Varaždin Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Varaždin seeks to absorb pressure and strike on the break using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to play a counter attacking style of football. The team aims to stay compact and wait for the right moment to hit in behind on the transition to catch the opponent out of position.

Zelenika acts as the goalkeeper to protect the goal. The defensive unit works as a back five to deny space. Marina, Ba, and Škaričić form the central part of the back line. Marina plays as a central defender in the middle while Ba and Škaričić cover the spaces to the sides. Boršić and Bočkaj act as attacking wing backs to provide width. This group will sit deep and defend zonally to prevent the opposition from finding gaps.

The midfield consists of a double pivot with Belcar and Duvnjak. These two players work to protect the defence and win the second ball. Belcar and Duvnjak connect the defensive line to the attackers by playing through the lines. They will also press in a mid-block to force a long ball from the opponent. When the team wins possession, they look to recycle possession and find the wide players.

Varaždin uses three attackers to lead the way. Dabro operates as a lone striker to hold up the ball and find the feet of his teammates. Mamut and Vuk play as wide attackers to stretch the defence. Mamut stays on the left while Vuk stays on the right. They can cut inside to attack the near post or stay wide to allow Boršić and Bočkaj to overlap the winger. The formation is designed to create runs in behind and quick combinations to break the line.

A major strength of this formation is the ability to create wide overloads from overlapping full backs. When Bočkaj and Boršić push up, they create extra numbers on the flanks. The team also benefits from compactness when defending in a low block. This makes it very difficult for opponents to play through the middle or find space. This formation allows for quick transitions once the ball is won back high up the pitch.

This 5-2-3 formation makes Varaždin a difficult side to break down. It is best suited for matches against teams that control the ball where the side must sit deep and counter at pace.