In this article, we will thoroughly analyze the fixo isolation (1-3) tactic, famously associated with Russia’s national team player Robinho.
The 1-3 formation positions one fixo at the back and three players in the front, utilizing the space between the 1st-line and 2nd-line by having the front three take up depth.
- Fixo isolation is rarely seen and seems difficult.
- Isn’t it a risky tactic that teams trailing near the end of a match resort to?
- It’s a tactic that cannot be executed without a player who excels at dribbling, right?
- After all, it doesn’t seem like a particularly threatening tactic.
Many might have such perceptions regarding the fixo isolation tactic, don’t you think?
From our perspective, having studied futsal from various angles, we believe that this perception is somewhat mistaken.
In fact, if it is adopted by a team with the proper shared understanding, we consider it not only free of risks but also a highly threatening and effective tactic.
Tactical Intent of the 1-3 Formation
The 1-3 (fixo isolation) is a formation that positions one fixo at the back and three players in the front line.
The tactical intents of the 1-3 (fixo isolation) are mainly the following five:
- Forcing the opponent’s defenders into man-to-man marking.
- Overcoming man-to-man defense through the qualitative superiority of fixo isolation.
- Utilizing the vast space between the lines.
- Advancing via pivo passes from the fixo (to avoid pressing).
- Creating localized numerical superiority through the involvement of the Goleiro in attack.
Initial Setup of the 1-3
Fixo Isolation and Overloading the Pivo
The 1-3 setup involves isolating the fixo at the back while clustering the pivo in the front line (overloading). It is a tactic in which a player with strong dribbling skills and speed is assigned as the fixo, thereby overcoming the opponent’s defense through individual quality.
Transitioning to 1-3 from Other Rotations
Since it is crucial in isolation tactics to outperform the opponent in quality during matchups, it is advantageous to identify an inferior player (kamo) beforehand and prepare to match up against them to increase one’s chances in individual battles.
Through rotations such as 3-1 or 4-0, a mark change is induced, and at the moment the ideal combination is achieved, all players except the fixo break out to transition into the 1-3 formation.
If the opponent sticks to man-to-man marking without any mark changes, then force a mark change by utilizing blocking or curtain.
Talent and Positioning of the Front Three
If you intend to advance with a pass to the pivo, it is advisable to position a pivo (a player capable of taking the load) in the front line as much as possible.
Ideally, all three front-line players should be pivots; if there are two, place them on both sides, and if only one, position the pivo on the fixo’s dominant-foot side.
The side pivots should take adequate width to create favorable angles for receiving passes from the fixo. First, maintain depth, and as soon as the pass is released, it is desirable to drop back near the second penalty line to receive the ball.
If they attempt to receive the ball while stationary, there is a high risk that the opposing defender will intercept it, leading to a counterattack.
Goleiro’s Risk Management
The Goleiro anticipates the fixo losing the ball and prepares to immediately step in for a block. This sense of risk management alone dispels the notion that fixo isolation is a “risky tactic.”
When the Pivo Takes Depth, Space is Created Between the Lines
Since most teams respond to the 1-3 formation with man-to-man marking, if the front-line players take depth as shown above, a vast space is created between the opponent’s 1st-line and 2nd-line.
Effectively utilizing this space is extremely important in executing this tactic.
Advancement and Breaking Down with the 1-3
Dribble Breakthrough by the Fixo
This is the most common opening in fixo isolation.
Due to the space between the lines, a long dribble that utilizes pace by moving away from close control is extremely effective.
If you can leave the opposing defenders behind, penetrate into their half with a dribble and, following a similar approach to a 4v3 attacking transition or a red card situation, drive all the way to a finish.
If the Opponents’ Defenders’ Second-Chase Catches Up, Advance with a Pivo Pass
If the second chase by the opposing defenders catches up, opt for a pivo pass.
Reposition a player capable of taking the load in the center as much as possible to execute the pivo pass.
The fixo positions himself in the opponent’s half as part of risk management, while the front three complete the attack with an awareness of the finishing triangle.
If You Cannot Leave Them Behind, Shift Horizontally for a Side Pivo Pass
If it seems unlikely to completely beat the opponent, try to shift sideways with a dribble to aim for a pivo pass.
As before, the front three should complete the attack.
There are countless attacking variations at this stage, so the choice depends on the players’ talents and preferred play models.
A major attacking method is to overlap the pivo and then pass to the player who has executed a reverse and overlapping run by the pivo.
Countermeasures When Defenders Step In Before the Pivo
Naturally, if the opponent anticipates advancement via a pivo pass, they will counter it.
The main countermeasures to prevent advancement are:
- Stepping in front of the pivo before the pass is released.
- Intercepting the pass.
These are the two approaches.
If an interception occurs, it can allow vast spaces and numerical superiority for the opponent, so this must be guarded against above all else.
If an interception occurs, the pivo should be stopped early with a professional foul, and if that is not possible, respond using a 1v2 defensive transition approach.
Next, we present countermeasures for when a defender steps in front of the pivo before the pass is released.
Rotation by the Front Three
By rotating among the front three, you can confuse the opponent’s marking.
For a defender marking man-to-man, being rotated behind is extremely troublesome, making them reluctant to step in front of the pivo for fear of being caught off guard.
There are several methods of rotation, so it is necessary for the team to decide on one in advance.
