5 football teams who struck gold with unique formations

Modified Oct 03, 2020 08:18 GMT

Pep Guardiola's Barcelona revolutionised modern football with their 4-2-4 approach.

#3 Spain 2012 (4-6-0)

While Spain won the 2010 FIFA World Cup with one striker up front backed by a host of talented midfielders, they took it a notch higher in innovativeness by switching from a 4-5-1 to a 4-6-0 with no recognised striker up front.

This was the national team's own iteration of the tiki-taka style with great short-passing and ball-keeping prowess shown by the golden generation.

With a false 9 in Cesc Fabregas providing the most advanced attacking threat, Xavi, Iniesta and David Silva provided the creativity while Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets sat back.

Spain went on to win their second straight European Championship under Vicente Del Bosque two years after their maiden World Cup triumph.

#2 France 1984 (4-2-2-2)

France, under Michel Hidalgo, put their midfield might to great use in the 1984 Euros in a box formation that is often referred to as a magic box.

Michel Platini was at his best during the tournament and was ably supported by the likes of Jean Tigana who had a freer role but also helped out the back-four. France became deserving winners of the European Championship as Platini netted five goals.

#1 Barcelona 2009-10 (4-2-4)

Pep Guardiola's ascent to the top began as a manager at Barcelona where his tactical astuteness and ability to get the best out of his players forged a champion Barcelona side that swept away everyone and became the best team in the world.

Guardiola had talents like Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry at his disposal, but he used them in a no-holds-barred attacking style that led them to winning four trophies in the 2009-10 season.

The quick switches from 4-2-2 to 4-2-4 was an ingenious but risky move that could have potentially left the centre of the park disbalanced. However, the fluid switches that the Iniestas made and the way Yaya Toure and Busquets held their own in the deep meant that the attackers managed to create an all-consuming overload up front.

Barcelona 4-2-4 formation under Pep Guardiola

Edited by Bhargav