The 4-3-3 was a development of the
4-2-4, and was played by the Brazilian national team in the 1962 World
Cup. The extra player in midfield allowed a stronger defense, and the
midfield could be staggered for different effects. The three midfielders
normally play closely together to protect the defense, and move
laterally across the field as a coordinated unit. The three forwards
split across the field to spread the attack, and are expected to "tackle
back". When used from the start of a game, this formation is widely
regarded as encouraging defensive play, and should not be confused with
the practice of modifying a 4-4-2 by bringing on an extra forward to
replace a midfield player when behind in the latter stages of a game.
A staggered 4-3-3 involving a defensive midfielder (usually numbered 4
or 6) and two attacking midfielders (numbered 8 and 10) was commonplace
in Italy, Argentina and Uruguay during the 1960s and 1970s. The Italian
variety of 4-3-3 was simply a modification of WM, by converting one of
the two wing-halves to a libero (sweeper), whereas the Argentine and
Uruguayan formations were derived from 2-3-5 and retained the notional
attacking centre-half. The national team which made this famous was the
Dutch team of the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, even though the team won
neither.
In club football, the team that brought this formation to the forefront
was the famous Ajax Amsterdam team of the early 1970s, which won three
European Cups with Johan Cruyff. Chelsea have used this formation to
great effect under José Mourinho in the time he has been at the club.
While getting his team to constantly press the opposition when
defending, he also likes the two wingers to come back to create a 4-5-1
formation.
At the 2006 FIFA World Cup Spain played a variation of 4-3-3 without
wingers. The three strikers would interchange positions and run the
channels like a regular striker would.
Teams that used this formation
* Brazil national team, winners 1962 FIFA World Cup
* Feyenoord in winning the 1970 European Cup
* Hotshots, Olympia Youth Champions,
WSYSA 1970-1974
* Rainier Roadrunners, WSYSA
Champions, 1974-1977
*All teams coached by Don Marquis
1970, WSYSA
* Juventus F.C., Serie A Winners 1994/95 and UEFA Champions League
Winners 1995/96
* Rosenborg B.K. of Norway, during all of their 13-in-a-row league wins,
and 10 seasons in the UEFA Champions League
* All the teams coached by Zdeněk Zeman
* Chelsea FC, Premiership Winners 2004/05 2005/06
* Clarkston Heat, Clarkston Soccer
Club 2004-2008
* All teams coached by Randy Semanko
1983-2008
* Olympique Lyonnais, Ligue 1 Winners 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05
2005/06 2006/07
* Brøndby I.F., SAS Liga Winners 2004/05 and runners up 2002/03, 2003/04
and 2005/06
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