# The Formation Timeline · Football Level 9: Master

Football · Level 9: Master · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/level-9/the-formation-timeline/)

The Formation Timeline in Football (Level 9: Master) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: the 2-3-5 and the first passing game; and more.

How the game's shapes changed, in detail: the first passing game, the WM, the Danubian school, Brazil's 4-2-4, the Italian bolt, Ramsey's 4-4-2, the libero, the 3-5-2, the 4-2-3-1 and the return of the back three.

## Test 1: The 2-3-5 and the first passing game

- Queen's Park players made up the Scotland side that passed the ball rather than dribbling it. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- England attacked with a mass of dribblers; Scotland used two backs, two half-backs and six forwards. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The army side mixed dribbling with passing to team-mates in support. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The 'pyramid' became the standard shape for the next forty years. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The centre-half was the pivot of the team, supporting the forwards and breaking up attacks. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The Corinthians, founded in 1882, supplied many England players and never took part in cup competitions for years. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Scottish and Royal Engineers sides showed that a pass beats a man more quickly than a run. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Early English sides crowded the attack; each change moved a forward back towards defence. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1863, March 1872, November 1872 and 1889. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Scotland's extra half-back and passing game suited a more balanced shape than England's line of dribblers. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 2: Chapman's WM

- Two days later Arsenal won at West Ham with a centre-half dropped between the backs. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- James sat deep and sprayed passes to the wingers, the link between defence and attack. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1938. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Winterbottom was in charge until 1962, although a committee picked the team for years. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The five attackers make a W and the five defenders and half-backs an M. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The WM's inside-forwards fed wingers who cut in and scored. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Drake scored seven from eight shots, still a top-flight record in England. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1931, 1933-35 (completed in 1935), December 1935 and 1938. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The stopper sat between the full-backs, the wing-halves and inside-forwards formed a square in midfield. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Roberts, a tall defender, stayed back to mark the centre-forward, the key change after 1925. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 3: The Danubian school and Hungary

- His slight build and drifting movement made him an early model of a centre-forward who dropped off. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Hogan worked with Hugo Meisl and at MTK Budapest; Hungary later credited him for their success. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Sebes was also a deputy minister of sport, which gave him control over the players' clubs. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- It remains England's heaviest defeat. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- They beat Yugoslavia 2-0 in the final. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Bukovi's MTK used a centre-forward who dropped into midfield, a shape later called the MM. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Puskás, Kocsis and Czibor were on tour with Honvéd and did not go back. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1931, 1952, 1953 and 1954. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Puskás scored 84, Kocsis 75 and Hidegkuti 39. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Lancashire-born, he found more interest in his ideas in Central Europe than at home. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 4: Brazil's 4-2-4

- It tilted the WM's midfield square into a diagonal between the defence and attack. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- His run and goal against Austria in 1958 surprised a coaching staff used to defenders staying back. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The ball dipped suddenly like a falling leaf. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- He ran the midfield pair of the 4-2-4 and later coached Peru. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- He replaced the injured De Sordi for the final and kept his place in 1962. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- An extra midfielder protected an older defence without losing the wing threat on the right. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- João Carvalhaes tested the players; his doubts about Pelé and Garrincha were famously ignored. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1950, 1958 and 1962. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Champions in 1958, runners-up in 1950 and out in the 1954 quarter-final. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Zagallo's work up and down the left flank balanced the side after Pelé's injury. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 5: From verrou to catenaccio

- The extra man behind the defence was meant to lock the door. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Rappan played in Vienna before coaching in Switzerland and leading the Swiss national team. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Rocco, from Trieste, later won two European Cups with Milan. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Foni dropped Gino Armano back to mark, freeing a spare man behind. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Scirea won the 1982 World Cup and every club trophy with Juventus. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- He was the father of Paolo, who captained Milan to five European Cups decades later. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Sacchi's success made a flat, zonal line the new standard. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Foni with Inter in 1953, Rocco with Milan in 1962 and Herrera with Inter in 1963. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Picchi was Herrera's sweeper in the 1960s, Scirea in the 1970s and 1980s, Baresi until the 1990s. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Viani's system at Salernitana, nicknamed the 'vianema', is one of the first Italian versions. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 6: Ramsey's wingless 4-4-2

