FC 25 Defense Tips for Beginners

If you want to win more matches in FC 25, then you’ll need to start tightening your defense. With our FC 25 defense tips, you’ll never have to worry about having your friends score over you again. Because it’s as they say, the best offense is a good defense.

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FC 25 Defense Tips

Basics and Controls

Let's get started with the basics and controls in FC 25, which are essential for defending effectively.

• Quick Tackle: Press the Circle button for a quicker version of the tackle animation.
• Tackle: Hold R1 and press the tackle button.
• Jockeying: Use L2 for standard jockeying, though it feels a bit slow this year. We recommend Speed Jockeying with L2 + R2 for faster reactions.
• Contain: Hold SS to make your defender lock onto the attacker. However, the AI in the contain animations isn’t as effective this year.
• Second Man Press: Hold R1 to bring in a second defender.
• Double Team: Double-tap R1, then hold it down to have two defenders mark the closest attacking options.
• Seal Out: Tap X, then Circle when coming out with the ball. This locks your player onto the attacker.
• Switching: Press L1 to switch to the closest player, or use the Right Stick to switch to the player you want by flicking it toward them.
• Slide Tackle: Press Square to perform a slide tackle.
• Crunching Tackle: Hold R1 and tap Square for a more powerful tackle.
• Keeper Movement: Hold the Right Stick and move it around to reposition the keeper.

Tackling in Defense

This year, it's crucial to press the tackle button. Don’t get stuck in the habit of just jockeying and holding your position. If you don’t press tackle, you won’t win the ball.

• Lining Up Tackles: You need to be within about a 1-meter radius of your opponent when attempting a tackle.
• Don’t press tackle too early, or you’ll lunge and miss.
• Don’t wait too long, or you’ll overcommit.

Jockeying in Defense

There are two main techniques for jockeying this year:

• L2 Jockeying: This is the standard jockeying method, but it’s a bit slower this year.
• Speed Jockeying: To speed up jockeying, use L2 + R2. This gives you better control and faster reactions to opponent movements.

Tap Tap Jockeying

The Tap Tap Jockeying technique is a quicker variation of speed jockeying. Here’s how to perform it:

1. Hold L2 + R2.
2. Tap R2 as you move.

This activates a much quicker animation, helping you react faster to the opponent’s movements, like dribbles or skill moves.

Lining Up Defenders

When defending, left stick stabilization is key. Stay light with your stick movements to avoid overcommitting. If you press too hard or hear the stick clicking, you’re likely to overcommit and miss your mark.

L2 Stabilization Against Attackers

While L2 is slow, it can help stabilize your defender's position after switching. This helps prevent defenders from getting too far out of position.

Approach, Back Off, and Approach Technique

The Approach, Back Off, and Approach technique allows you to line up defenders and buy time. Here’s how to execute it:

1. Run toward the opponent with R2.
2. As you approach, hold L2 + R2 to back off.
3. This forces the opponent to make a decision, either to pass or use a skill move. Once you read their move, you can approach again for a tackle.

Zig Zag Jockeying

The Zig Zag Jockeying technique helps you line up defenders more effectively. Here’s how to use it:

1. Hold L2 + R2.
2. Move the left stick in a zigzag pattern.

This technique helps you stay central to the opponent and adjust quickly based on their movements.

Second Man Press

Second Man Press can be useful in certain situations, but there's a risk of overusing it. In a year where positioning and shape are critical, relying too heavily on Second Man Press can be detrimental to your defense. It's important to use it wisely and in specific scenarios.

There are two situations where Second Man Press is particularly effective:

1. Tracking the Opponent: When you're tracking an opponent and running alongside them, you need a way to apply pressure on the ball carrier. That’s where Second Man Press comes in. While you're running alongside the opponent, hold R1 to press the ball carrier. Once you're close to the ball handler, tap L1 to select the defender closest to the attacker and perform a manual tackle. This ensures you're not relying on Second Man Press to tackle automatically, as it won't always work.
2. Squeezing the Opponent: Squeezing the opponent means closing down space and forcing them into a mistake. When you're pressing the opponent, Second Man Press can help involve the defenders you're controlling with the right stick. This way, you can squeeze the opponent off the ball more effectively.

Outside of these two scenarios, it’s best to avoid overusing Second Man Press. Rely on Right Stick Switching and manual control of your defenders to maintain your shape and positioning. Spamming Second Man Press will pull your defenders out of position, creating gaps and leaving you vulnerable.

Seal Out Technique

The Seal Out technique is a great way to win the ball back when you're side-by-side with an attacker. When you press the S button, your defender will lock onto the attacker, using their body to push the attacker off the ball.

