The 3-5-2 formation in FIFA 23 is a highly versatile and popular choice, especially for players who want to dominate the midfield while maintaining a solid defensive structure. It offers balance between attack and defense, utilizing three center-backs for defensive security and five midfielders, including two wide players who act as both attackers and defenders.

3-5-2 Formation Breakdown

  • Defense: 3 Center Backs (CB)
  • Midfield: 2 Central Defensive Midfielders (CDM), 2 Wide Midfielders (LM/RM), 1 Central Attacking Midfielder (CAM)
  • Attack: 2 Strikers (ST)

Strengths of the 3-5-2 Formation:

  1. Midfield Control: With 5 midfielders, you can dominate possession, and having 2 CDMs ensures solid defensive coverage.
  2. Wide Play & Versatility: LM and RM can push forward to support the attack or drop back to defend, giving you both width and defensive options.
  3. Solid Defensive Line: Three center-backs offer a robust defense, ideal for preventing counter-attacks.
  4. Strong Attack: Two strikers allow for constant pressure on the opponent's defense, and the CAM provides an excellent link between midfield and attack.

Weaknesses of the 3-5-2 Formation:

  1. Exposed on the Wings: The lack of traditional full-backs means you may struggle against teams that play with fast wingers.
  2. Reliance on Wide Midfielders: Your LM and RM need to be players with high stamina, as they will be required to track back frequently to help defend.
  3. Vulnerable to Counter-attacks: While you have three center-backs, the formation can be vulnerable if your wide players are caught out of position.

Best Players for 3-5-2:

  • CBs: Fast, strong, and good in the air. You’ll want center-backs who are comfortable covering wide areas if needed. Good examples include Josko Gvardiol, Kalidou Koulibaly, or Éder Militão.
  • CDMs: They should be good at intercepting, tackling, and distributing the ball. They also need high stamina. Joshua Kimmich, N'Golo Kanté, and Fabinho are excellent options.
  • LM/RM: High stamina is essential, as they will run up and down the field. They should have good dribbling, crossing, and pace. Alphonso Davies and Leonardo Spinazzola are great examples.
  • CAM: Your creative hub, the CAM should be skilled in passing, dribbling, and finishing. Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, or Paulo Dybala are ideal.
  • STs: You need strikers who are clinical finishers but also fast enough to get behind defenses. Kylian Mbappé, Timo Werner, and Erling Haaland are prime candidates.

Custom Tactics for 3-5-2

To maximize the effectiveness of the 3-5-2 formation, custom tactics are essential. Here’s an ideal setup:

Defensive Style:

  • Balanced: This provides a good mix of defense and offense, allowing your players to hold their shape without getting too aggressive or too passive.
  • Press After Possession Loss: For a more aggressive approach, this tactic helps you win the ball back quickly, but it can leave you open to counter-attacks if overused.

Width:

  • 40-50: Keep the defensive width relatively narrow to protect the middle of the field, as you don’t have traditional full-backs.

Depth:

  • 55-65: This depth is aggressive enough to press the opponent while still offering defensive cover. If you're concerned about counter-attacks, lower the depth to around 40-50.

Offensive Style:

  • Fast Build-Up: Ideal for players who like quick, direct attacks, using the two strikers to exploit space in behind the defense.
  • Direct Passing: This is another great option as it encourages your forwards and CAM to get into dangerous positions for through balls and key passes.

Width (Offense):

  • 50-60: You want your LM and RM to stay wide enough to provide support in the attack but also not too wide that they can’t help defensively.

Players in Box:

  • 6-7: This ensures that your CAM and strikers are getting into the box to capitalize on crosses or cutbacks from your wide midfielders.

Corners and Free Kicks:

  • 2-3 Bars: Prevents overcommitting players forward, leaving you vulnerable to counters.

Player Instructions:

To get the best out of your team, here are the recommended instructions for each player in the 3-5-2:

  • CBs:

    • Stay Back While Attacking
    • Normal Interceptions

  • CDMs:

    • Stay Back While Attacking
    • Cover Center: This ensures that they cover the middle of the field, protecting your defense.
    • Cut Passing Lanes

  • CAM:

    • Stay Forward: Keeps your CAM in advanced positions to link up with the strikers.
    • Free Roam: Allows the CAM to move across the midfield to find space and create plays.

  • LM/RM:

    • Come Back on Defense: Helps to defend wide areas.
    • Stay Wide: To maintain width during attacks.
    • Get In Behind: This instruction allows them to make runs behind the opposition’s full-backs.

  • STs:

    • Stay Central: Keeps them positioned to exploit central spaces and receive passes.
    • Get In Behind: Both strikers should aim to run behind the defensive line to take advantage of through balls.
    • Target Man (Optional): For one of the strikers, you can use Target Man if you prefer holding up the ball with one striker while the other runs in behind.

3-5-2 In-Game Adjustments:

  1. If You’re Winning:

    • Switch to a more defensive approach by changing the CDMs to Drop Between Defenders. This will effectively turn your formation into a 5-3-2, giving you more defensive solidity.
    • Consider changing Offensive Style to Possession to retain the ball more easily and slow the game down.

  2. If You’re Losing:

    • Increase Players in Box to 7 or 8 and instruct your Full-backs to Join the Attack to push more men forward.
    • Change your defensive style to Constant Pressure or Press After Possession Loss to regain the ball quickly.

Key Tips for Success in 3-5-2:

  1. Midfield Domination: The 3-5-2 works best if you can dominate the midfield. Use your CDMs to intercept passes and keep your team compact.
  2. Utilize Wide Players: Even though the formation is narrow, your LM and RM provide essential width. Use them to stretch the opposition, cross the ball into the box, or pass back to the CAM.
  3. Defensive Awareness: Be mindful of counter-attacks, especially against teams with pacey wingers. Adjust your depth and use your CDMs effectively to cover the gaps.

Conclusion:

The 3-5-2 formation in FIFA 23 is a great choice for players who like to control the game in midfield while having two strikers for attacking options. It requires solid wide midfielders and disciplined CDMs to maintain balance between offense and defense. With the right custom tactics and player instructions, the 3-5-2 can be one of the most effective formations in the game for both competitive and casual play.