Recently, the news that Jonas "Jonny" Wirth crushed his opponents in EA FC 24 Tournament and became the champion of Virtual Bundesliga 2023-24 attracted the attention of many people. In this guide, we’ll give you a brief overview of his playing style and give you expert advice on both defense and offense.

Stable Defensive Formation

Let’s get down to business. There’s nothing flashy about his style of play, especially on defense, which is the foundation of his success.

In fact, I rarely see someone so disciplined on defense that he doesn’t pull defenders out of position and keeping shape is his norm.

Since the midfielders still have a long way to go to cover the wings, Jonny knows that if he involves the full-backs too early, it will create an unfavorable situation on the wings. Because the attacker has the player's advantage on this side. Therefore, with patience, he can allow the wingers to step in, or switch to full-backs, which can stabilize the wings and ultimately help him win the ball.

This composed way of holding a defensive shape is evident in every area of the pitch, and he rarely over-commits with a player even in the trickiest moments of this formation.

Every FC player knows that it’s the scariest defensive situation when you win the ball and immediately concede it. But Jonny could stay calm, and he immediately performed a Jockey movement with L2/LB to maintain defense. While it’s easy to get busy after conceding a goal in front of your own goal, a rock-solid defense is absolutely key to winning the title.

What Is On & Off The Ball Defending?

While he’s unlikely to over-commit his players, he keeps the pressure high with an excellent combination of On and Off The Ball Defending.

So, what is On and Off The Ball Defending? On The Ball is what you know as directly defending the opponent’s player with the ball, but when Jonny switches to anticipating the next ball and uses Second Man Press, that’s Off The Ball Defending.

The best players in the world can fluidly switch between On and Off The Ball Defending because it puts pressure on the player in possession of the ball. Besides this, it also affects their next passing options, forcing opponents into trouble and making mistakes more likely.

Offside Trap

Another tool to put your opponent in trouble is the frequent use of Offside Trap. He likes to use this early in the opponent’s attack, and a pass to his center back is Jonny’s chance to trigger Offside Trap.

This will greatly affect the pace and momentum of the offensive players. Because they have to reset their position, especially when used for the second time a few minutes later, it makes the area in front of the defense difficult to play.

Timing is key here in order to limit the opponent’s movements to create some space in the middle. So Jonny only uses Offside Trap when all four defenders are in position. The opponent cannot pass the ball forward the moment the four defenders push up, so many times when the opponent turns around, it is the key time for Offside Trap.

It’s a very subtle thing, and it rarely results in a direct win of possession, but overall, it changes the dynamics on the pitch and breaks up the opponent’s typical attacking pattern.

Deceptive Long Balls

Now let’s look at Jonny’s offense. One characteristic of his Deceptive Long Balls is that he has a calm playmaking ability and does not rush by changing sides a lot to get players in the right position.

He will often deceptively initiate runs from wingers or full-backs. Then, when a player performs a Deep Run, he will make an extra pass or two to get the ball to a player with good Long Ball Pass ability. What I want to remind you is that buying the right FC 24 Player can help you implement this strategy better.

Jonny chose Bastian Schweinsteiger and Kimmich in the central midfield position. They are the best passers. He scored 13 goals in the semi-finals and final, six of which were initiated by long balls from these two men or the centre-backs.

What’s more, even if opponents adapt and try to start covering these runs, it’s still difficult to defend. Opponents have to recognize the run and mark it, but this gives Jonny more space and freedom to operate in the midfield and he can always deliver excellent passes to Strikers.

In short, Jonny always knows exactly what he needs to do in front of the goal. No matter how tight the angle is or how far away from the goal, he can score easily. Master and use these skills and you can win the game! Good luck!

With Ultimate Team’s Road to the Final promotion in full swing, EA Sports has released EA FC 24 High Efficiency SBC so players can get their hands on some cheap and easy packages. In this guide, we’ll cover all the tasks in High Efficiency SBC, as well as the best tricks and cheapest ways to accomplish them.

This is the second such Squad Building Challenge to be released during the event, and each completion will help fans progress through an objective set that offers more rewards.

Puzzle SBC is an incredible addition to Ultimate Team, offering players a range of exciting pack rewards for some low-rated fodder players.

