11v11 4-2-3-1 lineup sheet

The 11v11 4-2-3-1 formation

The 4-2-3-1 places two holding midfielders in front of the back four, a line of three attacking midfielders ahead of them and a single striker on top. The double pivot gives the team a secure base to attack from.

Strengths

• Two holding midfielders protect the defence against counter-attacks
• Three attacking midfielders offer width and a central playmaker at once
• Flexible: it becomes a 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3 with small movements

Weaknesses

• Asks a lot of the lone striker to hold the ball up alone
• Can become defensive if the two holders never go forward

Best for

Balanced squads that want security in midfield without giving up attacking numbers.

Coaching tip

Let one holding midfielder join attacks while the other stays; decide who by which side the ball is on.

Positions in a 11v11 4-2-3-1

The lineup sheet has a box for each of these 11 positions in every quarter: Goalkeeper, Left Back, Left Center Back, Right Center Back, Right Back, Left Defensive Mid, Right Defensive Mid, Left Wing, Attacking Mid, Right Wing, Striker.

Other 11v11 formations

Want it filled in for you?

The free SOXY app does the parts a web page cannot. It keeps your roster, knows which players have said they are coming, and fills all four quarters so playing time comes out even. It rotates the goalkeeper, lets you drag players between positions, saves a lineup for every game, and prints this same sheet with the field, both coaches and the referees already on it.