3V3: TRANSITION MISTAKES FROM ATTACK TO DEFENCE

 

Teams caught in a 3v3 situation in their own half due to a single long ball often face this scenario for one of three reasons:
1- Both fullbacks have advanced, and a defensive midfielder has dropped between the centre-backs to form a defensive line.
2- One fullback has pushed forward while the remaining three defenders have shifted toward the side where the advancing fullback is positioned, staying in their own half.
3- Following a set piece, the team has left fast but short players behind, who have regrouped centrally in a disorganized manner.
This situation can happen frequently in teams that use a formation with three centre-backs, but since this is not an unexpected situation, I did not see it as a mistake, so I did not examine this situation in this article.
Each of these situations requires different strategic adjustments. First, I will address the general principles that apply regardless of the specific roles of the players involved. Afterward, I will briefly touch upon role-specific considerations.

The first mistake arises from defensive positioning. When the defender in the centre is the deepest player while the defenders on either side are slightly ahead, the offside line is disrupted. This becomes particularly risky if an opponent is positioned behind either of the wide defenders. In many cases, the opponent in possession plays a long ball aimlessly. When the ball is directed toward the wings, the attackers positioned behind the defenders are both onside and closer to the area where the ball lands.

The second mistake is related to reaction timing. When caught with fewer players, the primary objective of the defending team must be to regain possession as quickly as possible or, if that isn’t achievable, to force the ball out of play. Defenders need to be aggressive and deter the attackers. The longer they take to challenge for the ball, the more time the opponent has to think and make decisions. Defenders should aim to induce panic among attackers.

The third mistake occurs when the player in possession enters the penalty area, and the defenders—particularly the goalkeeper—fail to respond adequately. If the defender tracking the opponent is falling behind, the goalkeeper must leave his line. The second defender, who is closer to the player in possession, cannot engage directly because doing so would leave the other attacker unmarked. In such cases, if the player in possession passes to his unmarked teammate, the chances of conceding a goal are significantly higher.

The fourth critical mistake occurs in the positioning of players at the moment of the shot. The trailing defender, even if unable to close down the player in possession, should at least position himself to block a potential low-driven shot. Meanwhile, the second defender should abandon his focus on the second attacker and commit fully to pressuring the ball carrier. This is because the second attacker, being too close to the goal and marked by the goalkeeper, has minimal chances of receiving a pass.
Lastly, the goalkeeper should remain upright instead of crouching. From that angle, executing a low-driven shot is highly challenging, and the responsibility to stop a high shot rests solely with the goalkeeper.
These sequential mistakes often lead to conceding goals.
When evaluating this scenario based on the roles of the players involved:
-If there are two centre-backs and one defensive midfielder left behind, they should use permissible physical contact to destabilize the opponents within the rules of the game. These types of challenges are rarely penalized by referees. However, defenders should avoid directly attempting to tackle the ball. This is because centre-backs or defensive midfielders often risk making contact with the attacker’s feet instead of the ball, potentially conceding a penalty.
If the team is left with quick and short players after a set-piece, they should retreat swiftly to the around of their own penalty area, regardless of the opponents' movements. By positioning themselves properly as the opponents approach the penalty area, they create a defensive advantage. If the opponents hesitate to take a shot, this allows additional players to recover and strengthen the defensive setup.