Tottenham Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Forster (Vicario) · Maldini · Bastoni · De vrij · Dragusin (Pedro porro) · Van de ven (Udogie) · Kante (Bissouma) · Camavinga (Hojberg) · Son (Maddison) · Shevshenko (Kulusevsky) · Cavani (Richarlison)

Tottenham focuses on a high press and rapid transitions in a 5-2-3. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly through vertical passing. This formation allows the team to stay compact while remaining ready to spring forward at any moment.

Forster operates from goal to manage the defensive unit. The back line utilizes a back five with Maldini, Bastoni, and De vrij occupying the central slots. Maldini serves as a dominant presence to cover the line, while Bastoni and De vrij act as ball playing defenders to help play out from the back. On the flanks, Van de ven functions as an attacking wing back to provide width on the left, while Dragusin operates as the right wing back to support the wide areas. They work as a unit to hold the line and squeeze the space.

The midfield operates as a double pivot featuring Kante and Camavinga. Kante is known for his elite pressing intensity and ability to intercept passes, making him the player who shields the defence most effectively. Camavinga works as the carrier to drive forward with the ball and connect the defensive and attacking lines. This duo must stay close together to prevent the opposition from playing through the lines.

An attacking trio leads the way with Son, Shevshenko, and Cavani. Son acts as an inverted winger on the left who looks to cut inside and attack the near post, while Shevshenko provides width and pace on the right. Cavani works as a pressing centre-forward to pin the last defender and lead the hunt for the ball. They combine in tight spaces to create runs in behind or look to receive on the half-turn. The wingers often pull wide to stretch the defence before making runs into the box.

A significant strength of this Tottenham lineup is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, with the front three and midfield working in unison to win it back high up the pitch. The speed of transition is immense, as players can carry the ball forward immediately after a turnover. Furthermore, the back five provides compactness when defending a low block or a mid-block.

This 5-2-3 formation relies on high energy and quick movement to overwhelm opponents. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line and can be caught on the transition.