FIFA 23: Locking Your Defence Up!

FIFA 23 is technically different from the previous FIFA versions, specifically, we’re talking about the defence. The AI marking isn’t as aggressive as before and it’s now hard to maintain your backline. In fact, the entire midline is almost inactive unlike with FIFA 22 where the midfielders were active as heck. Because of the tricky defence situation, we came up with these short but sweet tactics to repel attacks both offline and online. Have a look at them below. 

Also Read: FIFA 23 FUT Cheapest Teams 

Jockey Like Your Last Name Depends on It

On PlayStation, holding L2 down will help you jockey around your attacker until he or she over-reaches. The key here is patience because if you tackle too soon, you’ll be mercilessly punished in the harder difficulties. So, wait until the attacker makes a mistake before snatching the ball and then going on the offensive. 

To master the new jockey system, don’t sprint with your defenders to catch up to an opponent and then try to jockey to a stop. The transition between your sprint and jockeying your defenders is slower now — Unlike in FIFA 22. So, most times, the opponent would be long gone because your defender can’t slow down fast enough to jockey. A major tip for buying defenders is that players with high defensive awareness have higher jockeying skills.

Player Switching Still Underwhelms — Use the Right Analog Stick Instead

Player switching is still a mess in FIFA 23. But with good formations, you may just best the competition. Also, like the previous years, there’s a neat way to switch players in a moment’s notice. That is, using the right analogue stick. Depending on which direction you push the right analogue stick, the game will switch to any available player in that area. It’s much more precise than switching players with L1 or using the auto-switching feature which can be a little aggressive.

Don’t Leave It up to Your Auto-Defence

FIFA 23 is programmed so that defenders will fight for the ball without you actively controlling them. In fact, many players claim that you should prioritise controlling your midfielders rather than defenders. Be careful! Don’t believe everything you see on the Internet. Players with excellent ball control will sprint right past your defenders if you don’t actively control them sometimes.

Investing in a Solid Defence Line Is Vital

Creating a solid defence boils down to teaming up the best defenders to ever grace the world of football. Van Dijk comes to mind but there are still many other defenders out there whose purchase won’t break the bank. A great defence line will do most of the work for you regarding positioning, pulling off swift counters, and intercepting passes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Cheap FIFA 23 Defenders?

Some of the cheapest FIFA 23 defenders you should try to purchase are van Dijk and Koulibaly who practically bully any player they come across. The point is that players should invest in a solid defence line so they’ll be able to stand up to attacks. Also, in FIFA’s defence, it doesn’t matter as much which platform you play it on. This is because it comes with some cross-platform capabilities. 

Is the Slide Tackle Still Valid?

You can bet £10 that it is. Jokes aside — The slide tackle remains as overpowered as ever. But the 50-50 risk that comes with it is always so daring. If you’re impatient, you will mess up; Especially if your opponent knows how to jockey. On the flip side, we’ve disgraced many players online with the jockey, making sure even a slide tackle is a fool’s errand. So, remember that you’re both prey and predator in FIFA 23 and you’ll play excellently. 

Is FIFA 23 Defending Impossible?

No, defending in FIFA 23 is very much possible. A lot of mates out there will tell you git gud which is easier said than done. But our simple trick to ensuring we’re defending well is to predict our opponents’ passes. Your primary focus should be the players making runs. But remember those convenient one-two passes with players trying to beat your offside trap.