Throughout its historical development, football has seen its tactical evolution driven by struggles, akin to the adage of a fighter who is inspired by the very struggle.
In the past decade, Pep Guardiola, one of the most influential coaches on the planet, has undergone significant changes, adapting his approach to his opponents.
His journey in Spain differed from his time in Germany and it is entirely distinct from his current endeavours in England where his path has evolved from its inception to its culmination.
While football has undoubtedly advanced technically, the question remains: does the present state signify true tactical development? Some have drawn parallels between one of Guardiolas new variations, the 31213 (as seen in the UFEA Champions League final vs Inter Milan), the same as Johan Cruyff once elucidated on a television program in The Netherlands more than a decade ago.
Regardless of past or novelty, everyone seeks superiority through diverse means.
Desires vary, whether its attaining midfield dominance or exploiting the flanks, with each approach influenced by the techniques and qualities of individuals.
Two of the most prominent forms that are always used are the diamond and box midfield shapes.
The centrality of the two lies in positioning players centrally in various ways to gain the positional advantage of the spaces closest to the goal while dealing with the flanks differently.
However, the final configuration of these formations can vary extensively based on the players specific characteristics.
In some way, football is undergoing a transformation that goes beyond mere formations in midfield, focusing instead on the roles and responsibilities of players to shape the overall structure which enables participants to be more versatile and well-equipped to adapt to various situations.
In this tactical theory, we journey into the tactics of the diamond, its variations, and interchangeability with the box-midfield as well as explore some of their strengths, weaknesses, and the ways in which coaches shape the dynamics.
Both can be adjusted to suit the strengths of the team and exploit the vulnerabilities of the opponent and coaches have the flexibility to tailor the diamond and box-midfield variations which we illustrate throughout the piece.
Diamond
The renowned diamond setup is 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-3-1-2 which involves positioning the midfielders in a diamond and features a flat four-man backline, and two forwards up front, while the diamond is created by the defensive midfielder, double 8s, and the attacking midfielder.
Certainly, this provides a numerical advantage in the middle of the pitch, potentially giving positional superiority over the opponents two or three midfielders.
However, it is worth noting that this concentrated central setup sacrifices presence on the wings.
This presence can vary, sometimes lower with fullbacks in 4-1-2-1-2 or higher with wingers in 3-1-2-1-3.
The latter (3-1-2-1-3) utilises a three-man backline, sacrificing the full-backs and one striker in order to have two wingers positioned higher up on the flanks while the diamond in the midfield is maintained.
The utilisation of the diamond can vary based on the players roles and the coaches strategies.
Typically, teams rely on a No.
6, who can be either a deep-lyin
