Playing the Modern 3-5-2 Soccer - Marcus DiBernardo

Playing The M odern 3-5-2 Soccer Formation “Tactical Concepts & Training Sessions”

By Marcus DiBernardo

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Table of Conte nts Introduction Individual Player Roles and Responsibilities The Reality of All Formations Two Contrasting Ways to Play the 3-5-2 Defensive Counter Attacking Counter Pressing Four Phases of Play: Attacking Transition & Organization, Defensive Transition & Organization Potential Player Partnerships Five Ways to Play Out of the Back In The 3-5-2 Team Movement Patterns in Possession: Defensive & Middle Thirds Playing Out of the Back & Middle Thirds: Training Exercises 9 v 6 Working the Ball Out of the Back: Game Model 9v7 to Goal: Game Model 9v7 to Goal: Multiple Ball Color Coded Play Guardiola Positional Grid Shadow Play Two Team Shadow Play One Team Shadow Play 11 v 8 Goal to Zone: Game Model Attacking Play in The Middle & Final Third: Training Exercises Movement Patterns in the Middle and Attacking Thirds 8 v 8 v 8 Game Model Attack Attacking Pattern Play

11v11 Game Model: 1-Touch, 2-Touch, 3-Touch & Zones 11v11 Game Model Zone Scoring 11v11 Goal & Zone Scoring 11v11 Game Model – Zone Conditions 11v11 Game Model with Restrictions Rotational Rondo – Game Model 3-5-2 Game Model Defe nding: 3-5- 2 Formation Full Press / Counter-Pressing Indemnifying Pressing Zones in 3-52 Full Press Half Press Dropping Deep/Low Block Defending Game Model Team Defending 8v6 – 3-5-2 Formation Game Model Team Defending 10v9 – 3-5-2 Formation Game Model Team Defending 10v11 – 3-5-2 Formation Summary ******ebook converter DEMO Watermarks*******

Introduction The 3-5-2 is a very dynamic and flexible system; it can be an ultra-attacking formation or solid defensive formation depending on how it is deployed. In attack the 3-5-2 is numerically strong in the midfield and comes with the benefit of two strikers. Creating width in the attack is never a problem with two wingers and strikers that could also run the channels. The formation is naturally set-up to encourage movement off the ball with the interchanging of positions when in possession; the interchanging of positions and movement off the ball allows different players the opportunity to fill different spaces, making the 3-5-2 more dynamic and difficult for the opponent to predict and deal with. In the modern game I personally find many advantages to playing the 3-5-2 formation, due to its fluid attacking potential and less focus on keeping numbers back.

The defensive side of the 3-5-2 presents the formations biggest challenges, yet it can also be seen as a strength if the players understand how to form a back four or five in the correct situations. With only three defenders in the back, covering space in deep wide areas must be addressed and dealt with effectively. In order to offset the possible defensive weakness that come with three players not being able to cover the entire width of the field, the coach must choose player personnel and more importantly the formations tactics wisely. In this book I will cover multiple ways the 3-5-2 can be played to maximize its strengths, while turning the formations possible negatives into positives.


When breaking down and analyzing any formation, it is important to note that the difference between formations is about 10 yards in player positioning. You can make an argument that most formations are similar and difficult to identify once the game has started. The transition from defending to attackingand attackingto defending creates totally new shapes from the original formation. The game of soccer is a freeflowing game but inside that flow there must be a structure which drives individual and team decisions. The coach is the one who will lay out the important tactical guidelines for the execution of the formation, so it is important to note that the same formation canbe carried out in many different ways, depending on the coach. Tactics that will influence the way the formation played include things like setting a line of restraint, establishing a line of confrontation, identifying pressing zones, outlining counter-attacking areas, realizing when to press or drop-off, addressing the overall style of soccer to be played, player personnel, work load, location of the game, weather conditions, field conditions and much more. All these factors will directly influence the way a formation is played.

I hope you enjoy the book and feel free to email me with any questions you may have at [email protected]


Individual Player Roles & Responsibilities

Center Backs (LCB, RCB, CB)

The center backs should be athletic, intelligent, have short and long passing ability, be able to play safe passes with 90%+ passing completion percentage, be strong leaders, good in the air, strong and smart in the tackle and be excellent organizers of the team. It is critical that the center backs be outstanding 1v1 defenders with good defensive recovery speed. The back three must be a strong presence on the field, capable of solving problems quickly during the defensive transition stage. Because there are only three players in the back line, the attacking demands will be very limited in terms of getting forward.

