How to defend in FIFA 21

how to defend in fifa 21

How to defend in FIFA 21. FIFA defending tutorial.

These are the techniques for how to defend in FIFA 21. Learn how and when to use jockey, when to tackle and slide tackle. How to make your players stay defensive and keep their shape. The defensive settings combined with tactics and player instructions all make a difference. You also need to be good at player switching and know how and when to do it too. Our bigget tip is control midfield players and help defend with them in front of the defensive line. Then your defensive line will keep its shape and you can cover attacking runs.


FIFA Defending sections

FIFA Controller settings

These are the key settings for defending in FIFA 21. Change autoswitching to Airballs so you have to manually change players unless in the air when it picks the player the ball is heading for. Autoswitching move assistance means when you change to a player they keep moving slightly in the direction they were facing rather than simply stopping. Analogue sprint also useful when defending because your player reacts to the amount of stick pressure.

FIFA-controls-1

Then you need to know the defence buttons on your controller. By default classic settings are as shown here. If you use alternative all that changes are sliding tackle with Tackle/Push Pull.

FIFA-controls

Learn how to switch players in FIFA

Pressing LB/L1 will switch to the player nearest the ball. However you can change manually to a different player defensively by flicking the right stick in the direction of the player you want. Get used to this so you are always in control of the player you want. Especially if defending a break away counter attack and needing to select a deeper defender to start them running the opposite way.

How to contain and jockey in FIFA 21 – Same in every version

Press A on Xbox or X on PS (pass button) to contain with the player you are controlling. Your player will follow the opponent player with ball. EA produced a great video in FIFA 16 showing how to use 2nd man contain and Jockey. When using 2nd man contain you can control a player further away ready to block passes. Leaving the computer to defend for you. We recommened doing a manual jockey or running jockey, rather than use contain. Some good examples and video in our defending crosses and corners tutorial pages too.

FIFA 21 defending video

The best FIFA defending video from Pro FIFA player @Hashtag_Boras.His FIFA 21 video covers all the key areas and what you need to do to defend better.


When and how to tackle in FIFA 21

There are four main parts to tackling,

1. Lunging, 2. Push and pull, 3. The tackle, and 4. The slide tackle.

If there is a gap between you and the player with the ball, pressing tackle will actually make your player lunge at them. This is best when in front of a player running at you or if you are running towards the player from an angle and quite close. Make sure if further away to hold down tackle button before releasing. When too much of a gap or you don’t press long enough your player will lunge at space.


Using push and pull and sliding tackles

To win the ball from a defender when next to them use the push pull button (usually same as shoot) to try knock them off the ball or pull their shirt. We use this for almost every tackle, not in the box however as you usually give away a penalty!

Sliding tackles are very useful when timed well. A key part of how to defend in FIFA 21. If running along side move the left stick in same direction while pressing slide tackle and then curl the left stick round in the direction of their feet. Otherwise slide tackling is more useful for cutting out passes and blocking passes. Make sure not last man or in the area otherwise you risk a red card. Also a very good tip as shown in the FIFA 16 video is to press the slide tackle button again quickly. This helps make your player stand up quicker.

How to do new instant hard tackle in FIFA 21

To perform an instant hard tackle in FIFA 21 hold r1 or rb when you press tackle. Your player will make a quick forceful lunge tackle. Use this as your go to tackle around the pitch but not in the penalty area. Notice how many more balls you win using hard tackles.


Defending tips for FIFA 21:

  • 1. Control midfielders until opponent in your box
  • 2. Cut out passes into strikers early
  • 3. Use the push pull technique (shoot button)
  • 4. Use the new instant hard tackle button
  • 5. Learn how to use jockey and running jockey
  • 6. Finally keep your defensive line!