While the requirements for such an SBC can sometimes be challenging because of complex regulations, the benefits are worthwhile. High Efficiency SBC in EA FC 24 is a perfect example.

Task

Similar to all other Puzzle SBCs released so far in the game cycle, EA FC 24 High Efficiency SBC requires a single squad with a specific set of restrictions and regulations. These are the specific requirements mentioned in SBC:

• Players from the same League: At least three of the starting eleven are required.
• Players from the same Country: At least five in the starting eleven.
• Gold Players: At least four players in the starting eleven.
• Player Quality: Lowest silver medal among starting eleven.
• Total Chemistry: At least 14.

While the requirements may seem a bit detailed and complicated at first glance, these SBC requirements themselves are very cheap and easy to meet. This is mainly because the overall threshold is low. You only need to spend FC 24 Coins to purchase four Gold Players.

To make the most of their resources, players should submit four Gold Players and fill the rest of the team with Silver Items.

Cheapest Method

Since the requirements for SBC are fairly low, there are plenty of cheap FC 24 players that can be used to get it done. Remember, it’s always better to start with players already in the club. Especially if they are not tradeable, as you can never profit with gold coins. Here are some of the most affordable and cost-effective player options:

• Graham Burke: 66
• Wout Faes: 76
• Aaron Martin: 76
• Conor Coventry: 67
• James McGrath: 65
• Megan Connolly: 77
• Jonny Hayes: 67
• Greg Cunningham: 68
• Mark McGuinness: 68
• Tonny Vilhena: 75
• Jack Bonham: 67

Ideally, the overall estimated cost to complete High Efficiency SBC is approximately 2,900 EA Sports FC Coins. Of course, you can save money by using cards you already have in your club, especially if they’re non-tradeable.

Is It Worth Completing High Efficiency SBC?

The group reward for completing the challenge is Small Gold Players Pack. This pack contains six Gold Players, one of which is a rare item.

While the rewards that come with this Small Gold Players Pack are nothing too exciting in and of themselves, this SBC is part of the complete RTTF Puzzle Completionist objective set. Not only can players earn one pack by completing High Efficiency SBC, but they can also earn another pack when completing part of that objective set.

Also, they will need to complete all Puzzle SBCs released during RTTF Puzzle Completionist event to unlock the overall group reward, making EA FC 24 High Efficiency SBC even more worth completing.

The above are some tips you need to pay attention to when completing High Efficiency SBC and the simplest and cheapest solutions. Hope these tips are helpful.

This 4-2-3-1 formation is definitely a broken formation in every FIFA version. Today we will show you the best tactics and instructions for this 4-2-3-1 formation in EA FC 24 to help you get as many wins as possible.

The defense of 4-2-3-1 formation is incredible, and the offense is also very good. Leaving no gaps in defense, it’s a nightmare for your opponent. Therefore, your gaming experience will also be greatly improved.

How Does 4-2-3-1 Formation Work?

In a 4-2-3-1 formation, the team usually consists of 4 defenders, 2 holding midfielders, 3 attacking midfielders and 1 striker. Our major goal is to build a complete defense and a strong midfield and provide continuous support for striker’s offense.

The two holding midfielders, often referred to as the double pivot, are responsible for providing stability and protection to the defence. They are primarily responsible for protecting the back line and acting as a link between defense and offense. They also need to start playmaking and break up their opponents’ attacks.

The three attacking midfielders in front of the double pivot form an advanced midfield line. CAM operates centrally, acting as a playmaker and often the link between midfield and attack. The wide attacking midfielders spread out on both sides, extending the width and providing crosses into the box to create scoring opportunities.

The solo striker is the offensive striker and is usually the focus on completing passes and finishing. FC 24 player selection for striker will vary depending on the team’s style. Some strikers act as target players, while others focus on tracking back or running in behind the defence.

Pros & Cons

For advantages, it features three types of offensive players, increasing the range of offensive possibilities. Meanwhile, the two CDMs provide ample cover to the rear.

However, the shortcomings of 4-2-3-1 formation are also something we have to pay attention to. Typically, CAM functions on the wing, but he may not have the required attributes. And CDM may become tired from being forced to defend and fill gaps in the midfield. Therefore, if you have enough EA Sports FC Coins budget, it is very important to improve the overall attributes of your players.

