World Cup 2010: New system 4-2-3-1

This World Cup has seen the birth of a new system which is coming to dominate the game. Although it has been used by some teams for years previously this is the first time it has dominated the world scene. I would guess that over half of the competing nations used this system. So how does it work?

-----------------------Striker

-Left Winger---------Forward--------Right Winger

------------Defensive Mid--Defensive Mid

--Left back---Centre Half--Centre Half---Right back

The main exponents of the system have been Brazil and Holland, and to a lesser extent Germany and Spain.

The defence sees a standard back four layout. In front are two sitting midfielders. They are there to protect the defence from counter-attacks. They provide cover for overlapping full backs and generally make it difficult to play through a team. Examples would be Melo and Silva for Brazil, De Jong and van Bommell for Holland and Schweinsteiger and Khedeira for Germany.

Further forward you have two wide men who can either be out and out wingers or inside forwards. Wide men are used to stretch the play, occupying the opposition full backs and also stretching play. Examples would be Robben for Holland, Podolski for Germany. Inside forwards tend to play 10-15 yards in field. They try to link up with the forward in the hole and create space for overlapping full backs to provide width. Brazil and Spain played with inside forwards - Iniesta, Robinho, Villa and Elano.

The forward plays off the striker and provides a link between midfield and attack. Oezil of Germany has probably been the standout player in this system at the World Cup.

The advantages of the system seem to be the defensive solidity it gives by having two sitting midfielders making it very difficult to play through the centre of a team. England were far too open and could have benefitted from playing in this style. From an attacking point of view it gives scope for four attacking players with little defensive responsibility to play in a fluid motion encouraging movement.

One disadvantage is that you only have one central striker and it can result in a lack of bodies in the box. This is especially an issue when you have six defensive minded players in the team. It has given rise to some dour games in the World Cup with many coaches favouring not losing over the gamble of trying to win.

Will we see it in the Premier League? Well we've seen fads before with the 5-3-2 system becoming very popular about 15 years ago but eventually dieing out in favour of the standard 4-4-2. I don't think 4-2-3-1 will die out as it seems to be a natural evolution from 4-4-2. I think it could be a few years before we see it in the Premier League - we could well see it in the Champions League first.