Custom Team Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Raya (Trafford, Vicario) (Arsenal) · Ballard (Acheampong, Porro, Romero) (Sunderland) · de Ligt (Gabriel, Stones, van Dijk) (Man Utd) · Van de Ven (AN, Guehi, Shaw, Spence) (Tottenham) · Semenyo (Bergvall, Mac A, Wharton) (Bournemouth) · Sarr (Caicedo, Casemiro, Kamara) (Tottenham) · Reijnders (Anderson, Gonzalez, Onana) (Man City) · Richarlison (Cherki, Chiesa, O. Bobb) (Tottenham) · Haaland (Wood) (Man City) · Ekitike (B. Johnson, Gakpo) (Liverpool) · Kudus (Diarra, R. Lewis) (Tottenham)

A high pressing and vertical identity defines this lineup using a 3-5-2. The team aims to win it back high up the pitch and strike quickly through the center or wide channels. This formation relies on aggressive movement to unsettle the opposition and create chances through rapid transitions.

Raya operates between the posts to start play from the back. The defensive unit consists of a back three where de Ligt sits centrally to command the line and win the header. Van de Ven acts as the left centre back, using his recovery speed to cover space if the line is breached, while Ballard occupies the right centre back spot to defend zonally. This back three provides a solid base to absorb pressure before looking to progress through the thirds.

The midfield is a heavy engine room designed to dominate the central areas. Reijnders and Sarr work as a double pivot to shield the defence and pick up runners in front of the back three. Semenyo operates as a central midfielder to link the defensive and attacking lines, often carrying the ball forward to drive into space. The two attacking midfielders, Ekitike and Kudus, occupy the half spaces to create tension. Ekitike pushes forward to support the strike force, while Kudus uses his dribbling to beat players and pull wide to stretch the defence.

Up front, the team employs two forwards in a partnership to pin the last defender. Haaland acts as the primary goalscorer, using his strength and movement to find space in the box, while Richarlison works as a pressing centre forward to harass the opposition back line. The attack is built through combinations in tight spaces or by hitting in behind on the transition. Movements are designed to create runs in behind or allow the wide midfielders to deliver crosses into the box for the strikers to attack.

One major advantage of this formation is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, with the front three and two attacking midfielders triggering the press. The team also benefits from numerical superiority in the central midfield area when Sarr and Reijnders drop deep. This allows the side to recycle possession effectively while remaining dangerous on the break.

This 3-5-2 formation is built for teams that want to control the center of the pitch and punish errors through direct attacking. It is best suited for matches against opponents who play a high line or struggle to deal with intense pressure.