- Rank A. Tested so far in Division 3.
- A winger, a centre midfielder and a full-back overload one flank, then cross.
- The space behind an attacking full-back is the price you pay. Cover it or lose to counters.
The 4-3-3 attacks down the flanks. A winger, a centre midfielder and a full-back work the same side of the pitch, and three against two out wide is what breaks teams open. Few shapes attack the flanks this directly. It also leaves an obvious hole: when the full-back goes, the space behind is where you get punished. How you cover that is what separates people who make this shape work from people who do not.
4-3-3: overview
| Rank | ATested in Division 3 |
|---|---|
| In one line | A winger, a CMF and a full-back making three against two out wide |
| Biggest weapon | The wide attack: overload the flank, get to the byline, cross |
| Biggest weakness | The space behind the full-back who has gone forward |
| Suits you if | You want to get to the byline and put crosses in |
| Not for you if | You want to work openings patiently through the middle |
| Team Playstyle | Long Ball Counter / Quick Counter |
Rank A. Ranks come from how a formation holds up as we take it up the divisions — this one won two and drew three of five games in Division 3 — a provisional record, and the rank will move once there is more of it.
What it does well, and where it hurts
- The winger, the CMF and the full-back on one side give you three against two out wide.
- Two box-to-box midfielders pressing high wins the ball back in their half and turns it straight into a Quick Counter.
- Those same midfielders run in behind through the middle, so you are not only a crossing side.
- Against a side that sits in and lets you have it, you run out of ideas.
- The space behind an attacking full-back is where counters come from.
- Two wingers hold the width, so when the cross comes in there is one body in the middle — the shape that creates the cross is the shape with fewest players to attack it.
The shape
4-3-3: a back four, a DMF with two CMFs ahead, two wingers and a striker.
A back four, then one DMF at the base with two CMFs ahead, and a front three of two wingers and a CF. The two CMFs are the engine: they press, they join the attack, and they run in behind.
How to attack
Everything comes from three against two out wide. Get the ball to a winger, send the full-back past on the outside, and their full-back has two players to deal with. Get to the byline and cut the ball back. If they have loaded that side, switch to the other one rather than forcing it.
Out Wide: overload the flank, then cross
The move this shape exists for. Note who finishes it: the cross is cut back low, and the striker meets it first time rather than heading a ball into the box.
- A CB plays a vertical pass into a CMF to get you moving
- That CMF gives it to the RWF
- The RB overlaps beyond the RWF and takes it on
- The RB gets to the byline and pulls a low ball across the face
- The CF meets it first time
Through the middle: the CMF running beyond
The answer when the flanks are shut. The midfielder who plays the pass is the one who runs beyond the CF.
- A CMF plays a vertical pass into the CF and keeps running past
- The CF turns and slides the through ball in behind
- That CMF takes it and finishes
Quick Counter: win it, then switch sides
Press high, win it, work it up one side — and the moment they crowd that side, switch. The far full-back arrives into all that space.
- Win it in midfield and give it to the RWF
- With the right side crowded, switch it across to the LWF
- The LB overlaps down the left
- The LB gets to the byline and crosses
- The CF finishes
Building up
Two routes, and the opponent chooses which one you use. Leave the centre open and you go through it; shut it and you go round. Forcing the central pass into a crowd is the one thing that loses you the ball in a dangerous place.
Through the middle, then out wide
The default. Every pass here has a job: the vertical ball in drags them narrow, and the flank is open once it has.
- Start with the GK and work it out to a CB
- That CB finds the DMF at the base of midfield
- The DMF plays a vertical pass into the CF
- The CF lays it off and it goes out to the RWF
- The RB overlaps outside the RWF
Round the outside: the triangle on the flank
When the middle is shut, do not force a pass into it. Go round, and use the triangle the full-back, the CMF and the winger make on that side.
