GUILD ESPORTS
GUILD Esports has assembled an exciting international duo that has won multiple major tournament titles. It is obvious that both players can perform brilliantly on the virtual pitch. But can they also harmonize in a team?
MEET THE PLAYERS
NICOLAS99FC
For many experts, Nicolas Villalba aka “The Iceman” is currently at the peak of his FIFA performance. The Argentine is cool, composed and calm in front of the screen. That also led him to victory at the FIFAe Club World Cup 2019. Nicolas has lived in the UK since joining Guild Esports. His goal is to become a dominant player in Europe.
Beginner’s guide for FIFA
FIFA from EA Sports is and remains a long-running hit. For complete beginners, however, the game can be overwhelming with its numerous button combinations. But don’t worry! In this beginner’s guide, we’ll give you important tips and tricks for getting started with FIFA and show you how you can quickly get better.
Every beginning is hard! But with a little practice and our tips, you’ll be on a steep learning curve with EA’s popular soccer simulation. First of all, of course, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the basic controls.
The basic controls in FIFA
The absolute standard repertoire includes running (left analog stick), passing (X on PS4 or A on Xbox), shooting (circle/B) and crossing (square/X). Defensively, you can make a tackle with Circle/B and straddle with Square/X.
You can change the controls at any time in the settings. In FIFA’s biggest competitor, Pro Evolution Soccer, the kick and flank keys are reversed. If you have played Pro Evolution Soccer before and don’t want to get used to it, you can switch the keys in the settings.
Defensive tricks in FIFA: This is how you defend best
Leave the central defenders in the chain!
A classic beginner’s mistake in FIFA is to attack the opponent as quickly as possible with a defender. This makes it far too easy for your opponent, because it creates gaps in your defensive chain. Keep calm and don’t let yourself be pulled out too quickly. Try the L2/LT key in the backward movement. If you hold it down with a defensive player, he will perform sidesteps and is not so easy to catch off guard.
Click on the right player!
With the L1/LB key you can change the player in the defense. If you press the button, the player closest to the ball is usually assigned to you in the backward movement. For a few years now it has been possible to select a player with the right analog stick. The direction in which you move the stick determines which of your players is selected. Patience and practice is required here. You will quickly make progress over time. If you know how to change players with the right stick, you’ll have a clear advantage.
Run back with a midfielder!
Try to click on a midfielder in the backward movement and run back with him. This will keep your defensive chain stable and give you one more player on the defensive who can steal the ball from your opponent.
Don’t straddle too much!
This is another classic beginner’s mistake. Especially newcomers tend to want to take the ball from their opponents by straddling them. However, this usually leads to the opponent letting you slide into space or to you committing a foul – which often results in a sending-off. Here, too, we recommend: Keep calm! Instead of straddling, try to tackle with the circle/B key. It is important to time the attack correctly. Go into the duel when the opponent is as close to you as possible, otherwise the tackle will come to nothing. Practice is needed here as well!
Push your opponents away!
A very effective key in defense is L2/LT. This is something like the “light version” of the tackle. If you hold this key, your defender tries to push the opponent away. A slight jostle is sometimes enough to win the ball. If the jostle goes wrong, your opponent will still be close to the ball and won’t be run over so easily – in contrast to the circle/B tackle.
Use this key to clear the ball!
If things get tricky in your own penalty area and the ball falls at your defender’s feet in the scramble, we recommend pressing the circle/B key. In such cases, your player will clear the ball out of the danger zone without hesitation.
Attacking tricks in FIFA: How to create chances more easily
Don’t rush the attack!
A popular beginner’s mistake in the offense is to try to get through quickly with direct passes. However, for beginners this inevitably leads to the ball ending up with the opponent relatively quickly. It is important to take your time when receiving the ball and to execute the pass in the direction of the player’s gaze.
Use “pass into the run”!
With triangle/Y you can execute a pass into the run. This option is especially useful for using fast wingers on the flank or for sending your center forward on his way. Advanced players can also try the key combination L1/LB + triangle/Y. If you press both keys together, you will execute a high pass into the run.