Beating Your Opponent One-on-One

We have taken a look at Basic Skill moves, Advanced Skill moves, and Combo moves. You should have a pretty good feel for how each one works, and how to execute each move. The more time you spend working on your moves in the Arena, the quicker you will be able to perform them. We recommend starting with the basic moves like the Body Feint, Stepover, and Reverse Stepover. Then move on to the 360 Roulette and other more advanced skills.

Now it is time to take your new skills to the pitch and put them to use against both CPU and Human Opponents. You can be successful at Fifa 09 by just working the ball, using good tactics, and finishing, but what fun would that be? Breaking the ankles of a CPU defender or smoking our friend’s player and leaving him in your wake is much more fun.

We recommend avoiding skill moves in your own defending third. You could execute a simple Drag Back or Ball Roll if you are not under pressure and want to hot dog a bit. Skill Moves can be risky, and you don’t want to be risky in your defensive half. As you approach the halfway line, you can begin to pull out more of your arsenal. The final third is a great place to put your skills to use, as often you will have to beat a defender in order to get a chance on goal. In addition, using skill moves will often force the defence to foul you. This will provide you with set piece opportunities in dangerous areas of the pitch.

Control the Ball

One of the best pieces of advice we can give you when it comes to beating players off the dribble is to learn to lay off the Sprint button. You can’t turn as sharply, and your player is much easier to knock off the ball when he is at a dead sprint. Only use the Sprint button when your player has lots of open field, or to briefly explode past your opponent after you make a skill move.

There are a number of different skills that your player will utilize even when you don’t activate a skill. For example, top skilled players like Ronaldinho and the like will use a Cruyff move when they make a 180 degree change of direction. Highly skilled players will also be able to perform double-touch moves with the ball as they quickly change direction from side to side.

You can beat overeager defenders by just keeping your player at a jogging pace and making quick change of direction moves.

Use Change of Pace

Once you have mastered controlling the ball in tight spaces, you can begin to use change of pace to beat defenders. Use the Stop ball control liberally. Take a few dribbles, perform a hard stop, and then explode in a different direction.

Once you see a defender lean the wrong way, use the Right Thumbstick to knock the ball in a different direction. Make sure you have plenty of room, or you risk knocking the ball too far ahead into a second defender. Stop and go play is especially effective against human opponents. Blast straight down the field, hit R1/RB to hit the brakes, and then accelerate in a new direction. You’ll be able to create acres of space with this technique.

The Importance of Exits

One aspect of the Skill Move system that is often overlooked by Fifa gamers is the Exit move. While the Skill Move is pretty to watch, the Exit move is what makes the skill worth performing. Exit moves allow you to explode in a new direction and take advantage of a defender who has bitten on your fake.

NOTE: One mistake that gamers make is to perform the Skill Move too close to a defender. You need to be sure that there is enough space between your player and a defender to execute the move. You can get results even if the defender is 5 yards or more away. He will still bite on the fake.

You will want to spend time in the Arena looking at all the different types of Exit moves that can be performed. Look specifically at the Stepover, Reverse Stepover, and Drag Back moves.

Often a very simple stepover can reap huge benefits if it is coupled with an explosive exit.

In this example, Ribery begins to perform a Reverse Stepover as his defender closes in.

With the move completed, Ribery starts to push the ball to the left with the outside of his foot.

Already you can see him begin to clear his shoulders and seal off the defender.

Ribery completes the move and leaves the defender in his wake.

Best Moves & Combos to Beat Your Defenders