- The GK goes out to the RB
- The RB finds a CMF inside
- That CMF moves it out to the RWF
- The RB overlaps outside the RWF
Mistakes people make, and the fix
A CMF loses it and you get countered
| Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| This is the most common way you lose games with this shape. A box-to-box midfielder is already high up, forces a vertical pass, and it gets cut out. The base of midfield is open, they play into the space beside your DMF, and from there they are in behind your CBs. | Do not force the counter every time. When it is not on, slow it down and keep the ball instead — that is the whole answer to this one. |
A good winger beats your full-back one-on-one
| Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| Attacking full-backs do not defend well, and a high-rated winger will go past one. | Do not dive in. Keep your distance and get your body across their path. Against a side with real wingers, use Defensive in Individual Instructions on that full-back and accept the smaller attack on that side. |
How to defend with it
The strength and the weakness are the same thing. The full-backs have to go forward for the attack to work, and the space they leave is where you concede. You cover it by sliding across: the near CB steps out, everyone else comes inside.
| Area | What to do |
|---|---|
| The base of midfield | The DMF does not go forward. This is the player who covers for the full-backs, so pick one who defends and stays. |
| Behind the full-backs | This is the hole in the shape. When they get in there, the CB on that side goes out to meet them, and everyone else tucks in — the far CB and the far full-back slide over to cover the middle. That is why the CBs have to be quick: one of them is always covering ground sideways. Against a side that really hurts you there, set the full-back on that side to Defensive as well. |
| Midfield press | Press with the two CMFs and the DMF and win it high. That is where the Quick Counter comes from, so pressing is attacking here. |
| Watch for | A through ball between your CBs for their striker to run onto. Pace at centre-back is what covers it. |
| When ahead | Set the DMF and both full-backs to Defensive in Individual Instructions. That is a different call from the one above: there you put one full-back on Defensive because of their winger; here you put both back because you are protecting a lead. |
Players and playing styles that fit
The playing style matters more than the overall rating here. These are the ones the shape actually asks for.
| Position | Playing Style | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CF | Goal Poacher | Runs in behind on the counter and finishes the crosses. Both jobs. |
| Wingers (both) | Prolific Winger | Hold the width and beat their full-back. How good these two are decides how good the attack is. |
| CMFs (both) | Box To Box | Press, join the attack, run in behind. The engine of the shape, and you need the legs for it. |
| DMF | Anchor Man | Does not go forward and covers for the full-backs. The one player who keeps the shape from breaking. |
| Full-backs | Offensive Wingback | They have to overlap for the attack to work. Against real wingers, put the one on that side on Defensive instead. |
| CBs | Build Up, and quick | Pace first — they cover the space behind the full-backs. Good enough on the ball to switch play quickly. |
Best managers for this formation
4-3-3 runs on Long Ball Counter and Quick Counter, so what you want is a manager with high proficiency in those. Every manager below is rank SS on eFootball LABO — high proficiency, a booster and a link-up — picked for their proficiency in these playstyles.
Best managers for Long Ball Counter
Best managers for Quick Counter
Overload one flank and cross; switch sides when it is crowded. The DMF stays back and the CBs have to be quick. When you are ahead, the DMF and both full-backs go to Defensive.
Matchups
| Opponent | Matchup | Why, and what to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sides that push their full-backs on | Good | A wide attacking side leaves the same space you do — and you are better set up to punish it. This is the matchup where the goals come. |
| Sides that sit in and counter | Poor | You are not built to break down a deep block patiently. Be willing to keep the ball and wait rather than forcing it. |
| Sides with two holding midfielders | Poor | They take your CMFs out of the game, and without them you cannot get moving. Go round the outside earlier than usual. |
Matchups are provisional and come from played matches. We update them as we play more.
FAQ
Is 4-3-3 good in eFootball?
What Team Playstyle should I use with 4-3-3?
What is the weakness of 4-3-3?
How do I actually attack with 4-3-3?
What should I do when I am ahead?
Summary
- The spine of it is three against two out wide, then the cross, with the CMF running in behind as the answer when the flanks are shut.
- The price is the space behind the full-backs. A DMF who stays home and quick CBs are what cover it — this is the decision that makes or breaks the shape.
- It runs on Long Ball Counter or Quick Counter. The record so far is from Division 3, so treat the rank as provisional.
