World Cup formations, explained: A look at how coaches are setting up their squads

GUADALAJARA, Mexico: It’s number-crunching time when it comes to formations at the World Cup.
Every team start with a goalkeeper in front of the net, but then it’s up to the 48 coaches to try to arrange their lineups to optimize their players and match up effectively with opponents.
On paper, the lists may look more like area codes, phone numbers or lottery combinations: 4-4-2, 5-3-2, 4-2-3-1 and so on.
But it’s all about how coaches set up their 10 field players, with some of them focusing more on attacking, others on containing a tough opponent or maybe trying to capitalize on the talent of a star player.
Coaches tend to have preferred formations, but it’s not unusual for them to change them depending on opponents or even during matches to secure a lead or reverse a deficit. Coaches frequently start a match with one scheme and finish it with another.
Here’s a look at the nine formations used in the opening matches of World Cup group play, according to FIFA’s match reports, and what they mean:
The traditional (4-4-2)
Four defenders, four midfielders and two forward.
That was used by 12 of the 48 teams involved in the first 24 matches at the World Cup.

But it produced only two wins — by Scotland over Haiti and Ivory Coast over Ecuador. It also matched the 3-4-3 scheme with the most losses, four.
Brazil, Uruguay and co-host Canada were among the teams using the formation that theoretically promotes a balanced squad with a focus on solid defending by keeping the lines compact.
It was a traditional formation in recent decades, along with the 4-3-3 and 5-3-2, until coaches began experimenting with more daring alternatives.
Offensive-minded midfield (4-2-3-1)
Four defenders, two defensive midfielders, three attacking