Custom Team Football Formation

Starting Lineup

G. Pagliuca (Juventus) · J. César (Juventus) · D. Passarella (C) (Fiorentina) · J. Herrera (Cagliari) · L. Júnior (Torino) · Alemão (Napoli) · T. Cerezo (Sampdoria) · Falcão (Roma) · Zico (Udinese) · D. Maradona (Napoli) · Careca (Napoli)

Prioritizing quick transitions and verticality, this lineup operates as a 5-3-2. The goal is to remain compact when defending and strike with speed through a highly talented front line. This formation allows the team to control central spaces while utilizing the wing backs to provide width in the final third.

G. Pagliuca guards the goal behind a sturdy back five. The central trio of J. César, Alemão, and captain D. Passarella provides a dominant presence in the air and strength in one on one duels. Passarella acts as a ball playing defender to start attacks, while J. César and Alemão cover the wide areas and win the second ball. J. Herrera and L. Júnior act as attacking wing backs, pushing high up the pitch to stretch the defence and provide crosses, which requires them to track back quickly when possession is lost.

The midfield relies on a three man midfield with a carrier and a creative spark. Falcão and T. Cerezo work to shield the defence and recycle possession, ensuring the team holds a compact shape. Zico operates as an attacking ten behind the two strikers, playing through the lines to find the forwards. Zico uses his legendary passing range to connect the midfield to the attack. This trio works to press in a mid-block and win the ball back high up the pitch whenever the opposition attempts to play out from the back.

Attacking the opposition relies on a partnership of two forwards. Careca and D. Maradona lead the line, using their ability to play in combinations to break the lines. Careca acts as a pressing centre-forward to disrupt the opposition build up, while D. Maradona often drops deeper to link up play between the lines. The movement of the wing backs, J. Herrera and L. Júnior, creates overlaps that allow Maradona and Careca to find space in the channels. This setup aims to isolate wide players in one on one situations or hit in behind on the transition.

This formation offers great flexibility to shift between shapes during different phases of play. The team can achieve numerical superiority in midfield when Zico drops deep, or create wide overloads through the overlapping runs of the wing backs. The compactness when defending makes it very difficult for opponents to find gaps in the middle.

This 5-3-2 lineup is built for high tempo counter attacking football. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line and leave space behind their defence.