• Important Tip: After activating Seal Out, always press Tackle. Without tackling, Seal Out may not result in you winning the ball, as the defender could come second-best. The combination of Seal Out and a tackle is what makes this technique effective.

L1 Switching Technique

L1 Switching should be used sparingly because it doesn't always select the right defender for the situation. For example, if you need to track a runner far away from the ball and miss the switch, your opponent might get in behind.

Right Stick Switching is the key defensive tool you need to master to switch to the correct defender quickly.

L1 Switching can be useful in two situations:

1. Second Man Pressing: If you're close enough to the ball carrier, L1 can help select the right defender for a manual tackle.
2. Resetting the Defense: If you miss a switch with the right stick, L1 can help reset your defense and let you start again with the correct defender.

Right Stick Switching (RSS) – The Five Stages

Right Stick Switching is essential for high-level defense. Here’s how you can improve your switching skills, broken into five stages:

1. Kickoff: Start practicing Right Stick Switching during kickoffs to get familiar with the angles and improve your accuracy.
2. Tracking: Use Right Stick Switching to track every runner. If you don’t track the runs, you’ll lose every time.
3. Maintaining Defensive Shape: Constantly switch defenders to maintain a solid shape. This prevents gaps from forming in your defense.
4. Anticipating: Learn to anticipate the ball's path, switching defenders before the ball reaches them to cut off passing lanes.
5. Squeezing the Opponent: Use Right Stick Switching to close down the opponent and squeeze them off the ball, forcing them into making mistakes.

Right Stick Switching Practice Guide

To get the most out of Right Stick Switching, start by focusing on accuracy before speed. Here's how you can practice:

• Accuracy First: Work on getting the right angles when switching between defenders. Focus on hitting 90% accuracy before worrying about speed.
• Speed Next: Once you have the angles down, increase your sensitivity to improve your switching speed.

Tracking with Right Stick Switching

When tracking a runner, flick the right stick toward the defender closest to the opponent making the run. Then, run directly backward to maintain momentum. Avoid zigzagging, as it will slow you down and make it harder to react.

Multitasking is key. While tracking, you should also use Second Man Press to put pressure on the ball carrier. This allows you to track the runner while ensuring the ball carrier isn't given too much space.

Maintaining Shape with Right Stick Switching

Maintaining shape is the most important aspect of your defense this year. If you leave gaps in your defense, opponents will exploit them.

To keep your defense solid, switch between defenders constantly to adjust your positioning. This ensures you maintain shape and prevent attackers from breaking through.

If you focus too much on one defender or run them out of position, you risk leaving holes for the opponent to exploit. By constantly switching defenders and slightly pushing up, you’ll maintain pressure and keep the defense compact.

Anticipating with Right Stick Switching (RSS)

In this section, we’ll explore how to anticipate your opponent's moves through right stick switching (RSS), using three key techniques: reading signals, observing touch direction, and learning common play flows.

1. Reading Signals

This technique involves recognizing when your opponent’s striker is positioned in front of a defender. Since opponents aim to pass the ball to their striker, this is a signal that you need to preemptively switch to a defender behind the striker.

This allows you to get in front of the striker and intercept the pass while maintaining defensive shape. You're not just reading the opponent’s play; you’re also protecting the defensive structure.

2. Touch Direction

By observing the direction your opponent takes their first touch, you can anticipate their next move.

A common rule of thumb is that players will often pass in the direction of their first touch. By using the right stick, you can anticipate the direction of the ball and switch defenders in advance to disrupt their play.

3. Common Play Flows

Every player, whether they’re a beginner or a pro, tends to follow certain patterns in their attacks. For example, when an opponent is on the wing, they’ll likely try to cross the ball or cut back into the center.

Recognizing these common trends as you play more will help you predict and preemptively switch to the right defender.

Squeezing with RSS

The fifth stage of implementing right stick switching into your defense is squeezing the opponent. This advanced technique is useful once you’ve mastered quick and accurate RSS. Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Run up with one defender and then switch to a second defender.
• Step 2: The second defender presses the ball carrier while the first defender cuts off potential passing options.
• Step 3: Bring in a third defender to form a defensive wall, effectively squeezing the opponent and denying them any escape.

If you're really skilled, you can even implement a fourth or fifth defender to suffocate the opponent and prevent them from moving forward.

Pro Tip: If you miss a switch, use the L1 button to reset your positioning and start again.

RSS Disclaimer

Be careful when using high-pressure tactics like squeezing, as it might leave you exposed. FC 25’s meta favors holding your shape over aggressive pressing, so be sure to adapt your tactics to avoid conceding too often.

