outcome. There are many factors at play, leaving the coach responsible for organizing his squad ahead of a fixture. Sometimes a gamble might pay off or completely backfire...

Coaches select formations based on their philosophy and how they understand the beautiful game. The following rankings will compare formations about their pros and cons.

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The 3-4-3 formation encourages attacking play from all sides of the pitch. Coaches overload wide areas with wingbacks, causing a headache for the opponent's defense. However, it's deemed a very taxing formation for the midfield and requires high work rates from wingers.

"The 3-4-3 is thought to have first been used in Italy, where three central defenders were common," reports Coaches' Voice.

This excellent defensive structure with five defenders is an ideal compact shape for teams under a lot of pressure. It's often labeled as "parking the bus".

Considered a strong defensive option, many teams utilize it to prioritize counterattacks. The downside is the lack of attacking options and the line striker, who will constantly be outnumbered.

Arguably one of the most basic yet most effective formations in the game is 4-4-2. A simple structure that is easy to organize and coach, offering a balanced play style on both sides of the pitch. Two banks of four offer a strong defensive line. However, it taxes the team's ability to attack down the wings more efficiently.

Two strikers up top provide a strong attacking threat. However, the midfield can be overrun with high press from formations like 4-3-3. Some coaches would argue this formation struggles against modern football, but there are some exceptions, like the Argentine national team, which claimed the 2022 World Cup using this formation.

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This formation allows for a strong midfield presence and superiority down the wings. The defense block provides security with three central defenders, while also allowing for quick counterattacks with two strikers up top. This is a very demanding formation, as it requires both wingbacks and defense to contribute constantly throughout the game.

"It was Antonio Conte who brought the 3-5-2 back into vogue during his successful time at Juventus. He then deployed the formation during spells at Inter, Chelsea, and Tottenham," reports Coaches' Voice.

This formation offers a balanced approach to the game, with two defensive midfielders overlapping play. This formation works well under long possession spells, but it also offers defensive security in case of counterattacks.

Big teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool use this approach often as it's considered a modern and flexible formation that excels with a strong midfield.

One of the most widely used formations in modern football is the 4-3-3 due to its attacking width and offensive flexibility. Teams who use this strategy will enjoy a solid midfield structure with a strong focus on ball possession and forward pressing.

The formation can be molded into a defensive 4-5-1 if the game requires an extra defensive edge. Teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Liverpool, PSG, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Dortmund are some of the big names that utilize this formation often.

4-3-3 is the most flexible and most balanced formation, and it proves to be the most used across European competitions. Attacking teams with a strong forward conviction will use this formation, relying on individual talents to produce 'total champagne football'.

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