The FC 24 3-4-2-1 Formation has become one of the strong tactical strategies, especially with the team’s balanced attacking and defending. This flexible Formation features a strong and stable three-man defense with good backing from the midfield and great and flexible forwards. Here in this article, you will learn how the 3-4-2-1 Formation is used; some of the FC 24 best custom tactics and player instruction you will learn are in this Formation. This article is for the player who needs a new perspective for the 3-4-2-1 or for the player who wants to hone his football skills for the FC 24.
Understanding the 3-4-2-1 Formation
The 3-4-2-1 is quite flexible and ensures that the team has a rigid defence but has different forms of attack. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:
- Three-man defense: Offers a stable defense that is capable of dealing with most of the forward moves.
- Four midfielders: Provides width and support in offence and in the backline.
- Two attacking midfielders: Acts as feeder and assists the single attacker.
- One striker: Leads the attack and becomes the key target of the team.
Custom Tactics for FC 24 3-4-2-1 Formation
To get the most out of this Formation, consider the following custom tactics:
Defensive Settings:
- Style: Balanced
- Width: 45
- Depth: 55
These settings give a good defensive positioning without opening your teammates for counter attacks. The balanced style enable your team to regain shape in case of a loss while at the same time applying pressure when necessary. A width of 45 keeps your defence tight, and a depth of 55 can be used to have a good high line without overcommitting.
Offensive Settings:
- Build Up Play: Balanced
- Chance Creation: Direct Passing
- Width: 40
- Players in Box: 5
- Corners: 3
- Free Kicks: 3
The build-up play for club soccer balances the team’s play style and attack, while direct passing is effective for swift and sharp moves towards the goal. A width of 40 is relatively narrow, which allows for better control of passes and the making of complex passes. In terms of the number of players in the box, it’s good to have 5 players who can attack without compromising too much on the defense.
Player Instructions
To maximize the effectiveness of the 3-4-2-1 Formation, consider the following player instructions:
Center Backs:
- Stay back while attacking
- Conservative interceptions
These instructions ensure your defensive line remains solid, reducing the risk of being caught out on counter-attacks.
Wide Midfielders:
- Come back on defense
- Get in behind
- Balanced crossing runs
This combination allows your wide midfielders to contribute both defensively and offensively, providing width and support throughout the pitch.
Central Midfielders:
- One set to “Stay back while attacking, Cover center”
- One set to “Balanced attack, Cover wing”
This setup gives you defensive stability with one midfielder while allowing the other to contribute more to attacks and provide cover for the wide areas.
Attacking Midfielders:
- Stay forward
- Get into the box for cross
- Free roam
These instructions allow your attacking midfielders to constantly threaten the opposition defense, creating chances and supporting the striker.
Striker:
- Stay central
- Get in behind
Keeping your striker central and making runs behind the defense provides a constant threat and focal point for your attacks.
Pros:
- A good defensive formation with three central defenders
- Good width given by the wide midfielders
- Frequent appearance in the central zones with four midfielders
Cons:
- May be exposed to flank attacks if the wide midfielders fail to cover their backs.
- Depends more on the fitness level and work ethic of the wide midfielders
Adapting the 3-4-2-1 In-Game
Here are some of the in-game adjustments you can make in different situations:
1. Against possession-heavy teams: Lower your line to 40-45 and switch one of your attacking midfielders to the tactic ‘Come back on defense’ to offer more support in midfield.
2. When chasing a goal: Take your depth to 65-70 and both the wide midfielders to ‘Stay forward’ to bring your Formation to 3-2-5.
3. Defending a lead: Substitute one of your attackers to a CDM and change formation to a 5-2-2-1 that is more defensive.
4. Against wide formations: To help your wide midfielders contain opposition wingers, set them to “Stay wide”.
Player Types for 3-4-2-1
To get the most out of this Formation, consider the following player profiles for each position:
- Center Backs: Tough and well-built players with good posture and kicking ability. Speed is desirable, though not critical.
- Wide Midfielders: Good stamina, pace and crossing specialist. They have to chip in on the attacking line and also in the defending line.
- Central Midfielders: One player focused on gaining more balls and with a decent defensive index, and one player, focused on creating a play and with good passing and vision.
- Attacking Midfielders: Good dribbling, passing, and shooting of the ball are some of the creative players that are desirable in a team. High attacking work rates are desirable.
- Striker: A perfect forward with good positioning and good touches that can even bring the ball into play.
Conclusion
The FC 24 3-4-2-1 Formation is very versatile when it comes to defence and attack combinations, and it opens up a can of tactics for managers. By knowing and identifying the formation strengths and weaknesses, applying collective specific strategies and individual player commands, and considering different game scenarios, you can easily conquer this Formation and control your rivals on the virtual soccer field.
Bear in mind that, like with any other formation, the key to mastering the Formation is practice and repeated use. Practice these tactics in various game modes and review your results and do not be afraid of making minor modifications. Over time, you will be able to maximize the usage of 3-4-2-1 Formation in FC 24. Don’t forget to purchase FC 24 Coins from U7BUY for a smoother gameplay experience playing different kinds of formations in the game.
