FIFA 19 is no longer the same game it was at release after several patches. What are the best ways to succeed in the current meta? Marcel “DonChap28” Deutscher reveals the best tips and tricks.
This is DonChap28: Marcel “DonChap28” is one of the best FIFA professionals in Germany. He plays for the agency “L4K Sports” in the “Team Paranoia”. Learn more about his career here:
During a MAX Stream, we asked Marcel Deutscher: What tips and tricks should one follow to succeed in the current meta of FIFA 19? The professional had plenty of insights – we present the best ones here!
This is how FIFA 19 has been since the January update
This is the problem with patches: In the FIFA Ultimate Team mode, there are frequent updates that fix certain gameplay issues. “Unfortunately, it often goes in the wrong direction,” comments Deutscher.
Important gameplay elements have been changed too drastically from the pros’ perspective: “I actually found the game really good at first. It was very skill-based, with Timed Finishing and goalkeeper control. Then came a patch or two – those were fine,” explains Deutscher. The problem was the big patch at the start of the year: “Since then, the gameplay has been completely different.”
This has changed: Above all, Timed Finishing has been severely weakened. Many pros had adjusted their playstyle to this mechanic.
It only brings about half as much: “If you shoot ten times with the same setup at green Timed Finish from 18 meters, then I expect the game to make the ball go on target ten times. Or at least score, unless the opponent moves the goalkeeper well,” says Deutscher.
Now it is as follows: “You have green Timed Finish ten times and the ball goes out once, scores once, and once the goalkeeper saves it. The variance is just too great.”
The best way to score
This is how the pros have changed their game: So, a new reliable way to score had to be found. Following the patch, it became clear that crosses are now extremely successful – especially a very specific one.
The “El Tornado” cross is currently the best way to score: When you come down the flank with an outside player who has 5-star skill moves, you can apply this special trick: Hold L1 (RB) and flick the stick first in your running direction and then toward the goal. The player lifts the ball, allowing you to execute a volley cross.
This is why the Tornado cross is so strong: “The El Tornado crosses have a slightly different trajectory than normal crosses. They fly a bit higher and then drop down,” explains DonChap28. If you have a strong header at the end of the cross, the goal is almost guaranteed – because defenders take a bit longer to react with this variant: “If you also hit green Timed Finish, the chance of scoring is very high,” says Deutscher.
But since not every player can execute the Tornado, an alternative is needed. This is provided by the chip cross: Instead of the Tornado, you can perform a chip by pressing the right stick while releasing the left stick, putting your crosser in a similar position. This cross variant has also proven effective.
Realism Criticism
This is being criticized: The issue with the extremely strong crosses is that almost all pros now use these moves: “The game is going too much in that direction. You hardly see anything other than El Tornado and chip crosses anymore.”
The game is becoming increasingly unrealistic. Especially in the case of the Tornado cross: “That a Ronaldo wins almost every header duel, I don’t find that so bad,” says Deutscher: “That’s realistic. Just this cross – I’ve never seen a player in my life make that kind of movement.”
The ideal formation for the meta
This is how you should set up your team: If you are focusing entirely on winning, the cross meta currently works best. Marcel Deutscher explains how the perfect setup looks: “The most common formation is the 4-2-3-1 formation. Usually, you choose fast players on the wings,” explains Deutscher.
Due to the current meta, a different type of player is recommended for the LOM and ROM positions: “I’d rather have two players strong in headers there.” In the stream, however, Deutscher chose Bayern, who do not have the right players for that role:
These skills your offensive players should have: The advancing offensive players are ultimately those who want to send the ball into the net with their heads. At the same time, they should also have a high skill value to be able to execute the Tornado cross. Ideal would be players like Cristiano Ronaldo, TOTY-Mbappé, Eusebio, or Flashback-Ibrahimovic.
Since such players are extremely expensive, one could also opt for a variant with a 5-star player and a heading monster: “Aubameyang or Timo Werner also win a lot of headers.”
For the position 10, Deutscher recommends a strong playmaker who acts as a focal point in the offense. In defense, the pro also sometimes relies on heading strong center-backs on the outer positions to better intercept the crosses.
Individual tactical settings
This is how Marcel Deutscher sets his tactics: DonChap28’s game is characterized by high possession values: “Typically, I play defensively on four or five bars and ‘Balanced’, because I like to be the type who also presses a bit more offensively,” explains the pro: “I set the offensive play to ‘Balanced’ or ‘Possession’, because I want to have at least 65 percent possession in each game. As long as I have the ball, I don’t concede a goal.”
In addition, Deutscher opts for a wide game in attack with many players in the penalty area, to perfectly exploit the cross meta.
However, the offensive style should be adapted to personal preferences: “In ‘Possession’, you have to send players yourself with L1 and call them with R1. In ‘Balanced’, they also go deeper, ‘Long Ball’ speaks for itself. ‘Fast Build-Up’ is good for countering.”
These player instructions will move you forward: “I don’t give any instructions to the outside players,” explains Deutscher: “The striker should stay central. Use ‘Mixed Attack’ for strikers like Lewandowski, who don’t necessarily win a running duel.” Furthermore, ‘Stay Forward’ should be selected so that the striker acts as a passing option up front.
“I give the playmaker ‘Stay Forward’ and ‘Free Roam’,” Deutscher explains further. In defense, strong coverage is mainly ensured: “For the midfielders, you must set ‘Stay Back While Attacking’.” And above all: “As a standard, ‘Cover Wings’ is set. In my view, that’s nonsense because the two in front of the defense shouldn’t cover the outside players.”
Deutscher usually keeps his outside defenders back during attacks, as they always work a bit forward. However, it is important that the outside defenders actually stay in their positions and do not move into the center: “Set ‘Overlap’ for attacks.”
With these settings, the team is perfectly set up for the cross meta. But what if your opponent is also a true crossing master?
The perfect counter to the meta
This is how you adjust to the meta: If your opponent masters the cross meta perfectly, Deutscher recommends a variant of the so-called “Cement Tactic“. For this, the team must be set extremely defensively in the tactics tab.
“The best counter is the 4-3-3 formation,” explains Deutscher. If you set the defensive behavior to “Drop Back” and lower the team’s depth, suddenly well eight to nine outfield players defend right at the penalty area: “This makes it extremely difficult for the opponent to get into the penalty area.”
This is how you can score yourself: Now you should select one of your midfielders and defend with him at the edge of the penalty area. Leave the rest to the AI defense – until you win back the ball: “Choose offensive ‘Fast Build-Up’ to counter well after regaining possession. Or ‘Possession’ – if you want to play really unpleasantly,” says Deutscher.
However, lurking for counterattacks is advisable because: “You completely go defensively – and thus my team always pushes higher, which I cannot directly influence. And eventually, you might win the ball and can push forward quickly on the wings.”
These tricks you should know
This is how you outplay the opponent’s defense: If your opponent also uses a bunker strategy, some skill moves can help break through the barrier. Marcel Deutscher recommends two simple tricks:
- La Croqueta/Iniesta Trick: With this trick, you can easily dribble into the penalty area and draw a penalty. It works like the normal ball roll (Right stick sideways to the direction of motion), but with L1. You need at least 4-star skillers for this trick.
- Dragback: Stops the ball and pulls it back with R1. Serves to gain space.
How “La Croqueta” works, you can learn in this tutorial by FIFA pro and Charcoal Cup opponent Proownez:
If you also use the El Tornado or chip cross, it will be hard to defend against you. You can find more tips from Marcel Deutscher here:
