Jun 23

Jun 23 The 433 Formation: Tactics, Strengths and Weaknesses

Shaun Rye

Stories

Everything You Need to Know About the 433 Formation!

Did you know the 4-3-3 football formation has been around for over 50 years?

Read our ultimate guide to this famous formation - including tactics, strengths and weaknesses!

433 formation - 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards — The Classic 4-3-3 Setup

You could be forgiven for thinking that the introduction of the 4-3-3 formation - particularly in England - came about because of influential continental coaches like Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

Mourinho did have a huge impact on English football.

He exploited the benefits of a bullish centre forward like Didier Drogba, supplementing the one-striker system with skilful wide players like Arjen Robben and Joe Cole - and suffocating the opposition with a three-man midfield.

However, way before ‘The Special One’ showed up at Chelsea in 2004 and disturbed the deeply-ingrained 4-4-2 set-up that most, if not all, Premier League teams employed through the nineties and early noughties, there was a team who won the World Cup with that same formation way back in 1966.

That famous England side switched between 4-3-3 and 4-1-3-2-depending on how attacking they wanted to be throughout their ultimately successful campaign.

When using the 4-3-3 formation, they deployed Bobby Charlton almost in a false number nine supporting Hurst, and Hunt in attack, with Nobby Stiles the fulcrum at the base of three central midfielders that also included Alan Ball and Martin Peters.

a diagram of the original 4-3-3 formation in 1966 — The original 4-3-3 formation in 1966

As the formation becomes even more prevalent in world football today, we will identify the key principles of the 4-3-3 formation.

We’ll outline the strengths and weaknesses of the system - and the tactical responsibilities within those individual roles.

Strengths

Compact formation
Attacking system/utilises the high press
Options to overload with full backs, wingers and midfielders creating triangles
Numerical superiority in central midfield, in turn maintaining possession
Wingers can offer a greater threat in attacking areas

Weaknesses

Relies heavily upon the suitability of players in one or two key positions
Tends not to accommodate a specialist number ten role
Only one centre forward

Key Principles of the 4-3-3 Formation

The success of any formation hinges on having players who can fulfil the roles required to play that system.

For example, a key feature of the 4-3-3 is having full backs who can offer defensive solidity, but also support their team and offer width going forward.

The role of the solitary centre forward is also integral as they will be expected to be the focal point of the attack, holding the ball up to allow support in wider attacking areas or from central midfield positions.

Didier Drogba illustrated this perfectly and was an excellent advocate of the modern-day ‘Lone Striker’ during his time at Chelsea.

Erling Haaland has played similarly at Manchester City, whilst Liverpool found Premier League and Champions League success by playing their centre forward (Bobby Firmino) as more of a withdrawn striker, almost a false nine.

He came deep and dragged defenders out with his good all-round general play, which created space for Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to exploit in behind in more of an inside forward role.

a diagram of the 4-3-3 formation with Mane, Firmino and Salah — The 4-3-3 formation with Mane, Firmino and Salah

This three-pronged attack means a team can lead the press and cause hurried defensive passes and force mistakes in the process.

It is a tactic that allows a team to defend from the front and is relatively low risk. The only risk comes if you’re playing against opposition who are competent and confident enough to play through the press.

In that situation, their bravery in playing out is rewarded with space behind those players making the press.

Having a system that hosts three central midfielders means that they are unlikely to be overrun in the middle of the pitch and can mount attacks with pace and fluidity.

This kind of adaptability, in terms of having multi-faceted players, is crucial. It is no longer acceptable to be a one-dimensional player.

Central midfielders - particularly in a 4-3-3 - must show tenacity, an ability to track back but also step forward to support attacks, just in the same way that the modern game demands that defenders can play as well as just defend.

Key Roles in the 4-3-3 Formation

Goalkeeper

Communication

A key component in this role!

The goalkeeper is the eyes of the team and, especially in modern-day football where the keeper often plays as a sweeper, they need to be able to speak to defenders and, maybe more significantly, CDMs who will receive the ball from the keeper facing their own goal.

The CDM needs to know if the opposition is tight or not.

Decision-Making

The goalkeeper is tasked with playing out from the back, which means choosing the right pass and finding players in space.

The common misconception is that they must play short.

However, long passes can be just as important in initiating attacks, especially given that defenders and midfielders coming short can create space further up the pitch.

To add context, Manchester City’s Ederson is one of the best in the division at playing accurately from the back and was credited with an average of 31 passes per match. He even notched an assist during the 2022/23 season.

A visual representation of the 4-3-3 formation in action

Full Backs

Offer Width in Forward Areas

A role that is imperative in this system. Being defensively solid is simply not enough to contribute to making this formation work well.

Full backs in a modern-day 4-3-3 will be asked to get high up the pitch and support attacks frequently with deep crosses or through balls for wingers.

Any concern about losing shape and position without the ball can be addressed by having CDMs and CMs help drop into any hole vacated.

Control Possession

Full backs can ensure their team has a greater possessional play by playing slightly inverted when their team have the ball in defence.

They can play out of defence by knitting together passes with the centre back and central defensive midfielder, who can then spread the play accordingly.

Central Defensive Midfielder

Playing Out From the Back

The CDM is tasked with creating space behind the opposition centre forward when receiving the ball from the goalkeeper.

Their role in this formation is to either accept the ball on the half turn and play forward, or if the opposition is too tight, create a triangle with the centre back and full back and play out through a series of passes.

To simply knock the ball around the corner blind when receiving a pass is too high-risk and will see too many turnovers in possession.

Supporting at Both Ends

Some coaches prefer to have their CDM stay the width of the 18-yard box. That means they can offer support in attack when in possession, but defensive cover out of it.

The expectation will always be that they should support the play once they have played forward. In many ways, they are the fulcrum of the team.

Midfielders should always try to open up their body upon receipt of the ball, thus allowing them to switch play to the opposite side if the midfield is congested.

A good range of passing is critical as they will be expected to receive the ball from all areas of the pitch, including passes from the goalkeeper.

An eye for a goal is always a welcome addition too, though probably not as crucial in this set-up.

Wingers

Full Back Overload

In this system, the wingers will be supported by their full backs overlapping, presenting the opposing full backs with a dilemma: stick with the full back or track the winger’s run inside.

If the winger is tracked, it gives the full back a clear path.

With three central midfielders, wingers can also use the wider of the central midfielders to create overloads down the flank by playing triangles with full back and CM.

The 4-3-3 formation from the viewpoint of the wingers — The 4-3-3 formation from the viewpoint of wingers

A winger’s movement inside has the potential to drag the opposing CDM out of position, leaving a void for the central attacking midfielder to exploit.

Interchanging attacking full backs and wingers is a tactical feature of this system which poses questions for teams who choose to man-mark.

Support Centre Forward

As well as supplying crosses and creating chances with the ball, wingers should observe the play on the opposite flank, darting into the box at the far post, hopefully entering the vacant space created by the striker who has made near-post runs or dropped deep.

Centre Forward

Attacking Crosses That Have Pace

The way in which the centre forward plays is imperative to the system’s success. To sustain an attack, the ball must stick or at least be retained in some way when it is played up to them.

When the ball goes wide and crosses come in from those areas, they must try to time their run and attack near-post areas.

This is important as the ball has less distance to travel and a flick or touch on the near post gives the defence and keeper less time to adjust and set themselves, particularly if the ball has pace.