Most notably, Pep Guardiola.Īnother consequence of such offensive wing-backs is that the right and left-side forwards can tuck in a little closer to the central striker, operating in the half spaces immediately behind. This tactic is used by many of the top coaches to great effect. The attacking team can then switch the play quickly to a player on the other side of the field who will now be isolated in a 1v1 or 1v0 situation. In response, the opposition defense shifts over to pressure the ball. This term refers to a tactic in which an attacking team keeps the ball on one side of the field through a numerical overload.

In these situations, a 3-4-3 playing team might look to ‘overload to isolate’. This can put immense pressure on defenses, particularly those playing with a back 4. In addition, by having both wingbacks attack at the same time, the forward line has five players across the width of the field looking for opportunities to get in behind and create goalscoring opportunities. This front-foot attitude on the wings can pin back opposition full-backs, thus nullifying their own attacking strength. The deployment of offensive wing backs provides continuous opportunities for overloads in wide areas as they look to combine with their same-side forwards. This balance simultaneously offers security and an attacking threat at all times. Principally, the shape offers great balance with five outfield players committed to defending (the three central defenders and the double pivot) and five outfield players committed to attacking (the three forwards and the two wing-backs). The 3-4-3 is an incredibly strong and effective formation, which is why it is used by so many coaches. 3-4-3 Formation Strengths And Weaknesses Strengths Anson believed this formation was perfect for putting high pressure on the opponent’s defense while offering multiple vertical pass options on the counterattack. The 3-4-3 diamond formation has been used with incredible success by the legendary UNC coach, Anson Dorrance. Together the four players create a diamond shape in the midfield areas, hence the name ‘3-4-3 diamond formation.’ These two central midfielders are flanked by left and right-wing backs. Instead, the formation utilizes one central defensive midfielder and one attacking central midfielder. However, it does not have a double pivot (two central defensive midfielders) in the middle of the park.

The 3-4-3 diamond formation is extremely similar to a regular 3-4-3. More on that below! What Is The 3-4-3 Diamond Formation? In the U.S.A, Anson Dorrance, the legendary UNC soccer coach, has found great success playing with his own variation of the 3-4-3. Anson sets his team up to play a diamond midfield rather than a double pivot. With many teams utilizing a 3-5-2, more adventurous coaches were able to make effective use of a third forward in attacking areas. The 3-4-3 formation is believed to have originated in Italy, where a more defensive mindset led to many teams playing with three central defenders.

Although the three forwards can line up in any number of ways, it is most common to have a central striker (otherwise known as a number 9) with two free-moving number 10’s playing behind them. Up top, the 3-4-3 formation has three forwards. They are flanked by two traditional wing-backs, with one on the left and one on the right.

Combined, these five players form the defensive base of the team. Having two CDMs in this position is sometimes referred to as a double pivot. The 3-4-3 soccer formation has a strong defensive balance, with three central defenders lining up behind two central defensive midfielders (CDMs).

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