Def ensive Center Midfielde r

The defensive center mid is the pivot player that normally sits just in front of the three center backs. Physically this player should be powerful, fast and able to defend well in 1v1 situations. The defensive center midfielder should also have good long and short passing range with both feet to both sides of the field. If the defensive center midfielder goes forward, the passing center midfielder would cover for him. The coach would decide if the center midfielders are given freedom to interchange or if more defined roles are assigned. In a fluid style of the 3-5-2, the tactics may allow for all three center midfield players to rotate and fill each other’s spaces at any time, this requires a high game intelligence level from the center midfield unit in order to ******ebook converter DEMO Watermarks*******

maintain balance in attack and defense. Another important role of the defensive center midfielder is to help establish a tempo in the game, keeping the ball moving, creating a rhythm to the play when in possession. On the defensive side of the ball the defensive midfielder might be required to drop into the back line (into the 3 center backs) in order to make it a back four. As you can see the roles of each player can vary greatly, so one coaches version of the 3-5-2 can be very different then another coaches version of the 3-5-2.

Ce ntral or Passing Ce nte r Midfie lde r

This player must be physically strong possessing pace, power and endurance. The traditional passing center midfielder serves as the ink between the defensive center mid and the attacking center mid. The defensive and attackingduties for this player are about equal, but of course the exact role is defined by the tactics employeed. The passing center mid should be a good technical player, comfortable playing with back to play, have excellent passing range, have the ability to dictate the pace of the game, be willing to work hard for the team without the ball (ball winner) and be able to exploit the opponents defense with penetrating passes or runs. This player is really the engine of the team that helps drive the group. There is no hiding as a central midfielder, you must be accountable for all 90 minutes. Traditionally the defensive center midfielder will sit deeper most of the game as the passing center midfielder presents a passing option for the defensive center midfielder. The link from defensive center midfielder to the passing center midfielder in terms of ball possession is critical. When in possession the passing center midfielder should have


many options including penetrating balls to the strikers, vertical passing options to the attacking center midfielder, diagonal balls to the channels for the wingers or just keeping possession by playing back or square until an opportunity to go forward presents itself. If the coach elects to give the center midfield players the freedom to interchange with each other, the passing center midfielder can take up any position that fits the situation in the midfield unit.

Attacking Center Midfielder

The attacking midfielder must be a very good 1v1 player, have excellent vision for penetrating passing, be creative and unpredictable, be able to play quick combinations, shoot in tight spaces and always be considered a threat to score when on the ball. The attacking center midfielder can inter-change positions with either o of the strikers. The effectiveness of the attacking center midfielder will be measured in goals and assists. However, the days of the attacking center mid walking around and not playing defense are over. Todays attacking center midfielder is expected to very work hard on the defensive side of the ball. In the 3-5-2 that means pressing in the attacking 1/3 or dropping-off into the midfield unit to create two lines of four or a line of five and three.


Wingers

These players should have sprinting speed, dribbling ability, be good crossers of the ball and be willing to work hard for the team on defense. Todays winger must be good in possession looking to create overloads that can be exploited with intelligent combination play. In the 3-5-2 the wingers will have plenty of passing options with two strikers and a five-man midfield. Wingers can cut into the center of the field if the striker runs the channel. Once the winger comes central, they must be able to play almost with the same skills as a central midfield player. The wingers defensive responsibilities in the 3-5-2 depend on the coaches tactics, which will be discussed later in the book. If one winger is more technical with good crossing ability but lacks 1v1 ability, that is alright as long as the other winger has the ability to penetrate off the dribble. The two players will balance each other out, the coach can also allow the wingers the freedom to change sides to force the opponent to adjust or even exploit a poor match-up.

Strikers

The strikers in a 3-5-2 can vary in characteristics. The coach may elect to go with one striker who is a target player type, while the other will be more of a pacey speed player, usually one of the strikers will have pace. Strikers should be good finishers, be able to create space to shoot and have excellent 1v1 abilities. In the 3-5-2 the


tactics will influence the strikers movements. Some coaches may elect to press both strikers high onto the two center backs or one keep one high and the other will drop in-between the defensive lines. I like to allow one striker the freedom to run the channel when its possible, as the winger cuts inside. However, having two strikers central allows them to play off of each other. On the defensive side of the ball, the strikers are the first line of defense and responsible for the initial pressure. It is crucial that the strikers work hard and follow the game plan, good defense starts with the strikers. The tactics will again dictate the striker’s defensive responsibilities and role. Later in the book we will cover the different responsibilities for striker depending on how the 3-5-2 is deployed.

