Custom Team Football Formation

Starting Lineup

YASHIN (Lev (c)) (River) · PASSARELLA (Daniel) (River) · PERFUMO (Roberto) (River) · SASTRE (Antonio) (Independiente) · HAKIMI (Achraf) (PSG) · MBAPPÉ (Kylian) (PSG) · FACCHETTI (Giancinto) (Inter) · MATTHÄUS (Lothar) (Inter) · RIJKAARD (Frank) (Milan) · BAGGIO (Robert) (Juventus) · SHEVCHENKO (Andriy) (Milan)

A heavy emphasis on defensive solidity and rapid transitions defines this lineup in a 5-3-2. This formation is built to absorb pressure and then hit the opposition with speed once the ball is won. The team looks to play with high intensity in the middle areas while maintaining a very firm base at the back to prevent being split by direct passes.

Yashin starts between the posts to command the area. The defensive unit works in a back five where Rijkaard sits central to sweep behind a high line and provide cover. Passarella acts as a ball playing defender from the left side, while Perfumo provides aerial strength to win headers during set pieces. On the flanks, Hakimi operates as an attacking wing back on the right to provide width, and Facchetti plays a similar role on the left to help the team transition from defense to attack quickly.

The midfield operates as a three man midfield with a carrier and a creative hub. Matthäus uses his immense work rate to press aggressively and win the ball high up the pitch, while Sastre helps to connect the defensive and attacking lines by recycling possession. Baggio plays as an attacking ten behind the strikers, finding pockets of space to play through the lines. This midfield group is designed to squeeze the space in the center and deny the turn of opposition playmakers.

The attack utilizes two forwards in a partnership to stretch the opposition defense. Mbappé plays as a left sided striker who looks to run in behind the defensive line with extreme pace, while Shevchenko works as a pressing centre forward to harass the defenders. These two combine to create runs in behind or to hold up the ball to allow Baggio to arrive late into the box. The front line is designed to trigger a press from the front, forcing the opposition to play long balls that the back five can easily intercept.

This formation offers significant advantages in terms of defensive compactness when sitting deep in a mid block. The team can also create wide overloads because Hakimi and Facchetti are able to push high and overlap the attackers. By utilizing the speed of Mbappé and the movement of Shevchenko, the team can break quickly and catch opponents out of position during transitions.

This 5-3-2 lineup is a powerhouse for teams looking to dominate through defensive strength and lethal counter attacks. It is best suited for matches against teams that hold high possession but struggle to deal with direct runners in behind.