Best Custom Tactics

For this Custom Tactics setup, we mainly run in a balanced defensive style with a width of 55 and a depth of 45. In attack, a balanced direct pass will do, with a width of 60. With five players in the box, that’s actually a lot less than we’ve used before.

Player Instructions

• Striker: Balance width, Get in Behind, Intercept Normally, Stay Forward.
• Attacking Midfielder: Maintaining Forward Position, Balanced Crossing and Running, Holding Position, Normal Interception.
• Center Back: Stay in Backcourt when attacking, Intercept Normally, and Stick to your Position.
• Full Back: Stay in Backfield during Offense, Intercept Normally, Mix Offense, Hold your Position.
• Defensive Midfielder: Balanced Defense, Balanced Offense, Normal Interception, Covering Center, Holding Position.

For Striker, we just hope he can balance the width and make normal interceptions at the back. This is a very basic job for Striker.

We stay forward on CAM, so even when counterattacking, we always have Striker and CAM together. That way, they can play one-on-one and run the ball that way.

For RAM and LAM, we will both come back to defense. This means we can defend with two flat lines of four, which will be very useful. And we’ll have extra broad support in defense so we don’t have to have their wingers one-on-one with your defenders.

Also Read: How To Instantly Improve Your Finishing In EA FC 24? - 7 Tips

We have one CDM stay behind and then the other balances out. Defensively you always get him back there, but you also want your other creative midfielder to provide some help in attack as well.

Finally, we leave Full Back behind. Because we already have RAM and LAM and don’t need our Full Back to move forward.

Since this year’s version depends a lot on your play style. This 4-2-3-1 tactics can provide you with different tactical variations and give you a different gaming experience. While we can’t call it the best single tactic, it’s definitely one of the meta formations worth trying out in EA Sports FC 24.

FC 24 meta playstyle is wing play, and it’s so difficult to defend because of many overpowered attacking mechanics in the game. Here are six steps you can use to defend wing play and concede fewer goals. 

Of course, if you have enough EA FC 24 Coins, I still recommend buying some excellent players to add to your team. This way, your team will be stronger.

1. Your Defense Structure

To defend wing play, first of all, you need to defend the buildup, meaning you have to stop the plan before it progresses any further forward.

And our first step is to maintain the team shape solid. You should avoid dragging players out of positions, especially Center Backs and mainly when defending wing play. 

You need to keep your Fullbacks in their positions. This fullback plays a big role in defending the wing play.

The moment you drag him out of his position and by any chance, the opponent manages to drive into that open space, then it’s hard to stop it.

So, if you struggle to keep your fullback in position, here is a simple basic way you can do it:

1. First of all, you need to read the opponent’s play style. 
2. If he’s a type of player who likes to sprint a lot and attacks with speed, here you need to make a passive approach with your Fullback. What do I mean by this is you don’t rush to approach the ball holder with your Fullback, maintain his position and wait for the opponent’s move.
3. If he sprints or tries to pull out any trick to beat your Fullback, then you’re in a good position to defend that attempt. 
4. If you don’t rush to move out, the opponent who tends to just sprint forward will have difficulties to deal with your Fullback since a lot of layers, and normally the majority, tend to always sprint on the wing.

2. Center Backs In Fullback’s Role

Our next step is to use the Center Back in a Fullback’s role since it’s hard to always maintain that Fullback’s position. 

You need to have plan B and that’s your Center back. This is the least alternative you need when defending. Don’t always defend with a Center Back in a Fullbacks role. You only do it in that scenario when you dragged out that Fullback out of position.

For example, here the opponent manages to perform a pass and move and leave my Fullback behind.

Now, this pass is open and dangerous because of this open way to my goal. So here, I give up sticking with this Fullback and run backwards just because I want to maintain my team shape. This Fullback is not in a position to defend this scenario.

So, I switch to my Center Back because he’s in a good position to stop this player from moving towards my goal. I controlled this Center Back and was able to deal with this attack smartly.

3. Block Passes Inside The Box

The next step is to cut any open passing lane inside your box. This is so crucial while dealing with wing play. 

Don’t allow your opponent to pass into your box because that’s what a lot of players look for. When attacking through the wing, these open passes are more dangerous because your defense line at this moment moves too deep, leaving a big space for open shooting angles, like finesse shots, extra passes, and trivolis.

So, make sure you learn how to cut passing lanes.