Goalkeeper

Every coach wants the keeper to be well rounded, possessing both skillful feet and solid hands. Ideally the keeper is a minimum of 6ft tall with excellent athletic ability. I want my keeper to be a leader and organizer who literally directs the entire game from the goal. Keepers that read the game and direct their team can shut down dangerous situations before they even happen. Intelligent keepers can do everything from intercepting through-balls to starting a quick counter attack. With only three in the back the keepers must take the responsibility to organize the team at every possible moment.


The Reality of All Formations

How many times do I hear a coach say “I think they are playing a 4-4-2 or I think they are playing a 4-3-3? The reality is it’s hard to tell the exact formation a team is playing during the flow of the game. The actual formation may only be recognizable before the whistle or possibly in the defensive phase. Coaches will need to define each players’ responsibilities during all phases of the game in order to train the team to operate tactically as one efficient unit. The phases of the game occur from defending to attack and attack to defending, the four phases of the game are attacking transition, attacking organization, defending transition, defending organization. If the coach feels the game needs to be changed, he or she can make adjustments without even changing the formation; it may just involve adjusting a few player’s responsibilities and positioning, this will change the shape of the team and reconfigure the team’s abilities. The main point is that the same formation can be played many different ways with it’s own strengths and weaknesses. Coaches should study all aspects of a formation, including each phase of play in the formation and the transition from phase to phase, by doing this the coach will learn how and why to make adjustments. Great tactical coaches are always learning on the job by constantly observing, reflecting and adjusting.


Two Contrasting Ways to Play The 3-5-2

Defensive Counter Attacking & Counter Pressing

Defensive Counter Attacking

The 3-5-2 can be utilized as a defensive counter attacking formation or as a straight out counter pressing & attacking formation. Recently, Juventus from Italy have had great success using the 3-5-2 as both a defensive counter-attacking system and a full out attacking system. The wingers in the defensive counter attacking3-5-2 formation are used more like wingbacks that drop deep and join the back line while defending, making the backline a line of “5”. The three center midfield players will create a line of “3”, who operate as a screen in front of the back “5” and shift from side to side together as one unit. One striker will stay high and the other will drop in and help the line of “3” midfielders, pressuring from behind while also serving as a link to the higher forward when possession is gained to start the attack. This type of defensive posture in the 3-5-2 converts the formation into a 5-3-1-1, this shape is a very difficult to break down. However, I do want to make the point that soccer is a dynamic free flowing changing game, at any time the back line could have 3, 4 or 5 players in it, the midfield may have 3-5 players or maybe both strikers go up as a unit to pressure the ball. The shape of the team from a tactical standpoint on defense might be a 5-3-1-1, but many variations will inevitably appear during the game regardless of the game plan. When Juventus played Bayern Munich in the Champions league in 2016, the pundits claimed they used a 3-5-2, 4-4-1-1 and a 4-2-3-1 in the same game. I prefer to look at it as dynamic 3-5-2 that morphed into a many different shapes, adjusting to real time game situations! ******ebook converter DEMO Watermarks*******

On the counter attack the 3-5-2 can be extremely effective, the deeper you have your team defend the more you will draw the opponents out, opening up space behind them for the counter-attack. Another important ingredient of a dangerous counter attack is the team’s personnel. Top counter attackingteams usually have one very fast striker that can finish and another skillful link-up player with great vision and passing ability. Having a fast intelligent striker will serve to unbalance the opposition if they decide to press up high and compact the field, making it difficult to find space to play. A pacey striker will force the opponent to lengthen the field and respect the counter, in turn freeing up space for the midfield to play more freely when in possession. When a team sits deep in the 3-5-2 and counter attacks with 2-3 players, it presents major tactical problems for the opponents, especially if there is a speed mismatch. Many titles have been won by teams who have mastered the counter attack, while playing a low defensive block. We don’t have to look any further than the 2015-2016 Leicester City team that stunned the English Premier League with their disciplined counter attacking tactics, blue collar work ethic and small payroll compared to the top five teams in ht e EPL! Every great counter attackingteam travels at fast vertical speeds down the field to goal, making them extremely difficult to defend against. The 3-5-2 can be a fantastic system to use if you are looking to have a secure defense (5-3-1-1), while still being fast and dangerous on the counter.


