In FIFA 19 there are several ways to defend the goal. We show you how to keep the opponent away from your goal.
The attack wins games, the defense wins championships – this old football wisdom applies only to a limited extent in FIFA 19. Because no matter how many goals you score: If your opponent scores one more, you leave as a loser.
Zero must hold: It can sometimes be more difficult to prevent goals than to score your own – even if you have one of the most talented defenders in your team. We present you proven tactics for defending in FIFA 19.
Passive defending
This is how passive defending works: You let the AI attack the opponent on the ball and focus on blocking passing lanes. To release a defender on the player with the ball, you just have to hold the R1 button (PS4) or RB button (Xbox). While the AI blocks, you can focus on positioning.
If you try to intercept balls, you should use side-steps. By pressing L2 (LT button), you put your player in a defensive stance facing the ball and can react quickly. This is especially suitable for players with a high defensive rating like Radja Nainggolan or Kanté. However, these players are extremely expensive in Ultimate Team – thus you need a lot of coins.
These are the advantages of passive defending: Passive defending was an integral part of successful defensive players, especially in online matches of previous series installments. The trick: You can intercept deadly passes in depth early and even initiate the counter.
You need to consider: When defending with AI, the next player always charges the opponent on the ball. This should never be one of your center-backs. If you remove your center-backs from the defense line, spaces open up that the opponent can exploit. So try to put pressure on the opponent early with your attack and midfield.
Active defending
This is how active defending works: In active defending, you personally run at the ball-carrying opponent with your chosen player. By sprinting (R2/RT), you reach the opponent and try to position your player between the ball and the opponent using side-steps (L2/LT). If you hold the X button (A button) while defending, your player stays close to the opponent and you can focus on the exact direction of the running paths.
These are the advantages of active defending: In previous installments of the FIFA series, active defending was not very popular. The reason: Your opponents could easily evade with a simple pass.
But in FIFA 19, passes have become significantly less accurate. Players need to turn more in the right direction to make correct passes. These movements give you the necessary time to apply pressure on the opponent. With strong pressing and anticipation, you can prevent spaces from developing for the opponent.
You need to consider: Even though it has become more difficult: A well-timed pass from your opponent can immediately nullify the defensive effort. So it is important to judge the right moment when active defending is worthwhile.
Moreover, active defending is extremely demanding on your players’ stamina. If you chase every opponent and possibly sprint after them if they escape, you will lose a lot of stamina. This can come back to haunt you later in the game.
The active-passive combination
Utilize the advantages of both variants: The best way to defend requires a lot of concentration and observation. As long as your opponent has the ball, you should assess how promising an attack via active defending is. Lurk with AI defense for a pass from the opponent until the opportunity for active ball recovery arises.
Furthermore, you should think about which formation you are using. Preferably one that is offensive or defensively oriented? Our tips for the best formations can help you with the selection.