The next step is to cut the passing lane and after you press the ball holder. This is somehow advanced. But it’s very crucial in these moments. 

Don’t cut the passing lane and remain passive in these positions. So, after cutting the passing lane, pressure the player in challenge for the ball. 

For example, here, as the opponent passes to his player in this position, I spot this pass and I immediately close that lane. But I know the opponent’s skill level. He will remain patient and try to exploit this space. That’s why I cut the pass and I immediately approach this player and I win the ball. 

5. Block The Byline Move

The next step is to block the byline move.

Some opponents are too smart. They will always pretend like they want a pass just to bait you in an attempt to drive to the byline and look for a driven pass to any open Striker. 

Your main aim is to cut any open passing lane to the opponent’s FC 24 Players in the box. But also, you need to observe the opponent’s movements with this player with the ball.

If he tries to drive to the byline, move your Defender diagonally in this format. Here, you’re applying pressure to that player and at the same time cutting passing lanes to his Strikers. You need to match the speed of that player with the ball the moment you get closer, activate the speed jockey, and tackle if you see the opportunity.

For example, here the opponent manages to break through and he’s now sprinting. That’s why I also sprint in this scenario to match that speed. When he stops and I also stop. I’m close to this ball holder. I activate the speed jockey, cutting off this passing lane. 

But I’m also observing the movements of this player. I move diagonally and the opponent tries to pass, but he was unable to find his player because I was positioning my player very well in the passing lane and also applying pressure to his player. 

6. Partial Team Press

Our next step is to use the Partial Team Press. This came last because you had to first learn the basics first. 

To perform the Partial Team Press, you press the R1 or RB first. Then, you press and hold it for the second time. Two white icons will appear on two of your nearest Defenders and these Defenders will mark the opponent’s free players near the ball.

We use this in the moments when we overcommit to close the byline because by any chance, if the opponent manages to break and pass the ball, it’s easy to defend those moments. Your players will mark the opponent’s free players and give the opponent a hard time to get that ball to his Strikers and score.

For example, here as I’m rushing to close up this byline, I activate the Partial Team Press and my players mark the opponent’s players. 

I tackle the ball before the opponent attempts to pass, though at this moment I am a little unlucky in opponent gets the rebound and gains control of the ball again. He attempts to force this pass and my player blocks it. He still gets that rebound, but I remain composed and no panicking.

As he turns to look for any of his open Striker, I activate the Partial Team Press and I run to block the byline he passed to this player. But my Defender was marking him and I was able to get this ball.

Partial Team Press is so overpowered when defending wing play, so you should start using this tool and deal with cutbacks. But as you know this game, you can sometimes do all the right stuffs to defend.

But when luck is not on your side, you will concede sometimes. So, don’t get annoyed and get frustrated. 

One advice for you is to play the game when you’re silent. Don’t get frustrated when things are not going on your side because you will lose focus. Don’t overt talk or complain.

We often see teams that dominate their opponents the entire game but lose due to a lack of proper shooting ability. This is especially true for EA FC 24, where a perfect shooting can often help you completely turn the tide of the game.

However, the situation in the field is changeable, and we need to use different shooting techniques in different finishing situations. Offense doesn’t do much for your team if you can’t capitalize on your chances.

We’ll take a look at the different shooting options you can use and the best environment to perform them. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Trivela Shot

The first thing we want to talk about is Trivela Shot, which is the best type of shooting outside of the box this year. But what many people don’t know is that it is also very easy to use in the box. You simply hold L2 and press the circle button to perform Trivela Shot.

Trivela Shot is powerful, but what makes it so great is its curve. Trivela technique involves hitting the ball with the outside of the foot, creating a turning effect. So this is unsalvageable for the goalie.

And for me, the most special thing about Trivela Shot is that it is even very useful for players who are not good at shooting. For example, your defender can shoot from outside the box. But if you take a normal shot with one of your defenders inside the box, the chance of it going in is very low. That’s why I think Trivela Shot is really special.

Regular Shot

The next thing we want to talk about is Regular Shot. You just press the round button to execute it. This is probably the most common shooting technique over the years. Even sometimes you don’t know whether you should take Finesse Shot or Trivela Shot, I can suggest you go straight to Regular Shot.