Counter Pressing: 3-5-2

The 3-5-2 can also be played in a ball possession dominate and counter pressing attacking style. These tactics focus on pressing high into the opponent’s half of the field trying to win the ball within 5-7 seconds after losing possession. The keys to effective counter pressing include the closest player to the ball pressing within 2.4 seconds, the second player pressing within 5.5 seconds, players 3-5 pressing from multiple directions while shutting down passing lanes and players outside the initial press taking up more balanced positions to stop any long ball counter attacks. In order to play the 3-5-2 in this fashion players must be physically fit, mentally committed and not waste the ball once possession is regained. The line of confrontation in counter pressing starts at the opponents 18-yard line from goal kicks. Teams may also elect to keep a slightly more-narrow shape in possession when playing a counter pressing 3-5-2 style, this will help with pressing when the ball is lost because the distance will be shorter to travel when pressing after losing the ball. Teams that learn to counter press successfully are very difficult to play against. Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Marcelo Alberto Bielsa are some of the world’s best coaches who have based their careers on counter pressing methods.


Four Phase s o f Play: Attacking Transition, Attacking Organization, Defensive

Transition, Defensive Organization

Basic 3-5-2 Formation:In this example I have a triangle in the center-midfield but

you can arrange the center-midfield anyway you like to fit your tactics and the phase of play.


Attacking Transition: This is a very basic example of team movement from

defending to attacking in transition. The wingers provide width, one center mid stays close to the center backs, the strikers press up and one or two center midfielders will commit to the attack. In reality, a winger can cut inside, the striker can run a channel, the center midfielders can play conservative and send one or more aggressively and send two; the point I want to make is that there is much flexibility in terms movement in the 3-5-2. This is just a basic example.


Attacking O rganizat ion: In this example we can see the team has 5-6 players

committed into attack with a holding back “3” and one central midfielder sitting deeper. The wingers provide the width in attack as the center midfielders provide the team balance between attack and defense. This diagram is an example of team shape in the full attacking organization phase of play. If possession was lost in this example and the team is counter pressing, this would be a good shape to start the press in.


De fe nsive Transition: This example shows the team committed in attack as they lose

the ball and must transition back to a defensive shape. One center midfield drops into the back line as the other players recover into a 4-4-1-1 shape or both wingers can drop and one striker, taking on the shape of a 5-3-1-1. This example is a team that is playing more conservative and dropping back after possession is lost, they are not counter pressing in this example. A counter pressing team would not retreat unless the initial high press was broken and pressure was clearly relieved.


Def ensive Organization: This example shows a team that has completely

transitioned into the phase of play called defensive organization and is in 4-4-1-1 shape. Again, there are many different possible shapes the team can transition and organize into on defense.


Def ensive Organization: Here is a different team shape in the defensive

organization phase. The team is now in a 3-1-4-2 and in a good position to press both forwards onto the oppositions center backs, forcing the ball one direction and than closing the space. This shape is prevalent in the middle part of the field when the opponent is still building their attack.


Def ensive Organization: Here is the 5-3-1-1 shape used for soaking up pressure or

counter attacking tactics. Notice the wingers have dropped-in to make a backline of “5” as the “3” center midfielders create a screen for the back “5” and the two forwards are set-up stacked on top, making the shape a 5-3-1-1. Leaving one forward high in-between the opponents center backs is great way set-up for an instant counter attack. This 5-3-1-1 defensive shape is very difficult to breakdown. Another option in this shape is to split the field with your strikers. One striker will drop and help pressure the ball from behind as the other stays high, when the ball is switched the high striker will drop and go pressure the ball, as the other striker will shift up high, in between the center backs.

Defensive Organization “Winger Counter”: This defensive shape is purposely


done with the counter attack in mind for the far side winger. Real Madrid have often employed this tactic with Cristiano Ronaldo not coming back to defend, instead he stays pushed up high, looking to be the outlet on the far side for an instant counter attack. When Madrid regain possession, every player knows the cross field diagonal ball behind the defense will spring Ronaldo into the counter. The team is still defensively balanced with two lines of four.


