Much has been made of the current trends for a 3-5-2 formation and the problems it can cause for the opposition. But there is nothing new in this line-up.

As far as formations go, nothing is new. You cannot reinvent the wheel, even if certain coaches, a little too full of themselves, believe that they can. History tells us, however, that everything goes in cycles.

據《每日電訊報》報道：在比賽中運用3-5-2陣型已經成了當前流行的一種趨勢。此陣型給對手造成了一定的麻煩。但就陣型的變化而言，無任何新的亮點。即使是某些頂級教練，也無法徹底改造已有的陣型，有些教練太狂妄自大，相信他們可以做到，但是歷史事實告訴我們，一切事物都必須沿著發展周期的軌跡發展。

What is regarded as old-fashioned now will one day make a comeback.

Over the last few years, for instance, we have grown accustomed to believing that 4-4-2 is dead, that you cannot afford to play this system any more against teams who overload and hence dominate the all-important middle ground.

那些被認為是已經過時的陣型，總有一天還會回來的。在過去的幾年中 ，例如，我們已經習慣性地認為4-4-2陣型已經成為過去，想玩這套陣型，恐怕你都玩不起，該陣型對中場球員的體力要求比較大，能力要求全面，有時會顧此失彼，因此一定要控制住中場。

By the same token, the 3-5-2 shape used so successfully in this World Cup went through a period of virtual neglect. Very few countries opted for this shape, much preferring a variation of 4-3-3.

同樣的3-5-2陣型在本屆世界杯上運用的非常的成功，引起了各球隊的重視。在過去，很少有國家選擇了這種陣型，更多的還是偏愛4-3-3陣型的變體陣型。

Just look at the formations in South Africa. Neither Mexico nor Chile, effective exponents of 3-5-2 in Brazil, used this four years ago. Like almost everyone else in that tournament, they usually went with a back four.

回顧一下南非世界杯上各隊的陣型，墨西哥和智利兩隊（巴西世界杯3-5-2陣型的有力倡導者）四年前都沒用這套陣型。幾乎所有的球隊在比賽中都用四個后衛。

So why has the so-called sweeper system made a return? And why, for that matter, was it discarded? The answer to the latter question is easy to answer. With so many teams playing only one up front, the extra man in central defence was seen as unnecessary. Three marking one makes no sense at all, inevitably creating a shortfall elsewhere on the pitch.

所以，為什么這套所謂的清道夫戰術系統又再次回歸了？ 為什么這套戰術系統在過去會遭到拋棄？

后一個問題很容易回答。這么多支球隊鋒線上只放一位前鋒，其他在中場防守的球員都會顯得很多余。三個人盯防一個人，一點意義都沒有。不可避免地給陣型帶來漏洞和缺口。

Mind you, it is not as if that situation has significantly changed.

請注意，這并不意味著某種情況已顯著改變了。（單前鋒的陣型開始淡出人們的視線）

Many teams in Brazil still use a lone striker, with one supporting from just behind. The difference now is that several coaches have found that 3-5-2 not only suits the players available, it asks awkward questions of, say, a 4-2-3-1.

本屆世界杯，許多球隊，仍在使用單前鋒。現在與過去有所不同，教練們發現，3-5-2陣型不僅適合于各個球員，還解決了4-2-3-1陣型的問題。

It is the free-running wing-backs who create the problem. How does a different system handle that threat? Do the opposing wide men track those wing-backs or do they leave that job to their full-backs and push on instead to attack the centre-halves?

問題大多出在邊后衛身上。不同的陣型戰術系統該如何處理這種問題?對方的大個緊盯邊后衛還是他們將任務交給自己球隊的邊后衛，或者推行進攻型后衛？

As an illustration of the problem, look how much room someone such as Júnior Díaz has enjoyed for Costa Rica, often galloping unmarked up the left flank to swing in dangerous crosses. Likewise, Paul Aguilar found lots of space on Mexico’s right.

看看哥斯達黎加的邊后衛，伊辛尼奧，為球隊創造了多少機會，經常飛馳的無人盯防的左路，傳出非常有威脅的傳中。

Yet the position with Holland looks slightly different. In ditching the country’s much-loved and traditional 4-3-3, Louis van Gaal changed to 3-5-2 as a way of releasing his best players. In the new set-up, Arjen Robben could be used down the middle as a partner for Robin van Persie. With Wesley Sneijder just behind, it has made the very most of the Oranje’s resources.

同樣地，阿吉拉爾在墨西哥的右翼也能找到很大的活動空間。 然而，荷蘭的陣型站位看起來略有不同。放棄了傳統的4-3-3陣型，范加爾改踢3-5-2陣型，來釋放他最好的球員。在新的陣型上，羅本和范佩西可以從中間向兩邊活動，斯內德殿后，戰術陣型的調整使荷蘭隊充分地發揮出了自己能力。

Brendan Rodgers did something similar at Liverpool, switching to three at the back last season as a way of playing Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge in their best positions, together through the middle.

利物浦主教練，布蘭登·羅杰斯也做了類似的事情。上個賽季改踢三后衛，讓蘇亞雷斯和斯圖里奇踢最擅長的位置，放中路，適時從中間向兩邊突破。

Rodgers was not alone either, though for differing reasons. Hull City, Sunderland, Fulham, Aston Villa and Norwich City all had a go at times with this formation in their efforts to both stop leaking goals and create a better attacking threat.

改用這種陣型的并不只是布蘭登·羅杰斯一個人，盡管各個教練想法不同，目的不同，赫爾城、桑德蘭、富勒姆、阿斯頓維拉和諾維奇城等英超俱樂部，都采用這個陣型，來創造更有威脅的進攻。

But to do this successfully you need the right players and, in Brazil, most of the managers opting for this system have been able to select from a very capable crowd. Van Gaal, for instance, is fortunate to have versatile players such as like Daley Blind, who can perform a number of roles. Central defender, wing-back, midfielder – Blind has played there in this World Cup.

但是運用此陣型想要獲得成功，就必須要有合適的球員，在巴西聯賽，大部分教練，都敢選擇這個陣型，因為他們人才濟濟。

例如，范加爾就很幸運擁有一批很有天賦的球員，像戴利·布林德，他一個人就可以踢多個位置，中后衛，邊后衛，中場都可以踢，給全隊陣型的輪換和戰術的調整帶來了方便。

We have seen it all, too, over the years. Formations come and go. When all is said and done, players make the difference. The quarter-finals will doubtless prove that.

我們也可以看到，過去的幾年里，足球界的陣型變幻莫測。但是陣型是死的，贏球的根本還是得取決于球員的發揮和表現。四分之一決賽會證明這一事實。

（譯者 shltt）