If you're consistently getting caught out, it may be time to reconsider how aggressively you press the opponent.

Defending in the Final Third

When your opponent has passed your press and is entering the final third, it’s crucial to select the center-back. Here’s why:

When the opponent is approaching your penalty area, they’ll try to set up a shot or a cross. One common mistake is being too passive and not selecting the right center-back to face up against the attacker.

Use right stick switching to quickly take control of the center-back and position them correctly to face the attack.

Switching in the Box

When defending in the box, you need to be precise with your switches. The best defenders are excellent at switching in tight spaces and keeping the defensive line intact.

Gaps in your defense can lead to easy goals, especially with the L1 speed boost, so practice switching between defenders to maintain a solid shape.

When to Press

Knowing when to press is key. The best time to press your opponent is when they are isolated or out wide. If the opponent has limited passing options—such as when they’re on the wing—you can apply more pressure without them easily passing around you.

Cutting Passing Lanes

Don’t just focus on the ball carrier. Instead, switch defenders to cover potential passing lanes. By cutting off these lanes, you make it harder for your opponent to move the ball forward, forcing them to either make a mistake or take a less effective shot.

The Cover and Approach Technique

When defending in a counterattack situation, covering the passing options and approaching the ball carrier are essential. Here’s how to execute it:

1. Cover the passing lane using L2 and R2 to hold your position.
2. Approach the attacker slowly, but don’t overcommit.
3. As the attacker runs towards you, continue to track their movements and stay close, forcing them into a poor decision.

This technique prevents you from being caught out of position and gives you a better chance to win the ball back.

Defending Against Skill Moves

When defending against players who like to use skill moves, the approach-back-off strategy is effective. Here's how:

1. Approach the attacker, knowing that they may attempt a skill move to get past you.
2. Back off to buy time and read the skill move.
3. Once you've predicted their next move, go in for the tackle or interception.

By using this method, you give yourself a better chance to win the ball without falling for tricky skill moves.

Anticipating the Fourth Stage of Right Stick Switching (RSS)

Anticipation in defense is a crucial aspect of the game. There are three primary methods for reading your opponent: signals, touch direction, and common play flows.

1. Looking for Signals
   Signals involve recognizing when the opponent’s striker is in front of the defender. Since opponents are usually aiming to pass the ball to the striker’s feet, this is a sign to preemptively switch to defenders behind the striker. This allows you to position yourself in front of the striker, anticipating the pass, without losing your defensive shape.
2. Touch Direction
   Pay attention to the direction of the opponent's first touch. Often, the direction of the first touch will indicate where they intend to pass next. By reading this, you can use the right stick to preemptively switch and position yourself one step ahead.
3. Common Play Flows
   Observing patterns in how opponents play helps you anticipate their next moves. For instance, if an opponent is on the wing, they will likely try to cut inside. By recognizing these common tendencies, you can use RSS to switch and be ready for the next play.

Squeezing with RSS

The fifth stage of implementing RSS is the squeezing technique. After mastering the first four stages, squeezing involves coordinating multiple defenders to pressurize the ball carrier effectively. Here's how to execute it:

• Step 1: Run a defender up and switch to a second defender to press.
• Step 2: Once the second defender is pressing, bring in a third defender to form a wall of defenders around the ball carrier.
• Step 3: Switch back to the first defender and repeat the process, maintaining a compact defensive shape.

In high-level games, you can involve up to five defenders in the squeezing technique to suffocate the opponent’s options.

Important Tip: If you miss a switch, use the L1 button to reset your defenders and try again.

Warning: If you're conceding too often while using the squeezing technique, it might be due to overpressing. FC 25 isn't designed for a high-pressure playstyle, so adjust your tactics accordingly.

Defending in the Final Third

When defending in the final third, selecting the center back is critical. Often, opponents will break past your press and reach the final third. The mistake many players make is not selecting a center back when the opponent is about to attack.

• Key Tip: When the ball reaches the opponent’s attacker in the final third, switch to the center back and face up to the attacker using the right stick. This is crucial to cutting off passing lanes and preventing an easy goal.

Cutting Passing Lanes

In addition to maintaining defensive shape, it’s vital to cut off passing lanes. By switching between defenders and ensuring they stay aligned with your opponent's options, you can limit their choices and make it harder for them to break through your defense.

This creates a defensive wall that puts constant pressure on the opponent.

Defending Made Easy In FC 25

And there you have it, the best defending tips for FC 25. Of course, these aren’t enough to get you started. If you want more, visit our RPG Stash FC 25 store to buy FC 25 coins and more.