Playing Formations

Playing formations vary according to several factors:
   - Coach Strategy
   - Players’ individual ability
   - Strengths and weaknesses of opposition
   - Competition Level

Strategies or formations also vary between countries with several adopting their own particular style of play ie. Dutch, French, Italian.

Generally within all playing formations, three fundamental playing positions are employed.
 
Defenders and Goalkeeper
 
These players are generally well disciplined and organised predominantly involved with ballwinning and preventing goalscoring opportunities.

Midfielders

Usually the hard working, high endurance type players responsible for the link from defence to attack. Many possess great decision making skill and create goalscoring chances for strikers.  They also are goalscorers themselves.

Attackers

The strikers are the main source of goalscoring within a team. It is more an art form than a science with many strikers having the gift of being in the right place at the right time. 
 

Click here for some playing formation examples (*rough version*)