- Ipswich won the title in their first season in the top division. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Opposing full-backs had no one to mark, and Leadbetter's passes found the two strikers. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Each played one group game; from the quarter-final England used no wingers. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Hurst kept his place and scored a hat-trick in the final. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Argentina's captain Rattín was sent off and refused to leave the pitch for several minutes. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- He won the league with Tottenham's push-and-run side in 1951. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Taylor's side aimed long, early passes at two strikers and finished second behind Liverpool. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1966. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The quarter-final, the semi-final and the final, all at Wembley. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Stiles screened the defence, freeing Ball and Peters to work the flanks. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 7: The libero and Total Football

- He had played the 1966 World Cup final in midfield; as libero he stepped out with the ball. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Vasović led the high line that pushed opponents offside. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- His demands on fitness and punctuality were as famous as his tactics. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Michels had joined Barcelona in 1971 and signed Cruyff two years later. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The Dutch won 2-0 and their whole team pushed up to spring the trap. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Passarella scored well over 100 career goals as a defender. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Haan's passing from the back suited a side that wanted every player comfortable on the ball. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1971, 1974 and 1988. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Bayern from 1964, the Cosmos from 1977 and Hamburg from 1980. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- West Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in Rome; Beckenbauer joined Zagallo as a winner as player and coach. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 8: Sacchi's 4-4-2 and the 3-5-2

- Bilardo used three centre-backs and two wide players who covered the flanks. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The German-born coach's 'Danish Dynamite' won all three group games. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Preben Elkjær scored a hat-trick in Nezahualcóyotl. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Kohler and Buchwald marked, Brehme was the left wing-back. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Zeman's 'Zemanlandia' scored and conceded freely. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini formed the back three. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Cafu and Roberto Carlos gave the side its width. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1986, 1990 and 2002. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Champions, runners-up and out in the round of 16 against Spain. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Brown swept behind Ruggeri and Cuciuffo and headed the first goal of the final. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 9: The 4-2-3-1 and the false nine

- Mascherano and Alonso sat behind; Liverpool finished second with 86 points. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- With no fixed centre-forward, Totti's movement pulled centre-backs out of position. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The pair gave the passers in front of them a platform. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Khedira and Xabi Alonso formed the pivot behind Özil, Di María and Ronaldo. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The number 10 found space in front of the defence, with two holders behind him. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The final in Kyiv was the biggest winning margin in a Euro final. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Torres scored the third and set up Mata for the fourth. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Silva after 14 minutes, Alba before half-time, Torres and Mata late on. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 1953, 2006-07 and May 2009. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Del Bosque started Fàbregas up front, and Spain kept the ball with six midfielders. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

## Test 10: The back three returns

- Chelsea were eighth afterwards; they won the league by seven points. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- The run, a club record, ended at Tottenham on 4 January 2017. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0 in Porto, four months after he arrived. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- They beat Leverkusen 3-0 in Dublin, ending the Germans' unbeaten season. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- It was the first hat-trick in a Europa League final. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Walker, Stones and Maguire formed the three, with Trippier and Young as wing-backs. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Wenger's change of shape late in his reign won him his seventh FA Cup. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- 2017, 2021 and 2024. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Juventus from 2012, Chelsea in 2017, Inter in 2021 and Napoli in 2025. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)
- Moses and Alonso became wing-backs and Azpilicueta moved into the back three. (Source: Histories of football tactics (Wilson, Inverting the Pyramid); club and competition records)

Sources: FIFA and UEFA official records / club records / contemporary match reports / published histories and biographies / audited club accounts

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