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Defenders Run More in Formations with a Back Three
FEATURE / LEON FORCHER1 , 2
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Introduction
Alongside physical and technical elements, the performance of a professional soccer player is characterized by tactical aspects1 . Moreover, playing position and tactical formations are well-known factors in soccer that have gained importance in research in recent years.
The physical, as well as the technical match performance of a professional soccer player, is highly affected by the playing position (i.e. central defender, wide defender, central/wide midfielder, striker)2,3. Contrary to this, the effects of the tactical formation (i.e. 4-4-2 vs. 3-5-2) on physical and technical match performance seem to be lower4,5. However, differences in match performance metrics between tactical formations were indicated earlier in the past6 .
Previous studies investigated the isolated effects of playing position and tactical formation on match performance and, therefore, the results are limited. To summarize, combining both tactical factors (formation & position) seem to provide further value 7,8 . Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of playing positions in different tactical formations on physical and technical match performance in the German Bundesliga.
Physical Match Performance
In this chapter, the differences in physical match performance between the formations will be addressed for each playing position individually. Firstly, central defenders, wide defenders, and wide midfielders revealed significant and, therefore, decisive differences between formations. However, central midfielders and strikers showed less differences between formations.
Central defenders run the greatest distance in high intensity and sprinting speed zones in the 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 formations. These results are supported by a current review, analysing the impact of tactical formation on the match performance of male soccer players6 . A possible explanation for this could be that wide defenders tend to be more offensive when being supported by three central defenders. Consequently, only three central defenders are left to prevent opposition scoring opportunities in defensive transition phases. This situation might lead to higher physical performance for central defenders in formations with five defenders compared to formations with four defenders (e.g. 4-4-2).
Regarding the physical performance of wide defenders, a similar pattern was revealed. In detail, wide defenders cover the largest total, high-intensity, and sprinting distances in the 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 formations. Furthermore, wide defenders run less distance in total, high-intensity, and sprinting speed zones in the 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 formations. Concluding, wide defenders experience higher physical load (i.e. higher total distance, high-intensity distance, sprinting distance) in formations with a back three compared to formations with a back four (e.g. 4-4-2 or 4-5-1). Again, one can argue that wide defenders can be more offensive when supported by an additional central defender in formations with a back three (e.g. 3-5-2). Consequently, the wide defenders are more involved in offensive phases even though they still fulfill their original defensive duties. Potentially, this could explain the higher running output for wide defenders in formations with three central defenders.
1Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany 2TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Zuzenhausen, Germany
Figure 2: Example technical data for the position wide defender. The number in brackets indicates the number of observations.
In contrast to the defenders, wide midfielders were less physically demanded in the 3-4-3 formation (i.e. lower total distance, high-intensity distance, sprinting distance, and number of accelerations). One explanation for this could be that the wide defender in the 3-4-3 formation (also known as the wing back) provides better offensive and defensive support for the wide midfielders and, therefore, wide midfielders are less physically demanded in this formation. Furthermore, in the 4-4-2 diamond formation wide midfielders sprinted less but indeed revealed higher total and high-intensity distances. A possible interpretation of this finding can be made with the linkage to the technical performance and is therefore found in the following section on technical performance.
Regarding central midfielders and strikers, fewer differences between formations were revealed. However, central midfielders are less physically pushed (i.e. total distance, high-intensity distance, sprinting distance) in the 4-4-2 diamond formation. Additionally, strikers sprinted further and revealed a higher maximum speed in the 4-4-2 diamond formation.
Technical Match Performance
The following section will discuss the effects of different formations on technical performance. While some interesting position dependant characteristics were revealed, the influence of contextual factors on technical performance was outstanding.
In 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations, central defenders, wide defenders, central midfielders, and wide midfielders revealed higher values for ball-possessions, short, and medium distance passes. In those formations (i.e. 4-3-3 & 4-2-3-1) the ball possession rate was higher compared to other formations. Therefore, one might assume that a higher percentage of ball possession in this particular formation leads to higher values for ball possessions for the players playing in those formations. Furthermore, a higher number of ball possessions is also related to a higher number of passes played, explaining the above mentioned findings. Solely strikers fell out of this observed influence of ball possession rates on technical match performance metrics. Since strikers are usually at the end of a ball relay or an attacking sequence, we suggested that they consequently do not benefit from a higher ball possession rate of their team. Furthermore, there were few outstanding differences between formations regarding the technical match performance. Hence, only those will be addressed in the following. Wide defenders revealed more dribbles in 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 formations. As mentioned above, wide defenders in these formations are positioned in higher areas in offensive game phases more frequently, which could be a possible explanation for the increase in the number of dribbles.
Moreover, as addressed previously, wide midfielders revealed an alternating performance in the 4-4-2 diamond formation (i.e. more ball possessions, short, middle, and long passes; fewer dribbles). This divergent physical and technical match performance of wide midfielders in the 4-4-2 diamond formation is similar to the performance profile of central midfielders. A possible explanation for this finding could be the central positioning of the wide midfielders in the diamond formation.
Conclusion
• Central midfielders & strikers revealed less pronounced differences between tactical formations regarding physical and technical match performance. • Central defenders, wide defenders, and wide midfielders revealed larger differences between tactical formations regarding physical and technical match performance. • Most interesting examples: - central defenders and wide defenders revealed higher physical performance when playing in a tactical formation with a back three (i.e. 3-5-2) - wide midfielders in a 4-4-2 diamond revealed a match performance profile that is similar to central midfielders (i.e. possible explanation could be the central positioning of the wide midfielders in the diamond formation)
Practical implications/take home message
• Physical and technical match performance is influenced by a complex interaction of various tactical factors (e.g. playing position & tactical formation). • Changes in the physical load and technical match performance that come with the switch of playing position or tactical formation can be anticipated. • Training and recovery processes can be planned accordingly. • More insights about this study can be found here: Center backs work
hardest when playing in a back three: The influence of tactical formation on physical and technical match performance in professional soccer | PLOS ONE
• Furthermore, a recent review analysed the impact of tactical formation on match performance: The influence of
tactical formation on physical and technical match performance in male soccer: A systematic review - Leon Forcher, Leander Forcher, Hagen Wäsche, Darko Jekauc, Alexander Woll, Stefan Altmann, 2022 (sagepub.com)
Leon Forcher M.Sc.
Email: leon.forcher@kit.edu
Twitter: @ForcherLeon
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