FORMATION · 4 AT THE BACK
The 4-3-2-1 formation
A back four, a midfield three, two players just behind a lone striker.
Also called the Christmas tree
The shape
1
GK
2
RB
3
CB
4
CB
5
LB
6
CM
7
CM
8
CM
9
CAM
10
CAM
11
ST
Formation 4-3-2-1
What it gives you
Enormous central overload, with five players in the middle third.
What it costs you
No natural width at all, so the full-backs have to provide every bit of it.
Positions
GKRBCBCBLBCMCMCMCAMCAMST
Who plays it
Barely used right now. The 4-3-2-1 accounts for 30 of the 7,434 lineups we hold from the leagues we cover this season.
- Cagliari33% of lineups3 of 9