Consistency is key to winning major championships and this summer’s Euro 2024 in Germany will be no different. England have already enjoyed relative success under Gareth Southgate by being consistent in their play and formation – despite frustrations from some fans that they don’t push forward enough.
Get your formation and tactics right and you can overpower far greater teams at the Euros and upset the football odds.
That’s how Denmark reached the semis at Euro 2020, and how Portugal managed to rumble France in Paris during the 2016 final.
Below, we’ve identified six different formations you’re likely to see at this summer’s European Championships. Discover how they work, and the pros and cons to each system.
Euro 2024 formations
4-3-3: Netherlands and Italy
The Dutch are dark horses coming into the Euros. They’re outsiders at Paddy Power to win the whole thing and they have a difficult group. Ronald Koeman has stuck with 4-3-3 for the bulk of qualifying, although he is also open to three at the back.
The set-up will depend on whether Memphis Depay plays up top or Wout Weghorst. If it’s the latter then Koeman could go as far as to play 3-2-4-1. Stay with 4-3-3 and Netherlands should benefit from Depay’s experience alongside Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen and Steven Bergwijn.
Italy are more ingrained in the 4-3-3 than Netherlands, due largely to a lack of options for boss Luciano Spalletti. The manager has tried to experiment in friendlies this year but could default to four at the back, which he is more comfortable with.
Italy were solid at the last Euros in a 4-3-3 system that gives Jorginho free rein to marshal the midfield.
With Federico Chiesa and potentially Riccardo Orsolini either side of the main striker, Italy will look to hold firm and then go on the attack
Pros: A malleable formation that can become more offensive or more defensive depending on the context of the game
Cons: 4-3-3 can often lead to slow build-ups when in possession, which may not be useful against certain opponents
5-3-2: Denmark
Denmark nailed the 5-3-2 formation during the previous European Championships. Their use of wing-backs to overlap and get balls into the final third caught many teams out. They benefit from a number of playmakers like Mikkel Damsgaard to actually do something with the ball when it gets in dangerous areas.
However, the formation also has its criticisms. Denmark’s midfield three is not as strong as three years ago, and the defence suffers from that lack of cover. The wing-backs can’t be as free as they once were, especially at Euro 2020 when they played games at Parken Stadium.
Yussuf Poulsen and Rasmus Hojlund could lead the line for Denmark, although Jonas Wind will push for a start.
Pros: Ideal for teams with swift wing-backs and towering centre-forwards
Cons: Leaves a three-man defence exposed if the midfield isn’t savvy enough to cover when a wing-back bombs forward
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3-4-2-1: Serbia
Serbia don’t always stick to the same formation but fared well with the 3-4-2-1 set-up during qualifying. The system allows for wingers to fall back into a five-man defence but ideally the team don’t need to resort to this.
Instead, the formation gives the wingers freedom to push forward and support those behind the front man, with one central midfielder then dropping in to cover the defence.
Aleksandar Mitrovic will lead the line for Serbia and have the influential Sergej Milinkovic-Savic off him.
Milinkovic-Savic and Lazar Samardzic have the unenviable duty of packing the midfield when required, before leaping to support the long striker.
Thankfully for Serbia, Mitrovic is big enough to handle his side of the bargain and raw teammates in. This set-up could well work out in Germany.
Pros: Ideal for supporting a big man up top while also providing midfield cover
Cons: Danger of being caught on the overlap if opposing teams focus their play down the wings
4-2-3-1: England, France and Spain
This is certainly the vogue formation right now, with Euro 2024 favourites England and France likely to deploy it. The 4-2-3-1 creates something of a disconnect between the defence and attack.
The idea is to stretch the game and get the ball as quickly as possible from the five- or six-man defence to your four attackers.
This works against teams who also attack, which is why the 2022 World Cup final was so thrilling. However, it’s less useful against low-lying opponents, such as Iceland. That’s why England, France and Spain can often switch to a 4-3-3, and even push their full-backs beyond the forwards to get around opposition defences.
Usually it works but when it doesn’t the system can be greatly frustrated. It relies on individual brilliance to get teams out of jail.
Pros: Great for protecting the defence and giving four flare players licence to roam
Cons: Frustrating when opposition teams sit back and reduce to stretch play
4-1-4-1: Croatia
One way out of the 4-2-3-1 is to push to 4-1-4-1 and effectively have one man protecting the defence. Manchester City can often use this if they are seeking a goal, and give Rodri the duty of playing the anchor man in midfield.
Croatia do it too. They may start out in the former style but Luka Modric eventually starts to push forward, which means Marcelo Brozovic covers the defence. If Croatia need to pick up the speed then Modric will sit back and act as the metronome in the side, while Brozovic advances.
Croatia have had success at international tournaments in recent years and are 41.00 outsiders to win the whole thing this time. They have one of the best set-ups across all 24 competing teams.
Pros: Easy to flick into a new set-up and provide an extra man of support when going forward
Cons: Requires a player with the vision of Modric to truly work defensively as well as offensively
3-4-3: Switzerland
Switzerland are more ballsy than most teams heading into Euro 2024 and go with three at the back and three up top. This puts a lot of strain on the midfield but Granit Xhaka’s presence means centre-back Manuel Akanji gets instant support when he needs.
The 3-4-3 is designed to give veteran forwards like Xherdan Shaqiri more options when holding up the ball. Boss Murat Yakin gave Kwadwo Duah his debut before the tournament but is likely to go with Shaqiri or Noah Okafor up front.
Whoever plays there, Switzerland will aim to keep the ball in the midfield third and not waste it. They need to be perfect here or they could easily become exposed at the back.
Pros: Perfect for supporting strikers and bombing forwards, so long as someone provides the midfield cover
Cons: The defence can easily become exposed if the midfield loses its discipline
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