Def ensive Organization: This 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 defending shape demonstrates another option for creating a back line of “4” and midfield line of “5” out of the 3-52 formation. Simply have one central midfield player slide into the back line and one forward slide into the midfield line. The only drawback using this type of rotation or transition is that players often get confused as to who and when to drop into the

lines. However, it is another way to transition into a defense shape in the 3-5-2 formation, players should be aware of the option.


Potential Player Partnerships This simple diagram is designed to show partnerships between players on the field. However, there are many more partnerships that are available but it is useful to point out the more obvious ones.


Five Ways to Play Out of the Back in The 3-5-2

1) In this first example the left and right center back open up wide to the edge of the box and the middle center back stays central. The wingers will take high and wide positions, they could go as high as the half field. The center midfielders will look to drop into the gaps between the center backs to receive the ball on the half turn, so they can play forward if possible. If the opposition presses numbers forward to try and stop the team from playing out of the back, the keeper can always look to play into the wingers or strikers.

2) This is a variation of the previous example. The left center back has dropped all the way to the end line to receive the ball, this will allow him an extra second or two ******ebook converter DEMO Watermarks*******

on the ball before pressure arrives.


3) If the opposition is going to press forward in an attempt to stop the ball being played out of the back, this set-up can counter that. Barcelona has used this set-up working the ball out from the back against aggressive teams who are intent on stopping them. The keeper in this set-up must be good with his feet and take an active part in possession out of the back.


4) In this example the center backs have all rotated to the right with the right center back dropping deeper. The idea is to create a gap on the left side of the field for the center midfielder to run into and collect the ball on the half-turn.


5) The keeper in this situation has pushed the team forward for a longer ball. The left center back leaves the back line and sprints back to the keeper to receive the ball, if a defender has not followed him. This is just another option for creating space to receive the ball and work it out of the defensive 1/3.


Te am Movement Patte rns in Posse ssion: Defe nsive & Middle Thirds

The following diagrams provide ideas of how the ball can be worked from the defensive third up through the middle third of the field. The total team concept when it comes to the freedom of movement is something the coach will ultimately determine. Some coaches may favor a more positional approach while others may instill more freedom of movement. At Manchester City this season Pep Guardiola started shifting his wingbacks central when in possession, taking up almost a center midfield spot as he gave the CB’s the freedom to move up into the midfield with the ball if there was space. This approach is certainly different then some of the positional football he coached while at Barcelona. The reason I mention Pep Guardiola and his shifting tactics is because I want coaches to understand that the game is always progressing, this book should be used as a guideline for you to build your own ideas off of!


Ideas of Possible Movement Patterns:




Playing Out of the Back & Middle Thirds: Training Exercises

9v6 Working the Ball Out of the Back: Game Model

In this exercise the black team in possession works the ball out of the back playing 9v6. This is a game model exercise that allows the back “3” and “5” man midfield to work out different options & ideas for playing the ball out of the back from a goal kick. The objective is to successfully possess the ball working it from the back while trying to build up play in order to finish on the small counter goals, located at midfield. If the red defending team wins the ball, they will have five passes or less to finish on goal, while the black team will immediately tries to win the ball back within 5-6 seconds.


9v7 to Goal: Game Model

This is exercise is similar to the previous but the small goals have been replaced with a large goal and goal keeper. The exercise now becomes very realistic to an actual match that focuses on building out of the back, through the midfield and finishing on goal, if the ball is lost, the team will press to win the ball back within 57 seconds.


Shadow Play

Guardiola Positional Grid Shadow Play

This is a unique version of shadow play that uses Guardiola’s Positional Grid as a outline to play in. Each team will have one coach directing them to play into a specific color sector, once the ball enters the sector the coach will yell out another sector. The coach is like the director of an orchestra, establishing a flow and direction to the shadow play. After the team has enter enough sectors the coach can give them the freedom to finish on goal. The exercise can be modified many different ways including touch restrictions, 1-touch finishing, all attacks must be generated from the wing, all assists must come from central sectors on top of the 18 and much more.