In addition, mastering Timed Finishing can often bring certain improvements to Regular Shot. If done well, this will increase the power and accuracy of the shot and will almost always get the ball past the goalkeeper. However, if done slightly wrong, the ball may just find its way to the corner flag. Therefore, it will be very important to spend FC 24 Coins to improve the overall statistics of the players.

Power Shot

So the type of shooting we are going to talk about next has been very interesting since this year. It is a Power Shot. Because this year they introduced Power Shot Playstyle, which makes Power Shot better than ever.

You can perform a Power Shot by holding down L1 and R1 simultaneously and pressing the shooting button. This will play an animation and your player will begin charging up a powerful shot. Of course, the obvious drawbacks are that accuracy is greatly reduced, and it takes time to charge up the shot, so your opponent can easily steal the ball from you by sliding in.

Due to the above drawbacks, using Power Shot in the box in EA FC 24 has almost no effect. Therefore, you need to hit the ball from the edge of the box so that you may have more time and space.

Finesse Shot

If you want beautiful curling shots from the edge of the box into the far post, then Finesse Shot is your best choice. You can release this Finesse Shot by pressing R1/RB + O/B. They’re also very effective at close range, allowing you to deflect the ball around the charging goalkeeper and into the back of the net rather than shooting it directly at him. It’s really about getting the timing of execution right.

Chip Shot

Next up is Chip Shot. This is one of the most difficult shooting techniques to perform in FC 24, as it requires the player to have near-perfect strength and timing. Of course, you can also choose to purchase the appropriate FC 24 players directly.

Chip Shot is best used in one-on-one opportunities with charging goalies. At this point, you must press L1/LB + O/B in the fraction of a second before the goalkeeper is about to touch the ball. It’s crucial to stay calm and not hold down the shot button for too long, as this will not only send the ball past the goalkeeper, but also the goal posts.

Low-Driven Shot

The last type of Shooting is last year’s Low-driven Shot. Like most techniques in EA Sports FC 24, executing a Low-driven Shot is an extremely simple process.

First, run towards the goal with the ball, then tap to shoot to activate Low-driven Shot. When the shot energy bar appears, try turning it to a quarter. If you can do this, whichever player you control will take a Low-driven Shot.

But executing Low-driven Shot consistently can be tricky. If there is not enough power behind the ball, the goalkeeper will most likely save the ball. If the force is too great, the ball will lift off the ground and fall directly into their glove.

However, once you master Low-driven Shot, it’s one of the most effective ways to score points.

Well, that’s all there is to know about the shooting type in EA Sports FC 24. Hopefully, these tips will help you win the game beautifully. Good luck!

We all talk about left stick Dribbling being too strong and Control Sprint being OP. We have almost forgotten about the skill moves, which have a huge impact in tight situations.

How many skill moves do you currently use in FC 24? Here, in this guide, I’m going to be giving you our top five Advanced Skill Moves so that you realize what kind of an impact you can create with them before you completely forget about them.

Since defending is relatively harder this year, advanced skill moves can completely bust your opponent. If your team is full of good players, you will win more games. However, this requires you to invest a large amount of EA FC 24 Coins.

1. Heel To Ball Roll

Let’s start with the Heel To Ball Roll.

Heel To Ball Roll is a 4-star skill move that allows you to protect the ball and change its direction at the same time. It also gives you a little push once you execute it and it’s a very dangerous tool if you use in a correct spot.

To be able to perform a Heel To Ball Roll, simply hold the L1 or LB button and push the right analog stick once towards your player’s front side and right afterwards towards his back. 

Compared to the normal Heel to Heel, this skill most slightly changes the angle while pushing the ball forward. That could help you dodge a Defender who is directly coming from your frontal side. This slight angle change also creates new ways to pass or shoot. That is why I tend to use it while either going vertical or horizontal to the goal.

One very important thing to add here is that you can select if you’re either going to exit the move from your left or right side. Make sure to point out the direction with your left analog stick right after you give the original input of the move.

Identifying the defensive threat directly from the front side of my player, I also see the free space towards the side. That is where I execute the Heel To Ball Roll, dodge a Defender’s challenge, and get myself into the open space.

2. Three Touch Roulette

Moving on to the next one, which is probably my most beloved skill throughout all time titles is the Three Touch Roulette.

