As EA's last entry to the FIFA franchise has been out for some time, many players have been struggling with offline play in Kick Off, Career Mode, and much more for various reasons. This is mainly down to the level of difficulty and the huge gap between World Class, and Legendary and has been the subject of complaint in predecessors.
FIFA 23's Legendary in particular has its issues in the aspect of the AI moving and passing the ball much quicker than players can react, leaving for a more frustrating experience than ever. Aside from adjusting sliders for a much more balanced difficulty experience, there are certainly methods for players to consider when playing on this difficulty.
6 Jockeying
One of the crucial steps to learn and adjust to is the use of jockeying when defending against opponents. Fans will be aware that on higher difficulties and more specifically on Legendary, the AI almost every time have the ability to pass and move the ball at a very fast pace in the final third.
They tend to run from either of the two ends of the penalty box, which would then lead to a pass and a power shot that ends up in the top corner. Whilst it is not always possible to avoid this by using this method of defending, it is a massive help a large majority of the time as it includes not instantaneously committing to a tackle.
5 Constant Pressure Tactic
Despite its massive toll on players' stamina and energy, using this tactic properly is incredibly beneficial. Not only does this leave the opposition in panic mode of releasing the ball, but it also leads to numerous mistakes being made and increases the chances of ball recovery.
It can very much be viewed as a game changer when down by a vast amount of goals, and once the first goal goes in the chances of a comeback edge closer. Using this requires a lot of practice as if not used appropriately and proportionately, it can be detrimental to defense as the AI will exploit this through counter-attacks.
4 Drop Back Tactic
Contrary to the idea of constantly pressing against teams is the use of dropping back which gives players the chance to avoid counters. When facing off against teams of much higher quality such as Manchester City, this would more than likely be the better preference as leaving space open for playmakers is incredibly dangerous.
The midfield and defense are where games are won and lost, so ensuring that the entire team drops back to defend when in danger, is crucial to avoid conceding and keeping clean sheets. Fortunately, unlike the constant pressure, this does not have anywhere near as much of a tax on stamina and suits fans who opt for a defensive setup on Legendary.
3 Low Back Line/Depth
Akin to dropping back and plausible to use alongside it is a lower back line. This can be adjusted within tactics, and pushing the defensive line much closer to goalkeepers will ensure that players will be ready to engage with oncoming attacks without having to rush back and recover.
Adjusting this back and forth from a high and low line is the best suitable here, depending on the flow of each match and which team is more dominant. Again this will not always work, but for players who don't mind a snatch-and-grab victory playing defensive and opting to counter, this is vital to this style of play.
2 Keep Possession
Losing possession in Legendary difficulty is disastrous. Both lower and higher-ranked teams' players always tend to be ready to fire on in the midst of counter-attacks, and it can take one or two passes to eventually concede. This can be much worse especially when players are passing the ball around in their own penalty area, as the AI's shot power is often unstoppable. Players will know that in the final few minutes of each game even when in the lead, it can still be tempting to try to extend the lead.
While this comes down to the discussion of fans adjusting the game's sliders to their own liking and the potential of EA adjusting the CPU's capabilities, this is one of the best ways to avoid constantly conceding.
1 Patient In Attack
Out of all factors to consider, remaining patient whilst building attacks and pressuring opposition defenses will save players in scoring and avoiding counter-attacks. Taking on defenders can be very difficult as they themselves jockey much more efficiently, and through balls or crosses can lead to dispossession more often than not.
Moving the ball around in the midfield, and plotting the next move toward attacking is much more suitable than attempting risky passes and long balls. Attention to detail in buildup play should be taken much more seriously against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, PSG, or Real Madrid. The teams who constantly press and play with higher lines are vulnerable in defense, as space is left open for an attack but remaining patient and picking the right passes are crucial to success in this region.
FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.