For about five months, FIFA 19 has been flickering across players’ screens. Enough time to create myths: Is there a perfect attack? Where are the best rewards? We look at five FIFA myths from the community.
These are FIFA myths: FIFA myths are as old as the series itself. For years, players have been searching for the perfect goal, the unstoppable attack, or the impenetrable defense tactic.
Even in FIFA 19, the community has once again found several open questions that are being actively discussed on Reddit, among other places. We have selected some of these FIFA 19 myths and examined them more closely.
The unstoppable “El Tornado” cross
This is the myth: The story of the unstoppable “El Tornado” cross is relatively new. “El Tornado” is the name of a trick that can only be performed by 5-star skillers.
To use the trick, you must hold the L1/LB button, move the right stick in the running direction, and then flick it 90 degrees inward or outward. The player then spins and lifts the ball in the air – the perfect setup for a powerful shot or a precise cross.
And here lies the crux: Some players have noticed that defenders apparently do not jump high to head away a cross executed after the “El Tornado” from outside. This seemed to clear the way for header-dominant attackers in the penalty area – and a goal seemed almost guaranteed. You can see how this looks in the following video:
This is what’s behind it: Recently, more videos showing El-Tornado goals have appeared. And those who frequent the Weekend League will have probably scored or conceded a tornado goal.
Especially Flashback-Ibrahimovic was an extremely popular card as the recipient of the tornado cross – the Swedish striker star is one of the most dangerous header players in FIFA 19.
However, one cannot speak of the “perfect attack”. The “El Tornado” cross is a strong attacking variant that is hard to defend, yet it does not lead to a goal every time.
Players like Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, or other header monsters massively increase the chances – with other players in the middle, it becomes harder to score after the Tornado cross. Nevertheless, you should not remove “El Tornado” from your repertoire once you have mastered the useful trick.
The Kick-Off Glitch
This is the myth: It’s the 85th minute, and it was still 1:1 just a moment ago. Suddenly, you manage to score to make it 2:1 – the game is over. Or is it? Wrong thought. The opponent has the kick-off, passes the ball to a teammate, and runs forward. Now, everything happens quickly: Two or three passes or just dribbling past your entire team, and the opponent finds themselves right in front of your keeper. The keeper has no chance – equalizer.
This story is probably known to every FIFA player. Both from the attacker’s and defender’s perspective, everyone has had the moment where attackers just ran through the defense from the kick-off and immediately countered the previous goal. But are goals from kick-offs really easier to score?
This is what’s behind it: The so-called Kick-Off Glitch is a myth that has been discussed in several FIFA installments. And even in the current edition, it cannot be denied that the kick-off often leads directly to a goal – often you can see it coming.
And here could lie the crux: Officially, the Kick-Off Glitch does not exist in the game, and it is not necessarily reproducible after every kick-off. But on Reddit, the theory circulates that a kind of double placebo effect is at play.
The kick-offing player is confident they can score immediately, while the defender trembles before the impending attack. After bypassing the first or second defender, one gets nervous – and a goal seems almost inevitable.
The all-overpassing goal kick
This is the myth: A simple goal kick with your keeper could guarantee a goal – too good to be true? Not necessarily: Many players reported at the end of 2018 about the following technique that worked best when playing against one opponent.
During the goal kick, the first player brings the team close to their own penalty area by using the R1/RB button, and the opposing team adapts to this movement. At this moment, player 2 takes over a striker and runs as far as possible into the opposing half.
Now player 1 takes a long cross that arrives directly at the striker. After the opponent’s defense adjusts to your half, the striker just has to beat the keeper. The goal occurs in 90 percent of cases. A tutorial is available in the following video:
This is what’s behind it: This variant was indeed the closest thing to the “perfect attack” at the end of 2018. There was obviously a flaw – no team would leave the opposing striker standing so all alone. But in FIFA 19, that was the case: The situation could be easily reproduced in the test.
However, with the past patches, this attacking variant has been removed from the game. The defense no longer allows the striker to break free, and a 1-on-1 situation no longer arises.
Nevertheless, you can still use the goal kick variant to quickly move your game forward: Many strikers with aerial strength can hold their own against the defense and secure the ball in the opposing half, thus setting up the rest of your offense.
New is always better
This is the myth: In the words of Barney Stinson, the rule “New is always better” has also sparked numerous discussions in the FIFA subreddit. This refers to top players that you have recently signed to your team. Just recently, you’ve fielded Paulo Dybala for the first time, and the man has already scored six goals and shows no signs of slowing down in the next games.
The problem: The magic only lasts for ten matches, and then it’s over. Suddenly, the wonder striker can barely hit the stadium roof; goals become a rarity. In search of the next scoring spree, you find the next top striker on the transfer market – so should you strike again?
This is what’s behind it: New strikers are great, but maybe you should wait with your hard-earned coins and give the wonder striker another chance to improve. Because: Just as many FIFA players swear by it in the Reddit community that new signings don’t bring anything at the beginning and only get better over time – or at least return to their old strength after a little slump.
So what is better now? The solution to the paradox likely lies in one’s own playing style. When you have a new addition on the team, you automatically set them up more often. Especially if it’s an expensive, goal-scoring forward.
Over time, however, the player integrates into the team, becomes less of a focal point, and in the worst case, completely fades away. Thus, the “newness value” does not directly determine the player’s value for your team but rather how much you tailor your gameplay to that player.
The best Weekend League rewards are in the lower ranks
This is the myth: Speaking of top players – if you’ve ever completed the Weekend League, you probably have also received a Player Pick as a reward. The popular red cards are a great chance to receive TOTW players. The higher the rank, the more Player Picks you get. The bitter part: Only a few players are fortunate enough to draw the absolute top players in the random selection.
Instead of pulling a Cristiano Ronaldo from the TOTW 21, you might end up getting a van Wolfswinkel, and the hunt for the highest WL rank was in vain. It might have actually been wiser to stay at one of the lower ranks – because, according to some players, the Player Picks at Silver 1 and Gold 3 are better than those at higher ranks.
This is what’s behind it: What arguments support this? On Reddit, the main reason cited is that players should be motivated by high rewards at lower ranks to play even more Weekend League matches and potentially grab even better rewards. Officially, the Player Picks are, of course, purely random.
A definitive statement cannot be made here either – however, it is more likely that the impression arises from representation on the internet. Someone who draws a CR7 or other top players at Silver 1 is more likely to post this in a forum than someone who does so at Elite 1.
Conversely, players at a lower rank less frequently publish their results when they only receive poor rewards – while a reaction at an Elite rank is exactly the opposite. Additionally, more people finish at Gold 3 than at higher ranks. This could also distort the impression.
