FIFA Goalkeeping tutorial

fifa goalkeeping tutorial

FIFA goalkeeping tutorial

The best FIFA goalkeeping tip in every FIFA, force your keeper to attempt saves by pressing the shoot button when your opponent shoots. We aren’t talking about you as keeper such as pro Clubs but in normal Head to head, Ultimate Team, Career mode, kick off etc.

New in FIFA 19 was the ability to move the keeper about when the opponent is close to your area. Press the right stick and hold it down as you move it about. New video showing how below. Also in every FIFA you can make him charge towards the ball using the through ball button.

FIFA controlling goalkeeper video

This is seperate to Pro Clubs goalkeeping but very similar in that positioning and rushing is key. Great video by @TheGuide_bPG

The following sections are for those actually choosing to control the keeper only in whichever game mode. Usually Pro Clubs mode.

FIFA goalkeeping guides

1. Camera angle

Change your camera angle to ‘Pro’. It will be a lot easier this way as you can see where you are positioned in the goal and it also makes it easier to see the path of shots and crosses too. The camera is set behind the goal and it pans with the position of the ball. Pressing select will change the camera position from behind the goal to the ball, which can be useful when the ball is further up the pitch for viewing purposes. Watching from your goal line is pretty boring! I wouldn’t recommend playing with the ‘tele’ angle either.

2. Positioning

This is probably the hardest part of FIFA goalkeeping as a pro. I often hold left bumper (LB on xbox/L1 on Playstation) to keep my pro goalkeeper in position. Most of the time it is pretty competent, but when dealing with corners and crosses, I would strongly recommend re positioning manually! Please see my paragraph on corners further down the page for a full explanation. Keeping LB/L1 held also stops you from running out of position too much. Your goalkeeper will lose his composure if you do this.

Holding LT/L2 enables your pro goalkeeper to take smaller steps whilst maintaining his composure. It can be useful in some situations but don’t use it all the time, It is like having all your settings on manual and the opposite having theirs on assisted, it is putting you at a disadvantage. Keep hold of LB/L1 to be safe.

3. Dealing with 2v1 (sweaty passers)

The only time I would consider not using LB/L1 is when dealing with 2 on 1 situations. Their tactic will be to bring you out and just before you get close, they’ll pass across to the other attacker and score. Using LB/L1 doesn’t account for these. The pro goalkeeper will line up to defend against the attacker with the ball, probably at the near post. But when they pass, your goalkeeper will be out of position allowing an easy shot into an open goal. Don’t get caught out!

What I like to do in this situation is place the goalkeeper in the middle of the goal and just wait for the shot or pass. You are more likely to deflect the ball away then winning the ball charging at them. I’ve had other situations where the attacker has hesitated and then tried to pass across the goal to the other attacker. At that point I have then managed to intercept the pass by diving in its path preventing a job seeker.

Good Pro Clubs goalkeeper setup video

How to create a good Pro Clubs goalkeeper by Rixy. Also has some great montage videos from previous FIFAs

4. Don’t spam pass button

Have you ever noticed a pro goalkeeper throwing his arms into the air when the ball is around the box area? Or, why a goalkeeper makes an acrobatic dive out at corners? This will be because the pro goalkeeper is spamming the pass button. Do not ever do this. This freezes your goalkeeper where he cannot move until a second later. This could cost you dearly with one on ones. A good striker will try to trick/fake shot you, hoping that you’ll be spamming pass for them to score. Be confident and press pass button only at the right time. The striker will no doubt hesitate if you do not take the bait and you’ll be successful in winning the ball.

5. Corners

Corners can be tricky at times. Do you rush out or stay on the line? My advice, always stay on the line. Keep LB/L1 held down and do not spam pass! Your keeper will then only commit to intercept crosses if it is close, otherwise get ready for a potential header on goal. A pro striker against an AI defender will no doubt get onto these headers. Your goalkeeper will re position himself to defend against the incoming header so don’t panic.

If you see the ball being crossed to back post, let go of LB/L1, hold LT/L2 and move to back post. This is a popular tactic against pro goalkeepers where the opposition will expect you run out and punch the ball away. Do not get caught out or ever go for the punch out! 90% of the time the goalkeeper fails to clear the ball more then five yards! If the ball goes to the back post and you are holding LB/L1, you will find that your goalkeeper will not be composed. This allows the attacker a chance to score with a header across goal. Your goalkeeper will jerk towards the attacker first before becoming composed to dive back the other way, by then it is too late.

6. Goal kicks

Goal kicks depend on your playing style and other pro players. If you have a tall pro striker up front you can kick the ball to him for a potential flick on. If you choose this path, do not apply full power to the kick. Your strikers will struggle to gain the ball and you’ll most likely lose possession. Try aiming for around 75% power and it should 9/10 times land at your strikers head or body.

We recommend to kick down the wings. Use full power for the wingers to run on to. Pro goalkeepers can kick well over the halfway line. You will notice that the opposition’s wingbacks never fill stand too wide. Instruct your strikers and wingers to storm that wing and they’ll be guaranteed a through ball opportunity. Aim as far wide as you can before you kick, try experimenting when you’re next online to perfect it. You could also go short, but be wary of the opposition’s strikers lurking around. Not my recommendation, I like to play it safe.

7. Saving power penalties

This won’t work for finesse shots. But you will be able to tell if the player is going to use power as you can see the power meter! So practice this technique and you will save most power penalties. If a right foot player is taking it this is the guide. However if his left planted foot is next to the ball when about to shoot, the shot is going to the right. And if his planted left foot shows a gap next to the ball when striking the shot is going to left. For a left foot striker it is the opposite.