Tactical systems have become increasingly fluid in modern soccer, and a formation’s initial shape has become only indicative of the compartmental distribution of players in their “native” roles in defense, midfield, and attack.
Fluidity developed gradually. The zonal defending crafted in Italy in the 80s, where each player occupied a rather fixed zone on the pitch, has given way to 1 v 1 defending where players followed assigned opponents even when outside their zone. Today’s soccer has taken fluidity to new heights: the speed and intensity are such that there is simply no time to settle back into offensive or defensive shapes during breakneck transitions.
This evolution has had a significant impact on how we see players move around. To be successful, modern interpreters of the game must be comfortable in various areas on the pitch, all while showing higher technical repertoire and tactical awareness away from their comfort zone. This is why for instance we witness innovations like goalkeepers as playmakers dictating the tempo of the game, or inverted fullbacks cutting inside to act as additional midfielders, or even forwards dropping deeper to create space. The list goes on.
The constant positional shifting of players makes today’s soccer a wonder to watch: these added permutations allow for an infinite number of ways in which play can be developed and goals can be scored. It makes the game unpredictable and therefore never boring.
