by J Mock

Created on: September 25, 2009   Last Updated: September 13, 2010

An impending football (soccer) fixture, and the managerial decision of player positioning across the three key areas; the defensive third, midfield and the attacking third. Team tactics that determine how a team will approach a game.

One established team formation, that has been employed with a successful outcome since the 1980s, is the 3-5-2 system. The 3-5-2 team formation involves three defenders, five in midfield and two forwards (strikers). Three players operate in central defense, with the strength being in midfield to support the two forwards. The 3-5-2 system is similar to the 5-3-2 formation, with the exception of using the wing-backs in midfield for more of an attacking intention, than having the more defensive-minded five players operating in the defensive third.

The three-five-two formation is often seen as a more attacking system, with the use of two wing-backs as wide players in midfield. The role of the wing-backs/full-backs is to get forward at every opportunity, to supply crosses or even attack the opponents goal themselves. Due to the nature of being a wing-back, it necessitates running back-and-forth down the left and right sides of the pitch to support the defense, and during an attacking movement. Losing the ball up-field will require tackling back during an offensive by the other team, and then moving forward again during an offensive movement.

The frailty with the 3-5-2 system is the counter-attack. With the wing-backs operating further up field, the opposing team may launch a counter-attack which will leave the defense - the three central defenders - potentially exposed. For this reason, a more defensive-minded midfielder will often remain further back during an offensive. This allows the remaining two players in centre midfield to move forward, in support of the two wing-backs and the two strikers.

A further variant is having two defensive midfielders, and one attacking midfielder, which along with the two wide full-backs presents a staggered midfield. This formation could be read as a 3-2-3-2 system, rather than playing with a straight five in midfield.

Carlos Salvador Bilardo, the then manager of Argentina, first used the 3-5-2 formation at International level during the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. The system proved highly successful for the Argentine team, who walked away winners. Brazil opted for the same formation during the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea. Using Cafu and Roberto Carlos on the left and right of midfield, Brazil played fluent attacking football and were the eventual winners of the tournament.

The 3-5-2 formation has proved its effectiveness on the pitch, and its pedigree for playing attacking football at all levels, with team success.

Reference; http://www.elitesoccerconditioning.com/3-5-2/3-5-2.h tm

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