Custom Team Football Formation

Starting Lineup

MAIER (Sepp) (Angola) · CARLOS (ALBERTO) (Botafogo) · NOVÁK (Ladislav) (Dukla Praha) · SCHULZ (Willie) (Hamburg) · SHESTERNYOV (Albert) (CSKA Moscow) · ROSSI (Nestor) (River) · ČAJKOVSKI (Zlatko) (FC Bayern) · VAN HANEGEM (Willem) (Feyenoord) · CRUYFF (Johan) (Ajax) · RAHN (Helmunt) (Köln) · DZAJIC (Dragan) (Crvena zvezda)

A high press and rapid transition game defines this lineup in a 5-2-3. This formation is built to win the ball high up the pitch and quickly hit the opposition in behind. By using a front three that presses hard, the team can force errors and catch opponents out of position.

MAIER starts in goal to organize the back line. The defensive unit works as a back five with ROSSI acting as the central man to sweep behind the line. SCHULZ and SHESTERNYOV sit as the wider centre-backs to cover the channels and defend zonally. CARLOS and NOVÁK operate as attacking wing backs, tasked to provide width and push high into the final third. They must track back quickly to prevent being caught in transition, but their main job is to stretch the defence.

The midfield operates with a double pivot to control the center of the pitch. ČAJKOVSKI and VAN HANEGEM act as the two central engines, tasked to protect the zone in front of the defence and recycle possession. ČAJKOVSKI works to shield the back five, while VAN HANEGEM looks to carry the ball forward and connect the defensive line to the attack. They must stay compact to prevent the opposition from playing through the middle.

In the final third, the team utilizes three attackers to pin the last defender. CRUYFF leads the line as a lone striker, using his movement to find pockets of space and link up play with the wide players. RAHN and DZAJIC act as wide wingers who hug the touchline to create maximum width. This movement allows CARLOS and NOVÁK to overlap the wingers and deliver crosses into the box. The forwards are expected to press in pairs from the front to disrupt the opponent's build up.

This formation offers great width and the ability to create overloads on the flanks through the wing backs. It also provides a very strong defensive block when the team drops into a mid-block. The presence of three forwards allows the team to press in coordinated waves to win the ball back high up the pitch.

This 5-2-3 formation is designed for a team that wants to hit opponents on the break. It is best suited for matches against sides that play a high line and can be punished with speed in transition.