In FIFA 21's ever-changing meta, it's easy to go from feeling like the famous Milan team featuring Baresi and Maldini who conceded just 23 goals over the course of a season to a defensi๊ve mess. The most frustrating thing is that it's not always the player's fault; EA Sports constantly tweaks the gameplay which makes defensive AI behave erratically in lag.

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But there are some te꧒chniques FIFA 21 fans should look to implement in their play-style to make sure cheap go👍als aren't given away in competitive games which can often be settled by a single score.

10 Use Player Instructions 🦋

FIFA 21 Tactics Player Instructions Ultimate Team

It seems obvious, but there's plenty of FIFA players who don't give enoug🐎h attention to the tactics pages. Setting a formation isn't enough; full-backs should always be told to stay back to avoid easy attacking points down the flanks while defensive midfielders should always look to cover the center. The majority of games will be a c💎hess match when suffering from bad gameplay which means the defensive structure is crucial to keeping a clean sheet. For extra support, players can also tell attacking players to come back on defense — but at the cost of being able to counter-attack effectively.

9 🐻 Adapt To Opponꦍents With Depth-Setting

FIFA 21 Tactics and Player Instructions Ultimate Team

While drop-back on one defense can be effective, it's not a strategy that works at the top level as more advanced players use skills and a patient attacking build-up to dismantle the back four. Instead, players shoul🌼d look to actively adapt to each moment in the game. If your opponent is keeping possession around the 30-yard line, it's time to raise the defensive line between 5-7 to enable the defense and midfield to apply pressure to the ball carrier. Of course, players can drop the depth back on the tactics page in the dying embers of the gam🐻e when protecting a lead.

8 Activate Theꦬ Offside T😼rap

FIFA Offside Trap Ultimate Team Gameplay Defending

Selecting the offside trap by pressing down on the directional pad twice is more about lifting up the line than it is trying to catch an opponent offside. Once your opponent works the ball deep enough down the field, the defense can take a long time to get out of the box which only invites pressure and difficult defending situations. When the opponent has the ball outside of the box and doesn't have an instant pass option, activate the offside trap to push the defenders up — this will trap the attacking players behind the line and enable the midfield to get to tﷺhe ball carrier.

7 Make The Tackle Wಌhen It's Possible 𝓰

FIFA 21 Ultimate Team Tackling and Defending Techniques

Unlike in other FIFA titles, tackles have a higher success rate when activating a standing or slide tackle versus just jockeying into the ball car﷽rier. Wait for the opponent to take a heavy touch and hold down circle/B  to initiate ℱthe challenge.

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Slide tackles (Square/X) will also win the ball at the first time of asking when timed riꦇght. But be careful in the box — it's almost too easy to give away a penalty on FIFA 21 and even the slightest touch on the attacker will see the referee point to the spot.

6 Alternate Between Jockey A👍nd Speed-J🎉ockey

FIFA 21 Ultimate Team Defensive Technique Tackling

A challenge is much stronger when using the standard jockey (L2/LT) but the slow nature of the animation means an attacker can skip past any defender not positioned correctly. Hold the sprint button with the jockey to get close and then let go which gives the defenders a higher percentage chance of animating towards the ball. This is a strategy used often by 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:RB Leipzig wonder-kid Anders Vejrgang.

5 Use Teammate Contain In 🐟The Right Moments ༺

FIFA 21 Ultimate Team Team mate Contain

Holding R1/RB is a good way to trap an opponent on the wings but holding it for too long can see FIFA decide to take the central defenders out of position. Most opponents have deadly attackers at this stage of the game-cycle which means strong positioning AI will quickly exploit any space left inside the box. Be sure to notice when defenders are 🐲behaving strangely and drag them backജ into position.

4 ꦯ The Defensive Shape Is Key Across The Pitch

FIFA 21 Ultimate Team Defensive Shape Contain Attack Tactics

One of the easiest ways players concede goals is by running players out of position. While FIFA 21 fans have some freedom when using the striker and wingers, the importance is heightened greatly for central midfielders and the back-line. Opponents are constantly waiting for a mistake to be made and will penetrate instantly to put a defensive line under pressure. Apply pressure while always keeping your formation and defensive style in mind; change players when an oppon൩ent takes the ball into another area of the pitch.

3 Never Play Slow Defenders 🔴

Giorgio Chiellini Juventus FIFA Ultimate Team Card

Defensive stats are meaningless if a player can't move quickly. FIFA 21's meta is speed and that's unlikely to change while on the current game-engine. Don't take notice of the overall rating; Giorg🥃io Chiellini is an 88-rated team-of-the-week defender with just 62 acceleration and 55 stamina - a recipe for a defensive disaster.

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Around 75 is the minimum for defenders; remember that the majority of the attackers will be benefiting from +20 pace stats with a hunter chemistry style card which means there is rarely a card on the field with pace outside the 90s. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The fastest players in FIFA 21 are vital this year.

2 Acquire Players With A H🥂igh Defens🐻ive Work-Rate

Man City vs Chelsea in FIFA 21

High defensive work-rates are vital to avoid constantly aꦅdjusting unreliable defensive AI. Layvin Kurzawa's squad building challenge ca🌠rd looked a perfect fit for most teams outside of a low defensive work-rate which sees the French left-back sit too high up the pitch.

N'golo Kante is a perfect example of how high defensive stats and perfect work-rates convert into a player who can domina🐓te without much user contr🌟ol. Any defensive midfielders who stand-around while the opponent has the ball in their zone need to be sold immediately.

1 Keep Calm And Useꦫ Goalk🌱eeper Movement

FIFA 21 Ultimate Team Tactics Goalkeeper Movement

Becoming one of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:FIFA 21's best goalkeepers can be the difference between winning and losing. Activating manual goalkeeper movement by pressing and holding the right stick down is now more impoღrtant than it has ever been in FIFA 21. Remember: Move your goalkeeper at the moment the opponent powers up a shot to ensure the best chance of a save. Shots will generally go across the goal in the box but it becomes a bit of a chess match at the top level as advanced players anticipate🅰 the goalkeeper to be moved in 1v1 situations. Mix it up unless you have a good read on your opponent.

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