TA：因现代足球重视边路与攻防转换，菱形中场阵型已几乎绝迹（TA：边路与攻防转换当道，菱形中场阵型几近消失）

Analyzing midfield formations

The user has made an observation in Chinese about the decline of the diamond midfield formation in modern football due to a focus on wing play and transitions. I think they might want some commentary or discussion on this tactical analysis. I could explore if the diamond formation has truly vanished, weighing its pros and cons, as well as modern uses in clubs like Ancelotti’s AC Milan and recent teams that have employed it. This could lead to a thoughtful analysis!Clarifying midfield formations

Okay, so Carlo Ancelotti primarily used a 4-3-3 but switched to a 4-4-2 diamond for the 2014-15 season with James as a tip. Real Madrid utilized the diamond in 2023-24 with Bellingham as the 10. Klopp's Liverpool tried a diamond early on in 2022-23. Other teams like Red Bull Salzburg have employed the diamond frequently. Still, it's important to note that some teams, like Inter under Inzaghi, haven’t used it. I should really clarify these formations and their use across different teams for a thoughtful analysis!Evaluating the diamond formation

The claim that the diamond formation is nearly extinct due to a preference for wing play and transitions is interesting. While it may not be as predominant, it's evolved into narrow shapes in possession with fullbacks supplying width. Teams like Salzburg and Benfica still utilize variations like 4-2-2-2 and narrow diamonds. For instance, Real Madrid in 2023-24 used a diamond behind two forwards, and Juventus had a diamond setup last season. I need to dive deeper into these examples to analyze the current trend!Challenging the diamond's extinction

Looking at examples like RB Salzburg in 2019-20 under Marsch, they utilized a 4-4-2 diamond focusing on central overloads for verticality and pressing, with fullbacks providing width. Their narrow shape can be effective during transitions due to central counterpressing. So, the argument that the diamond formation is extinct because modern football emphasizes transitions doesn't hold up as well as I thought. In fact, the diamond can maintain strength in central defensive zones, making it a viable option still!