Two Team Shadow Play:

This exercise is similar to the previous but there is no coach to conduct the movement of attack. General ideas can be conveyed to the players in terms of how they might build the attack in the game model but overall there is more freedom in this version of shadow play. The idea behind two team shadow play is that all players must be fully focused and aware of their surroundings at all times, avoiding each other on the field. The coach can set a minimum number of passes before the team is allowed to finish on goal. Once the two teams finish on goal they jog back and begin another ball. Shadow play is a great way to work on team shape during the phase of attacking organization, it also focuses on coordinated team and player movements along with the full implementation of the attacking game model.


One Team Shadow Play:

One team shadow play is carried out the same as the previous exercise, the difference is there is no team attacking the opposite direction. After finishing on goal the attacking team will jog back and restart the next attack.


11v8 Goal to Zone – Game Model:

Using a 8-yard wide end zone to score on is an excellent way to work on build up play in the defense and middle third of the field. The keeper will play the ball out of the back as the team of 11 attempts to work the ball through the 8 defenders to score in the end zone. This exercise is game realistic and combines working the ball out of the defending and middle thirds of the field.


Attacking Play in the Middle & Final Third: Training Exercises

8v8v8 Game Model Attack

This is an exercise that Arsenal FC uses to train their attacking team movements. In the context of the 3-5-2, the exercise uses all the players except the LCB & RCB (only using eight field players). The team in red is attacking the black team who are organized into two lines of four in order to stay compact, this will make breaking the defense down more challenging. No defensive player is allowed to come over the red line. If the red team scores they will re-organize and set up attacking the pink team on the far end. If the black team gains possession they will set-up and attack the pink team on the far end, as the red team will set-up as the new defensive team, taking the black teams place. This exercise focuses specifically on providing attacking repetitions and works the attacking organization phase of the game.


Attacking Pattern Play

The following examples show attacking patterns going to goal. Training attacking pattern play is more specific then shadow play. It is a great way to rehearse very specific attacking patterns. The patterns should be seen as reference points for players that can stimulate attacking movement ideas during actual matches. My team often trains these patterns the day before a game, when the training workload is less. I recommend training each pattern alternating from right and left sides, train the pattern one side then the next repetition on the other, by doing this all players will receive meaningful repetitions with responsibility. The cones serve as markers, indicating the players starting positions. Patterns should be performed at a high tempo, emphasis on firm passing, coordinated timed movement and quality finishing on goal.


Patte rn #1)


Patte rn #2)


Patte rn #3)


11 v 11 Game Model 1-Touch, 2-Touch, 3-Touch & Zones

This series of exercises are very good when teaching the game model, in this case the 3-5-2 formation. Playing with the three different touch restrictions using the game model gives players a good concept of positioning in the 3-5-2, it forces players to stay in position to achieve quality ball circulation. You might notice when training your team that the 1-touch phase is more organized and focused then the 3-touch phase. When the option of dribbling and unlimited touches are eliminated, the game becomes more dependent on positioning within the formation.


11v11 Game Model with Timed Touch Restrictions: The field is reduced to 80

yards in length as the teams line up in the 3-5-2 formation. The first 7 minutes is 1touch but allow 2-touch on the steal (switch of possession). The second progression is 2-touch for 7 minutes and third progression is 3-touch for 7 minutes.


11v11 Game Model Zone Scoring:The keepers are now located outside the 8 yard

scoring zone that is outlined by the dotted yellow line. The keepers play only with their feet and stay within the central area where the goal is located, this makes their play realistic in terms of spacing. A goal is scored when the ball crosses over the dotted yellow line into the end zone as a teammate crosses the line after the ball has crossed and stops the ball, players are not allowed to stand in the end zone waiting for a pass, they must time their run into the zone after the ball has entered the zone and stop it for a point. This exercise is to be played in the 3-5-2 formation using touch restrictions and finishing up with unlimited touches.


11v11 Goal & Zone Scoring:One team scores in an end zone while the other team

scores on a full goal and keeper. After 10 minutes switch the roles of the teams, so the opposite team scores on goal. This game is to be played in game model formation. The team scoring on the goal has a much more difficult job in terms of defensive organization because they must defend the entire end line.


11v11 Game Model - Zone Conditions: This variation requires the team in

possession of the ball to have both wingers located in the wide yellow channels and the right and left center backs located in the appropriate red channels. The defending team has no conditions, but you can add them into the exercises to increase complexity and work on transition from attack to defending. The defendingcondition would require the far side winger to tuck into the red channel when possession is lost. The conditions in this exercise force the team in possession to expand into an open attacking shape as soon as they get the ball, defending conditions can be used to force compactness.


