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Need to learn how to defend in FC 24? If you are shipping goals and can’t keep clean sheets, then take a look at our defensive guide in partnership with NealGuides. With his help, you can learn to defend like a pro in this season’s game.
If you are trying to improve your defending, it is more than likely you are playing FC 24 Ultimate Team. This is the most competitive mode in EA Sports FC, so it’s where the best players play. Mastering the controls is crucial, but it is than you might think.
Learn how to defend in EA FC 24 below.
How to defend in FC 24
Defending in FC 24 is broken down into a few basic mechanics: standing tackle, slide tackle and jockeying.
Whilst those are the key in-game defensive skills you’ll want to master, you can also assist your defensive skills in the tactical selections you make.
Take a look at the FC 24 best formations and custom tactics to help get your team setup correct. This will help in your decision making for defensive width and depth, and also specific player instructions for RB, LB, or your wing backs should you play a back five.
Whether you’re selecting a higher defensive line, or packing 3 at the back instead of 2, there are a number of tactical tweaks you can make to help you become a more defensively sound player.
As mentioned above, there are a number of basic in-game mechanics that will help you become a better defensive player in FC 24.
Defensive controls
- Standing Tackle – press B (Xbox) or Circle (PlayStation)
- Sliding Tackle – press X (Xbox) or Square (PlayStation)
- Jockey – hold down LT (Xbox) or L2 (PlayStation)
- Sprint – hold down RT (Xbox) or R2 (PlayStation)
- Switch Player – press LB (Xbox) or L1 (PlayStation), or flick right analog stick
The benefit of standing tackles is that it allows time for your defender to recover and attempt once again to win the ball, if unsuccessful in the first attempt.
Slide tackles are a great way to quickly break down opposition attacks and stunt momentum. Be aware though, as both of these tackle types need to be timed properly in order to be successful; failure can result in a yellow, or red, card.
Jockeying will simply see your player track the opposition runner more closely and can be most effective when paired with a standing tackle. learn how to jockey in FC 24.
Defending, of course, is a key part of the game and arguably far more difficult than the attacking side. Either way, mastering these skills will help you get closer to the top in FC 24.
Controlling the GK
For anyone who has played the game this year, you will have noticed the early movement of goalkeepers. The AI GK this season needs patching, but for now, your best bet is to take control.
The first thing to know is how to move the keeper in FC 24. Once you have control of the keeper, you can then make it more difficult for your opponent to score.
Whether you are rushing out with the keeper to hurry the forward into a decision, or gambling on which way they are going to shoot, it will increase your chances of preventing a goal.
Best defensive settings in FC 24
There are three options to choose from when selecting your defensive controls. Tactical defending is a new one, and relies heavily on AI.
For example, pressing the tackle input will allow the AI to “contextually choose” the output. While this allows a focus on timing, it can lead to the game not actioning your desired animation.
Advanced defending is the setting we know and trust. This is your manual inputs for standing and sliding tackles. You can also shoulder challenge with X (PlayStation) or A (Xbox).
Legacy defending is unavailable in competitive modes. Holding X (PlayStation) or A (Xbox) makes your defender run towards the ball and tackle automatically.
EA FC 24 Defending Pro Tips
We have teamed up with NealGuides to help bring you some expert advice on FC 24. With his help, you can learn to play like a pro.
NealGuides advises to stay away from using advanced defending the tackle inputs. Mistiming them will leave your player out of action in these scenarios unless they win the ball.
Advanced defending leads to confusion between tackling and shoulder challenge seal outs in the game. It is best to leave the setting off.
Slide tackles are inconsistent in the game right now. As highlighted in NealGuides’ tutorial, the angle and timing of slide tackle is not as responsive as it needs to be. Avoid this for now if you can.
Instead, positioning your player in the way to naturally take the ball from your opponent without committing themselves to a tackle is the way to go.
The new controlled sprint system has also made it very difficult to jockey and keep up with your opponent. You must use run and jockey (left stick, jockey, and sprint together) to stand a chance.
New in the game are FC 24 PlayStyles. The block and jockey PlayStyles are key this year. As NealGuides explains, these two styles make a big difference in this year’s game.
AI blocking has been a big talking point in FIFA games. This year, defenders with block PlayStyles are stopping way more shots than those without, so it is a must have.
One of the new PlayStyles, ‘jockey’, allows defensive midfielders and center backs to jockey at high speed compared to regular players, like a winger for example. Again, this is a big tick in the box when searching for new players.
Watch the full defending tutorial from NealGuides below:
