June 13, 2007

International Aspects
How to adjust to different countries and playing styles

Playing in different countries can have a great impact on your tactic performances and may need slight or even major adjustments. We tried to collect a few tips to adjust your tactics and playing style if you intend to play abroad, they also might help for playing continental and international games.

UK leagues: the home of the 4-4-2 in the most pure variants. Also the 4-1-4-1 (4-5-1) is most seen as defensive formations. Very few teams try playing ‘continental’ formations. Most player-made 4-4-2 formations will be made for these leagues and have a good chance to succeed, as well as a broad range of continental formations. Although many mangers will face problems if trying to establish something else, since the number of pure defensive and attacking midfielders can be very restricted, while a vast majority of quality midfielders are natural MCs and very limited in their abilities if played out of position.

Spanish leagues: Maybe the most versatile leagues, both formation and playing style wise. Almost any tactic and approach can be found here. Still dominant though is a 4-2-3-1 as cautious starting and 4-4-2 as attacking version if in need of a goal. Almost any team will have a good amount of quality attacking midfielders and defensive midfields. Easy to set up multi-strata formations, while a flat 4-4-2 may pose problems because many opposition teams will field attacking midfielders playing in the hole.

Italian leagues: the home of defence and time wasting. Even in the top four you will hardly find an attacking team. The range of formations is quite broad, but the approach almost always is defensive. Counter attacking play may fail often if you do not score early; a good anti-time-wasting strategy is a must.

German leagues: As in Spain, a defensive midfielder can be very important since most teams will field a playmaker attacking midfielder. Most teams are playing rather slow possession football and often will field two defensive midfielders when playing away, while the wingers can pose a real threat and catch your fullbacks out of position if you don’t take care about them. Diamonds and 4-2-3-1 with two DMs (also frequently used in France) will dominate.

Since almost all diamond formations never change when switching their attacking stance, it is important to learn to read the AI (link) and adjust if needed.

French leagues: Great tactical variety with almost any international formation available. There seems to be a strong Spanish influence since many teams prefer the 4-2-3-1. Any other formation can be seen like the 4-3-3/4-5-1 and classic 4-4-2s or 4-4-1-1s, but also diamonds and 4-3-1-2s. As the formations vary greatly, so do the playing styles.

The only genuine French formation seems to be the wide 4-2-2-2, employing two defensive midfielders and two pure wingers. Many may know this formation from Deschamps’ Juve.

Difficult to play are the 4-2-3-1 formations employing two DMCs, 1 AMC/MC and farrowed wingers. This is a very popular strategy in Germany as well and needs careful use of fullbacks, best with man marking, especially if combined with high time wasting as defensive strategy.

A curiosity certainly is Marseille’s 3-4-2-1.

Eastern Europe (Romania, Ukraine): Three centre backs seem to be favoured by teams at all levels. The 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 are common sights. Play is usually powerful and direct, with emphasis placed on physical prowess rather than silky skills. Teams seem willing to attack, and games are often quick, though not as quick as in England. Counter-attack seems to be seldom used also, as teams appear to take it in turns to attack rather than soak up the pressure and explode. The leagues in Czech Republic seem to favour 4-4-2.

Brazilian leagues: the place to go for tactical diversity.

Standard 442s (plus attacking and defending variants); 4-4-2s with box midfields (see Uncle Sam’s thread at Susie for an example); 4-4-1-1s;4-2-3-1s; 4-1-3-2s; 4-2-4s; 3-5-2s (both flat back 3 and sweeper variants); 5-3-2s (both flat back 5 and sweeper variants); 3-4-3s; 4-1-4-1s; 4-1-2-2-1s (the ‘Mourinho’ style tactic with a DMC, 2 MCs and advanced wingers); 3-3-2-1-1s (flat back 3, 2 wing backs + a DMC, 2 MCs, an AMC and a striker).

You need to be on the ball tactically in Brazil as the teams change tactics very pro-actively/reactively and they have the players who are both skillful enough and versatile enough to carry the changes in system with the minimum of fuss.

Australia and much of Asia: tend to employ 4-4-2s, switching to 3-3-2-1-1s (or 4-1-4-1s) when shutting up shop.

USA: MLS clubs go 4-4-2 as well, though there’s a tendency to have 2 DMCs in there to provide more cover for the defence and rely on counter attacks.

Helpful links
Reading the AI – helpful advice how to adjust to different playing styles.
JP’s league guides – the best sorted FM-travel agency for exotic leagues.

Tactical Bible Credits
JP, Millie, The next Diaby. Editor: Millie