Many formations have become popular amongst head coaches in recent decades. Many are now go-to formations for some, and one of the more recent to gain popularity is the 3-4-3.
In today’s article, we will explain why the 343 has become so popular, especially among young, up-and-coming head coaches.
How do teams set up in a 343 formation?
The formation offers a good balance between attacking and offensive play, with five players basically defending and five attacking.
The 3-4-3 typically sets up with three central defenders who can split, so they cover the positions usually taken up by the full-backs when the team has the ball.
However, when out of possession, they become far more narrow to protect their goalkeeper. In front of the backline, the four in midfield tend to be two wing-backs to provide width and often a double pivot central midfield to offer defensive stability.
The set-up of the three attacking players can vary slightly. Sometimes, coaches will use two number tens, who have the freedom to roam and be creative.
The other attacking set-up can use wingers on the flanks, who dovetail with the wing-backs to create an attacking overload. Alternatively, the wingers can move inside to become inside forwards.
However, in all 3-4-3 formations, there is a central forward, who is the focal point of the attack. The central forward is likely to be the primary source of goals, which is why the team is set up to offer him the best support possible.
When was the formation first developed?
The formation is first believed to have been used in Italy as an adaption of the then-popular 3-5-2 formation.
However, the formation really gained prominence during the great Johan Cruyff’s coaching career at Ajax and then Barcelona in the 1980s and 1990s.
Although his team often started games in a 4-3-3 formation, it frequently morphed into a 3-4-3, which allowed more control of the central areas of the pitch.
Cruyff created one of the most talked about teams in the history of the game at Barcelona, ‘The Dream Team’. No doubt the formation played a part in the Blaugrana’s success, as they claimed four straight La Liga titles from 1990 to 1994.
Alberto Zaccheroni used the 3-4-3 with Milan in the late 1990s, during which time he won the Scudetto.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is reported to be the first manager to use the formation in English football during his first tenure at Chelsea. Like Cruyff’s team’s, the starting formation would most often be the 4-3-3, but it could change mid-game into more of a 3-4-3.
Another head coach who used the formation at Chelsea was the new England boss Thomas Tuchel, who used two number tens in the system.
The German boss achieved success with the Blues using the formation, including winning the Champions League in 2021 courtesy of a 1-0 final win over compatriots Manchester City.
Spanish head coach Xavi Alonso also guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title using the formation in 2024. It is his favoured formation.
What are the pros and cons of the 3-4-3?
The biggest pro of this formation is the aforementioned balance it brings to any team. The centre-backs and the double pivot in midfield provide the defensive foundation.
Then, the wide players or wing-backs in the middle of the park support the front three players. The wing-backs have the license to go forward, so they could almost be in line with the attacking front three at times, creating a five-man attack.
Playing with two number tens can often allow teams to gain more control of the middle of the park if they drop in and support the midfield double pivot.
If the team plays with two wingers instead of two number tens, they can double up on the opposing full-backs and create an overload, which opposition teams could find difficult to deal with.
When out of possession of the ball, if positioned correctly, the wing-backs can drop alongside the three central defenders to form a back five.
One of the biggest cons of this formation is that the wing-backs have to be highly mobile, agile and fit to be able to cover almost the entire length of the pitch at times. In many senses, the wing-backs are the key to making this formation work.
The team can also be vulnerable to counterattacks in transition, especially in wide areas, if the wing-backs are caught upfield and the team is playing with two number tens.
If the team is playing with wingers, they can cover the wide defensive areas, although they are unlikely to appreciate having to track back.
Is it popular on FM?
The formation certainly has a lot of benefits and is pretty popular with some FM players. However, it is not a formation that I use very often.
This is mainly because in FM, if you move a wing-back to where they would be in a real-life 3-4-3, then it tells you that the player is out of position, as in real life, they would probably be in a more wide position than wing-back.
If you play them in wing-back positions, it isn’t quite the same as in real life. If you play three centre-backs, two wing-backs and a double-pivot in a line with the wing-backs, it makes the team incredibly defensive.
It can also leave an area of the midfield that’s not covered, especially if you play with two wingers and not number tens who drop back into the centre of the pitch.
Maybe that is just my lack of tactical nous when it comes to FM. However, during my tactic testing, I did find a 3-4-3 called RDF’s Amorim Hybrid Press 343, which was a highly successful tactic.
The tactic showed that a 3-4-3 can be successful in FM, as in the test I won Serie A with Milan.
As we have seen the 3-4-3 grow in popularity, I do believe that will be reflected in FM, and there will be more popular varieties of the tactic in future editions of the game.
What are your thoughts on the 3-4-3 formation?
