Custom Team Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Bizot (Aston Villa) · Ballard (Sunderland) · de Ligt (Man Utd) · Huijsen (Real Madrid) · L. Yamal (Kudus) (Barcelona) · Reijnders (Sarr) (Man City) · Vitinha (PSG) · Nico Williams (Athletic) · Richarlison (Tottenham) · Wood (Mbappé) (Nottm Forest) · Haaland (Ekitike) (Man City)

A high press and rapid transition game defines this lineup in a 3-5-2. The team aims to win the ball high up the pitch and quickly move it toward the penalty area. This formation is built to stretch the defence and use verticality to catch opponents out of position.

Bizot stays between the posts to organize the back line. The defense uses a back three consisting of Huijsen, de Ligt, and Ballard. de Ligt acts as the central defender to win the header and command the area, while Huijsen and Ballard provide cover on either side. This unit can step up to squeeze the space and set the offside trap. They work to maintain a high line to keep the team compact.

The midfield relies on a three-man midfield with a carrier to control the central zone. Vitinha and Reijnders act as the engine room to recycle possession and drive forward with the ball. Vitinha uses his passing range to find teammates, while Reijnders works to connect the defensive and attacking lines. Nico Williams and L. Yamal operate as wide players who provide width and can overlap the midfield to create overloads. Richarlison operates in the hole as an attacking ten behind the strikers to arrive late into the box and press from the front.

The attack utilizes two forwards in a partnership to pin the last defender. Haaland acts as the primary threat with his movement to hit in behind on the transition, while Wood works as a target man to hold up the ball and win the second ball. The team builds play through the middle and wide channels, looking to find the feet of the striker or deliver crosses from the wide areas. The front line is tasked to press the opposition back line to force a long ball.

This formation offers significant advantages through wide overloads and numerical superiority in the middle. Nico Williams and L. Yamal can stretch the defence, allowing Richarlison and the strikers to find space in the half-spaces. The team can also switch play quickly to isolate wide players in one on one situations. The ability to press in coordinated waves makes it very difficult for opponents to build out from the back.

This 3-5-2 setup is built for aggressive, direct football. It is best suited for matches against teams that struggle to play out from the back or teams that leave space behind their midfield.