As the name of this 4-star skill move declares, your player touches the ball three times to change the ball’s direction. And while doing so, he shields the ball away from the Defender while putting his body in between.

Holding on to the L2 & LT button and pushing the right end lock stick first towards your player’s back and then either towards your players’s left or right will allow you to execute this move.

This move becomes really efficient whenever the opponent tries to make a physical contact while overcommitting towards one direction. Executing the move will allow you to dodge this contact while changing the ball’s direction exactly towards the other side.

Here, in a tight spot, I see that the opponent has to switch to his other Defender to cover the space ahead of me, knowing that I want to turn the direction around.

And with the Three Touch Roulette, I put my body in between, blocking any kind of a defensive move that the opponent can go for, change direction, and get a clear angle to shoot. 

3. Elastico

Our next move will be a bit more complicated and has two variations. I’m talking about the Elastico, which is a 5-star skill move. 

This move allows you to change the ball’s direction 90° by pushing it twice with the same foot.

Normal Elastica is the move where your player pushes the ball initially towards forward and then towards the side.

You can perform this move by pushing the right end lock stick first towards your player’s right and then rotating at 90° clockwise.

Elastico is really strong whenever a Defender tries to tackle the ball end. Reverse Elastico is exactly the opposite. Your player pushes the bolt initially towards forward, followed by a little touch with the outside of his foot, which will change the direction of the ball. The input is also reversed, so that means you push the right end lock stick first towards your player’s left and then rotated 90° counterclockwise.

I use the reverse Elastico whenever I want to make a sharp turn around the Defender, who is trying to safely contain the current situation, or make the direct move towards me.

A short but clear example here. I receive the ball inside the box. See that the opponent is making a direct move towards me and I see the clear path with this light angle that I can use to dodge him. Perfect situation for a Reverse Elastico.

As I do debt, the opponent also gambles and gets away from me, and the sharp turn of the Elastico creates a direct goal scoring opportunity for me, which ends up with a goal. 

Another valuable information for the input is that it depends on the strong foot of the player. The default input gets reversed if the player is left footed, so watch out for that.

With these skill moves, the game gets more fun. But don’t think we’re done yet. FC 24 gets even juicier with the new skill moves.

4. Flair Nutmeg

In fact, the Flair Nutmeg is one of them and you can completely destroy your opponent with its variations.

To be able to execute a Flair Nutmeg, you need players with 4-star skill moves. If not, don’t worry, you can directly purchase FC 24 Players that meet the requirements. Hold on to your L1 & R1 or LB & RB button together and push the right analog stick towards the exit direction you desire. Depending on that exit direction, you can perform this move towards the side, backwards, or forward.

However, my favorite one is the one, which you execute directly towards the side. Because with the animation, you pull the ball back towards you and then push it towards your sideway. That can achieve multiple things, such as creating new running or passing lengths. 

I mostly use this variation whenever I have an obvious option to play to. That could be a pass or dribble. If the opponent overcommits towards that option and doesn’t come too close to you, you can execute this variation and change the ball’s direction rapidly.

As seen in the example, make the opponent believe that you’re about to go in a certain direction. He will overcommit to it. And using the Flair Nutmeg, you can create other options in which you can get really dangerous.

5. Drag To Heel

Last but definitely not the least is one of my favorite moves this year, the Drag To Heel, which is again another 4-star skill move. 

In the previous years, I found it really hard to work with and it was kind of a useless skill move for me. But this year, it is very powerful since it allows you to make a very sharp turn. And if the Defender overcommits beforehand, you have a very decent chance of getting past him.

To be able to execute this move, hold on to your L1& LB button and push the right end lock stick first towards your player’s back and then either towards his left or right.

I mainly use this move on the wing where I have the speed and the luxury of running forward. This way, I force the Defender to think okay this guy’s going to run forward. And because of this, he will overcommit to that running lane.

The Drag To Heel allows me to change the ball’s direction rapidly. And at the end of the move, I can both dodge Defender and gain a good acceleration.

The move can also be used inside the box to create chances. Let’s see an example. I get the ball with my Striker outside the box and have a clear running lane ahead of me.

As I dribble forward, the opponent has to overcommit my running lane to catch me. And I use this against him, execute the Drag To Heel to the direction he’s coming from, and easily dodge him with it, which creates a perfect angle to shoot and I scored the goal.