FORMATION · 3 AT THE BACK
The 3-2-4-1 formation
Three at the back, a double pivot, a line of four ahead of them, one striker.
Also called the box midfield
The shape
1
GK
2
CB
3
CB
4
CB
5
CDM
6
CDM
7
RM
8
CAM
9
CAM
10
LM
11
ST
Formation 3-2-4-1
What it gives you
The 3-2 base is built to survive losing the ball high up, which is why possession sides use it.
What it costs you
Very demanding positionally, and it looks dreadful when one player is out of place.
Positions
GKCBCBCBCDMCDMRMCAMCAMLMST
Who plays it
Barely used right now. The 3-2-4-1 accounts for 2 of the 5,080 lineups we hold from the leagues we cover this season.
No club we track uses it as its default shape, though it has been used in individual matches.