The concept of rotation is essentially the same as that of the back three in a 3-1 system, but the key difference is that all three players rotate off the ball.
There are two main types: one in which the three players rotate in a fixed direction (clockwise or anticlockwise), and another—the “eight” rotation—where the center lane and side lane players interchange in sequence in a figure‑eight pattern.
Supporting Teammates with Vertical Indirect Blocking
Indirect blocking refers to supporting a teammate by blocking the marker on an off-ball player.
As shown above, by indirectly blocking the marking on the pivo positioned at the side, it becomes possible to receive the ball free.
Surprise Attack with the Goleiro’s Involvement
No one would expect the Goleiro to join the attack in a fixo isolation (1-3) tactic.
We will now explain how threatening the Goleiro’s involvement from the 1-3 formation can be.
When the Opponent Remains Unperturbed
If the opponent remains unperturbed, the Goleiro simply rises up and penetrates the opposition’s half.
This creates a localized numerical advantage of 4v3 in the opponent’s half.
There are numerous variations in the attack from here, but the basic concept is the same as a 4v3 attacking transition.
If the Goleiro has shooting skills, it is wise to attempt a middle-range shot.
It is also possible to wait for teammates to advance and form a 5v3 or 5v4 (PP) situation.
When the Opponent’s Second-Chase Occurs
By supporting the fixo in parallel, the Goleiro creates a numerical advantage of 2v1 in the first line.
When one of the front-line players drops into the space between the lines, the formation transitions into a 2-1-2 setup.
Even including the second line, a numerical advantage of 3v2 can be achieved, making evasion relatively easy.
There are various attacking variations from here, but the aim should be for everyone to position themselves so as not to lose the passing lane from the Goleiro, and to aim for passes that advance forward as much as possible.
If there is no guarantee that the pivo can create an opportunity, it is safer to pass through the space between the lines once.
When the Goleiro Retreats (For Evasion)
If the team is winning and there is no need to take risks, it is safer to have the Goleiro retreat for evasion.
When Transitioning to PP (Taking Risks to Score)
When you want to aggressively take risks and score—as in when trailing—the Goleiro directly penetrates the opponent’s half and transitions into PP.
At this time, if the fixo’s marker (Blue No.1) can be detached, a 5v3 situation is created, allowing for a rapid transition to a finish.
Reverse Y-Formation Defense to Counter Fixo Isolation
When the opponent employs a fixo isolation tactic and the defender marking the fixo is inferior in quality compared to the opponent’s fixo, or when the Goleiro joins the attack creating a numerical advantage, the best defense is to establish multiple defensive lines as shown above.
The formation used is a reverse Y-formation—essentially the Y-shaped defense of the opponent turned upside down—positioned in the middle third, which prevents effective utilization of the middle third’s space.
When a fast dribble breakthrough occurs, Blue No.4 covers, and when the Goleiro joins the attack, Blue No.4 handles man-to-man marking.
A potential concern is leaving Red No.2 unmarked in front of the goal, but since Blue No.1 cuts off the passing lanes and is within the Goleiro’s defensive range, it is not an issue.
When faced with such a defense, the advantage of the 1-3 formation is completely nullified, forcing the attacking side to either supply a rogue ball to the front or transition into a different formation by having a front player drop back.
How to Attack in the Opponent’s Half
Positional Attack
The method of attacking in the opponent’s half is very simple: let the isolated fixo take on defenders with dribbling and drive the play to a finish.
- Red No.2 forms a wall (blind) to obscure the Goleiro’s view of the ball and prepares for loose balls.
- Red No.1 acts as the segundo.
If the fixo loses the ball in this situation, the risk of conceding is extremely high, so it should be stopped with a professional foul.
Transitioning to Power Play (PP)
It is also possible for the Goleiro to penetrate the opponent’s half and transition into a power play.
If the Goleiro joins the attack while maintaining the 1-3 formation, it becomes a 2-3 power play.
Creating a localized numerical advantage in the first line causes disruption in the opponent’s defense.
While it is generally safe to attempt a well-timed middle-range shot from behind, if the opponent adapts flexibly, a front-line player dropping back can form a box formation (2-1-2).
Moreover, countless developments can follow, such as transitioning into an overloaded tactic by clustering players on one side.
One way to prevent the opponent’s defense from quickly adjusting is for the Goleiro to subtly take up a higher position—as if already managing risk—and then dash into the opponent’s half.
In this way, during an opponent half kick-in, by having all FP players except the kicker break out (advance) and letting the Goleiro penetrate the opponent’s half, a 2v1 numerical advantage is created in the first line.
If the Goleiro possesses shooting skills, he can simply drive the ball to shoot and finish.
Summary
We have discussed fixo isolation and the involvement of the Goleiro in the attack.
Especially, teams that actually implement the Goleiro’s involvement from the 1-3 formation employ an innovative tactic that we have rarely seen, which may be difficult to understand, but if given the chance, we hope you will give it a try.
- The 1-3 is a tactic that overcomes man-to-man marking through the individual ability of the fixo.
- Effectively utilizing the vast space of the middle third.
- When an individual breakthrough is not possible, opt for a pivo pass.
- If the fixo loses the ball in their own half, the Goleiro steps in to block.
- If the ball is lost in the opponent’s half, use a professional foul.
- The Goleiro’s involvement in the attack creates a surprise element.
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