Italy’s Obsession with the 3-5-2

We don’t know whether it’s a lack of courage, creativity, suitable players, or simply mediocrity—any of these could be valid explanations. But Serie A clubs—and the National Team itself—seem to have molded themselves around a single formation, the 3-5-2, which is now labeled as an Italian peculiarity.

According to Understat, it is the most commonly used system by Inter, Milan, Udinese, Cremonese, Torino, Cagliari, Parma, Pisa, Fiorentina, and Verona (10 teams out of 20). Not to mention the 3-4-2-1 variation which, in the hands of Juventus and Atalanta, differs very little. Several other teams—such as Roma or Genoa—have also made wide use of it. Some have even described it as an evolution of the old catenaccio, perhaps because it often becomes an excuse to defend with five players (if not six).

Not all implementations are identical, of course: often it’s simply a reference structure for the out-of-possession phase, while during build-up play, the movement patterns of individual players can vary dramatically. Still, we can identify a few underlying reasons. The first and most obvious is the scarcity of true “number 10s”—creative, free-roaming playmakers capable of stitching play together, imagining passing lines, and finishing actions. The same applies to wingers—players with natural dribbling ability—who in Italy can almost be counted on one hand. Players like Orsolini, Zaccagni, or Berardi are still far from the profile of fast, unpredictable international stars.

Conte—who, together with Inzaghi, is the forerunner of this trend (and certainly the most successful)—may have started to realize the strategic importance of players like Neres and Lang, even if only due to a lack of alternatives. The mass switch to the 3-5-2 may actually stem from the late recognition of Conte’s work. After all, it is a solid and flexible tactical system that, thanks to careful rotations, allows the wide center-backs to push forward without leaving the defense overly exposed.

Positional fluidity would ideally make man-marking more difficult for opponents. However, in most cases, it becomes a largely defensive tactic aimed at crowding the central area to compensate for the lack of individual creativity. This has created a sort of vicious cycle, because the insistence on the 3-5-2 simultaneously discourages the development and investment in technically gifted, unconventional young players.

Perhaps it isn’t an obsession; perhaps, as often happens, we’ve simply chosen the easiest path. Or maybe Italian football knows something that others don’t. What is certain, however, is that it doesn’t realize the rest of the world moved on long ago.