Rotational Rondo - Game Model 3-5-2:This particular rondo teaches center

midfield rotation in the 3-5-2. The objective is to move the ball from the center backs through the center midfielders, using the wingers when needed to ultimately get the ball to the top of the rectangle into the forward. Combination play and midfield rotation is necessary to unbalance the four defenders in order to get the ball into the forward. Once the forward has the ball, play continues as the group works the ball back to the center backs (play is always continuous). Once the players are proficient, you can limit touches all the way to 1-touch. If the defending group of four wins the ball, the three center midfielders must press to win it back. This rondo is considered a game model specific rondo because it teaches to the rotation of the center midfielders specific to the 3-5-2 formation.


Game Model Defe nding: 3-5- 2 Formation

There are many ways to defend in the 3-5-2 formation, the game model or tactics are ultimately up to the coach to decide. I will present a couple different tactical ideas for you to choose from in terms of teamdefending. To simplify the tactics, they are divided into full press or counter pressing, half press and dropping deep or low block.


Full Press / Counter Pressing:The first two diagrams outline 3-5-2 counter

pressing shape in the opponent’s half of the field. The ideas of counter pressing are discussed earlier in the book. This would be considered a “full press” in tactical terms.


Full Pre ss/ Counter Pressing in the 3-5- 2


Identifying Pressing Zones in 3-5-2 Full Press: The pressing zones are outlined in purple. The idea of having pre-set pressing zones is to formalize the pressing organization of the team. One way to look at pressing zones is that the counter attack starts when the ball is played into one of the pressing zones.


Half-Press: The half press is used if the initial full press is broken and the team is

forced to drop off or if the team has just decided not to use a full press at all. The half press allows teams to conserve energy while lessening the physical workload, it gives more room for speed mismatches in the back and it forces the opponent to come out of their defensive third, opening up space behind their defense. Many teams will use a full press and then switch to a half press in the course of a game, it all depends on the tactics.


Dropping Deep/Low Block Defending:When a team drops deep into a low

defensive block, it becomes very hard for the opponent to break down. Dropping deep also opens up lots of space behind the opponents to counter attack into. Even teams that elect to full press will end up dropping deep during the course of a game. Eventually the full press will be broken and the team will find themselves on the back foot, needing to defend in a low block. I highly recommend training your team to defend using a full press, half press and dropping deep, because in the course of the game they will need to do all three, regardless of the tactics the coach has chosen.

Game Model Defe nding 8v6 – 3- 5-2 Formation: This exercise trains the back “5”


to work as a unit when they are in a low block. Notice the wingers have both dropped deep to form the back “5”. The attacking team in red should focus on circulating the ball at speed while trying to shift the defending unit from side to side in order to create spaces to penetrate through and score. The red team should play mostly 1 & 2 touch to ensure a high tempo. If the defending team wins the ball they have five passes to score on the red counter goals. The defensive team is always restricted to 2-touch.


Game Model Defe nding 10v9– 3- 5-2 Formation: This exercise is identical to the

previous but the defending team has now added three central midfield players and the attacking team added two wingbacks. The three center midfielders on the defending team must operate as a screen in front of the line of ‘5”. The defensive shape taken is a low block.


Game Mode l De fe nding 1 0v11– 3-5-2 Formation: This exercise is the same as the

previous but the defending team now has added two forwards. The forwards should split the field in half, as one forward pressures the ball from behind, helping the line of three central midfielders, the other forward will stay high in between the opponents two center backs, waiting for the counter attack. As the ball switches sides of the field the forward that was pressuring can go high in between the center backs as the high forward will drop down and pressure with the line of three center midfielders, this will reduce the amount of running the forwards will need to do. However, feel free to adjust that tactic and keep the same striker high all the time if preferred.

Summary


The 3-5-2 formation is a very dynamic and modern attacking formation that can easily become a sturdy defensive low-block counter attacking formation. The formation can be played in a counter pressing style much like Guardiola has played over the years at Bayern and Barcelona. I personally like the overloads and attacking options that 3-5-2 creates as long as the team understands how to transition from attack to defense. The best way to learn any formation is to goout and play it, after the game reflect, analyze and tweak the model!


Playing the Modern 3-5-2 Soccer - Marcus DiBernardo

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