Both in the real and virtual worlds, football is a sport in which the attacking superstars are given the majority of the limelight. Whether it be a winger putting chalk on their boots or a striker burying a finish from 20 yards, it’s clear why the top end of the pitch is what most football fans think of when it comes to the beautiful game.
But, defending well and keeping clean sheets is what managers really get excited about. Attack wins you games, defenses wins you titles is the age-old saying, so check out how to defend like a pro in Fifa 23 with our latest tips and tricks here at Gamelevate!
Defending In Fifa 23
Compared to previous entries to the series, Fifa 23 feels like a game where it is particularly hard to keep the ball out of the net.
The new Hypermotion technology in play has given attackers new animations and skill moves that make stopping them that bit harder. Couple that with the different pace types to be aware of, defending in Fifa 23 feels far more multi-layered than in other games.
Don’t Rely On The AI
When it comes to Fifa 23 defending, the AI still does most of the hard lifting. Players can tinker around with their formation and certain aspects of where their team sits, and positioning is still one of the most vital aspects of holding the line.
Nevertheless, the AI still has a number of patterns that other AI or human-controlled opponents can take full advantage of. The second-man press (holding RB/R1) is an effective tactic to employ for a more energetic back-line, and it’s always a solid practice if you can do most of your defending manually.
Jockey Your Opponents
If there’s one mistake we see players making the most when it comes to defending in Fifa 23, it’s not jockeying an attacker. Performed by holding L2/LT, jockeying will see a player go face up to an attacker and match their path. This can be a great way of preventing crosses, stopping a dribble, slowing an attack, or forcing a player into a less dangerous spot on the pitch.
However, not performing this move, will often leave huge spaces for players to get in behind and take advantage of.
Jockeying is also a great way of helping marshall balls out of play or preventing an attacker from reaching a loose ball before your goalkeeper.
Time Your Hard Tackles
In Fifa 23, a hard standing tackle (holding down B/O) or a hard sliding tackle (holding down X/Square) can be the most effective way of winning possession and wiping out an attacker.
However, with the new animations in play, timing these hard tackles have never been more unforgiving. These tackles carry with them the risk of bringing about fouls in dangerous positions, as well as potential bookings for your player to carry with them for the rest of the game.
Pick The Right Players
We mentioned it above, but with the different pace types in Fifa 23, having the right types of players in your lineup is crucial to good defending. The lengthy pace type has been shown to be one of the most overpowered for a center-back to have in Fifa game, but any player that comes with high agility, balance, composure, and strength stats are all good picks.
As well as having the right players, having them in the right positions is another one of the best Fifa 23 defending tips we can offer. For example, in a 2v2 scenario, having your center-back pulled out to cover the wing is not an optimal move. Instead, in this situation, it might be worth keeping your defender central, even if it means potentially having to deal with a cross into the box.
Patience is always key in how to defend in Fifa, so work on not stepping out of line and ‘ball chasing’ against an attacking sequence.
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