FIFA 17 is finally here, and already owners of the new game are struggling to get to grips with it after a year spent growing accustomed to FIFA 16. This year marks a variety of key gameplay changes, making alterations from the ground-up that have added new layers of depth to more closely mimic the “beautiful game”. As such, there are an abundance of new things to learn and new methods to employ in order to ensure victory.
If you’re struggling to do so, then we’ve compiled a FIFA 17 guide in order to help you out with winning matches, something that a lot of players are struggling with right now as they’re forced to shake off the habits of FIFA 16. So if your attacking game isn’t as potent as it once was, you’re suffering from a goal drought or simply cannot get used to the new style of defending, here’s our helpful tips that’ll get you back to your winning ways:
Attacking
More so than any other release in the series, FIFA 17 is a game of possession. While we saw EA making strides towards this change in FIFA 16, moving away from the over-reliance upon pace and counter-attacking that FIFA had become known for, FIFA 17 requires players to be more tactical and methodical when it comes to winning matches.
Smart build-up play is the aim of the game in FIFA 17, and in order to progress towards a strong attack you’ll need to ensure your passing is up to scratch. In FIFA 16, strong passes (R1/RB + X/A) were a necessity in many situations to ensure that the ball didn’t bobble towards the opposition, and to introduce more width into your game. In FIFA 17 you’ll be looking to open your opposition up by way of passing in shapes, utilising the newly improved teammate AI to orchestrate runs by way of close, swift passes between 2 or 3 players, waiting for your teammate to run into space and then progressing up the pitch that way.
As mentioned, player AI has received a significant improvement this time round, meaning that players will make intelligent attacking choices if you afford them the opportunity. As such, breaking down your opposition by way of spreading them across the pitch is the key to success, and while breaking down the back line is more difficult this time around (don’t expect lobbed through balls or swift runs down the wing to be as potent as they were in previous FIFA games) it’s not impossible if you can draw your opponents out of position. If your AI teammates see a chance to make a run through the oppositions defence, more often than not they will take it, so bear that in mind when opening up your rivals with your passing play.
In order to maintain possession, you’re going to primarily need to do two things; pass into space, and keep your back to your opponent when challenged. Passing into space will require you to look around for an unmarked player and give them the ball, as this will typically lead to your AI teammate going on to making a run and helping continue your attack. However, when directly challenged by an opponent, it’s best to put some space between you and them by way of pressing L2/left trigger, which will force your back against their body and prevent them from taking the ball away from you. From this position, pass the ball to a teammate standing in open space, and then continue your build-up play.
Though it will be tempting to attempt to dribble through your opposition, in FIFA 17 your AI teammates are intelligent enough that it’s not essential for you to do so, and there are smarter ways to break through the line of defence without risking losing possession. Make smart, short passes to begin your build-up play, force yourself between your opponent and the ball when challenged, and then when a teammate has made a run make a through ball in order to create a goal-scoring opportunity for your time. Speaking of which…
Scoring goals
Strong build-up play doesn’t mean anything unless you’re scoring goals at the end of it. FIFA 17 introduces a few new powerful techniques that will place your opponents on the back-foot, and ensure that your intelligent attacking play is rewarded more often than not.
Strong foot, inside/just outside the box
If you’re positioned inside or just outside the box and are on your strong foot, then driven shots should be your go-to method of goal-scoring. Driven shots are performed by way of tapping the circle/B button twice – first to power up your shot, second to make it glide powerfully along the pitch. Driven shots can successfully evade tall goalkeepers, launching the ball into the bottom corners of the net if performed correctly. Make sure you’re putting a considerable amount of power behind your driven shot to launch it towards goal, as an under-powered driven shot can languidly roll towards the keeper’s arms.
Weak foot, inside/just outside the box
If you’re positioned on your weak foot, then finesse shots are the way to go. Unlike FIFA 16, finesse shots will require you to aim your shot more carefully with the analog stick, pointing it in the direction of the corner of the goal you’re aiming for rather than slightly tapping to the right/left and hoping for the best. Finesse shots are less reliable than driven shots, but if you’re in a reasonable goal-scoring position but are being forced to shoot through defenders or are taking the shot using your weak foot, then they’re the most reasonable option.
Long shots
Long shots are a potent method of goal-scoring, though there will be less opportunity for you to employ them in FIFA 17. Given that the AI is now more eager to challenge you for possession this time around, you’re less likely to be able to garner yourself a clear shot on goal from a distance, so you should attempt these shots sparingly. However, if you find your player running directly towards goal from a reasonable distance away, gently nudge the analog stick in the direction of the goal and hold down circle/B. If you aim the ball towards the top corners of the net, you will find that a lot of times you can send it hurtling into your opponent’s goal.
Defending
A lot of players are currently having trouble taking possession away from their opponents, with FIFA 17‘s emphasis upon possession football meaning that opponents are more reluctant to give away the ball by way of risky attacking play. As such, working on your defensive play is now a highly valuable skill in the game, and can more often than not win you the game.
It’s important to remember that progressive build-up play is what your opponents will be looking to achieve, meaning that blocking routes of attack is more effective than rushing towards an opponent and trying to muscle them off the ball. Spotting runs rival players are making on the pitch is a must, and you shouldn’t over-commit to taking the ball from your opponent if it means drastically bringing your player out of position, or leaving a player with a more favourable position on the pitch wide open.
As your opponent nears your goal and you have more than one player back to defend their attacking opportunity, it’s best if you switch to a player who isn’t marking the player on the ball, then hold R1/RB in order to have that player apply more pressure to their opponent. While you’re doing this, jockey behind your teammate by holding L2/left trigger, ensuring that there are two players now applying pressure and trying to force a mistake. Jockeying behind your teammate ensures that your opponent has to work their way past both of you to advance behind the goal, while also allows you to clean up any loose ball that may come as a result of your teammate trying to dispossess your rival.
L2/left trigger will be your best friend in a variety of situations, with it allowing you to successfully shimmy in the path of your opponent without fully committing to a tackle. Although predicting the right time to launch in with a standing tackle (or, if you’re feeling confident, a sliding tackle) will require good reactions from you, the above method is a great way of limiting your opponents’ attacking threat without letting your guard down.
