- Rank B. Tested over five games in Division 3.
- A back four and two DMFs make it very hard to score against, and three forwards counter from there.
- It relies on winning the ball high up. If you cannot, chances dry up against a deep block.
The 4-2-1-3 is a defensive front three with two DMFs behind it. A back four and a double pivot make a solid base, and strong wingers counter fast from it. It suits you if your first aim is not to lose. The weight sits at the back, though, so the attack has less punch and most of the goals come from the counter.
4-2-1-3: overview
| Rank | BTested over five games in Division 3 |
|---|---|
| In one line | A defensive front three with a double pivot, built not to lose |
| Biggest weapon | A solid back four and two DMFs, and a counter with three forwards |
| Biggest weakness | Goals come from the counter: without winning it high up, you run out of ideas |
| Suits you if | You want to defend solidly and attack fast with strong wingers |
| Not for you if | You want to keep the ball and attack patiently |
| Team Playstyle | Long Ball Counter / Quick Counter |
Rank B. Three wins, a draw and a defeat in five games in Division 3. The rank is provisional.
What it does well, and where it hurts
- Three forwards press from the front, so you can win it back high up.
- Full-backs join in, which gives real depth to attacks down the flank.
- A back four and two DMFs are very solid: two goals conceded in five games.
- The DMFs sit deep, so the flanks get little support and moving up the pitch is hard.
- Two DMFs make the team heavy at the back, so it is hard to commit numbers to attacks.
- One CF makes it hard to break through the middle.
The shape
4-2-1-3: a back four, two DMFs, an AMF and three forwards.
Three forwards up front, with an AMF and two DMFs in midfield. The weight sits at the back, so the goals come from full-backs getting forward and wingers who can beat a player.
How to attack
The counter is the main route. Get it out to a winger straight after winning it, and if you lose it, win it back at once and go for goal again.
Press where you lost it, then go
Give it to a winger to attack alone. If it is lost high on the flank, that is your chance, not a problem.
- The CF, a winger, the AMF and the full-back trap them on the touchline and press
- You win it back high up, with their shape broken
- The ball goes to the CF in the middle
- The CF shoots
The full-back overlaps
Set the full-backs to Offensive in Individual Instructions to add numbers down the flank.
- The move starts through the AMF or a winger
- The RB overlaps to create the overload
- The through ball finds the RB, who crosses
- The CF finishes the cross
Building up
The two DMFs are a safe way out, but they sit deep, so pushing the flanks up is what matters. When the middle gets crowded, go round through a full-back.
Through the DMFs
With two DMFs, one of them is always free to take it safely.
- A CB plays it into midfield
- Both DMFs come to receive, so one is free
- When that DMF can turn, the ball goes into the AMF
Round the side when the middle is shut
When the middle is blocked, go from CB to full-back. Use the AMF dropping in to get back inside.
- A CB plays it out to the LB
- The LB finds the AMF coming to receive
- The AMF moves it on to the CF or a winger who has come inside
Mistakes people make, and the fix
You play a forward pass to the AMF with their back to goal, and get countered
| Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| The AMF is tightly marked. Receiving with a marker behind them, the ball gets taken in the middle. | Check the AMF is free before the pass. If not, go back to a DMF. |
You rush forward passes and keep losing the ball
| Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hurrying when it is not a counter means running into a set block. | When they sit deep, pass calmly and switch to keeping the ball. |
How to defend with it
Defending is the biggest weapon here. Two DMFs in position close the middle, and that is the base of everything.
| Area | What to do |
|---|---|
| Midfield | Keep both DMFs in the middle wherever you can, and do not leave space there. |
| Wide | The space a full-back leaves when pushing on is the hole. Play quick CBs who can cover it. |
| When ahead | Set both full-backs to Defensive in Individual Instructions to close it down further. |
Players and playing styles that fit
Your wingers and your forward have to make the difference on the counter. These are the styles the shape asks for.
| Position | Playing Style | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CF | Goal Poacher | The runner on the counter. Pace and finishing to finish it in one go. |
| LWF / RWF | Prolific Winger | Stay wide and start the counter. They need the quality to attack alone. |
| AMF | Creative Playmaker | The centre of the attack: moves to receive, then runs into the space that opens. |
| DMF (one) | Orchestrator | The way out for passes from the CBs and full-backs. Draws the ball and moves it forward. |
| DMF (the other) | Anchor Man | Moves up and down little, keeps the defence stable and holds the middle. |
| Full-backs | Full-back Finisher / Offensive Wingback | Attacking full-backs bring the flank to life. Keep a defensively strong full-back with no playing style in the squad against counters down the flank. |
| CBs | Quick and good on the ball, or Build Up | Long balls to the wingers after winning it, and the pace to cover behind the full-backs. |
Best managers for this formation
4-2-1-3 runs on Long Ball Counter and Quick Counter, so what you want is a manager with high Team Playstyle Proficiency for those. Every manager below is rank SS on eFootball LABO — high proficiency, a Booster and Link-up Play — picked for their proficiency in these Team Playstyles.
Best managers for Long Ball Counter
Best managers for Quick Counter
Win it high up and get it to a winger. Check the AMF is free before the pass, and keep both DMFs in the middle.
Matchups
| Opponent | Matchup | Why, and what to do |
|---|---|---|
| Teams looking to play Long Ball Counter | Poor | They leave you the ball, your pace is wasted and the game gets stuck. Do not rush; be patient and pick your moment to win it. |
| Teams using attacking full-backs | Good | Three forwards can counter into the space behind those full-backs. Absorb it, then break fast. |
Matchups are provisional. We update them as we play more.
FAQ
Is 4-2-1-3 good in eFootball?
What Team Playstyle should I use with 4-2-1-3?
What is the weakness of 4-2-1-3?
What should I do when I am ahead?
Summary
- The spine of it is a defensive front three with two DMFs. Not losing is what it does best.
- Goals come from winning it high up and countering, and from full-backs getting forward.
- The space behind the full-backs is the hole, so use quick CBs.
