Custom Team Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Kenan Yildiz (Juventus) · Lautaro Martinez (Inter) · Nico Paz (Como) · McTominay (Napoli) · Pulisic (Milan) · Dimarco (Inter) · Bastoni (Inter) · Calhanoglu (Inter) · Buongiorno (Napoli) · Wesley (Roma) · Maignan (Milan)

Aiming to be defensively solid and rely on quick transitions, this team uses a 5-4-1 formation. The lineup is built to absorb pressure and strike with speed when the opposition leaves space behind their back line. It is a system designed to sit deep and wait for the right moment to break quickly.

Lautaro Martinez operates between the posts to manage the defensive line. The back five consists of McTominay at right centre back, Nico Paz in the middle, and Calhanoglu at left centre back. To provide width, Kenan Yildiz acts as an attacking wing back on the right, while Pulisic covers the left flank as an attacking wing back. The central defenders work together to hold the line, with Nico Paz and Calhanoglu looking to win the header during set pieces. The unit functions to compress the space between the lines and force the opposition wide.

The midfield works as a flat four to protect the back five. Wesley occupies the right side to provide width, while Dimarco sits on the left to help the defensive unit. In the center, Buongiorno and Bastoni act as the engine room to protect the zone in front of the defence. Buongiorno and Bastoni are tasked to intercept passes and win the second ball. They help to connect the defensive unit to the lone striker by recycling possession when the team wins it back high up the pitch.

In the attacking phase, the team relies on a lone striker, Maignan, to lead the line. Because there is only one man upfront, Maignan must hold up the ball and wait for support. The attack is built through the wing backs, Kenan Yildiz and Pulisic, who push up to provide width. When the team transitions, they look to hit in behind on the transition, using the wide areas to stretch the defence. The forwards must press from the front to trigger a press and force a long ball from the opponent.

One major advantage of this 5-4-1 formation is the compactness when defending, which makes it very hard for opponents to find gaps between the lines. The presence of Kenan Yildiz and Pulisic allows for wide overloads when the team moves into an attacking phase. Another strength is the ability to sit deep in a low block and then use the pace of the wing backs to transition.

This formation provides a reliable way to deny space in central areas and force the opposition to play around the perimeter. It is best suited for facing teams that dominate possession and for games where the team needs to defend a lead.