How to Defend in FIFA 15

FIFA 15 Defending

FIFA 15 Tips – Learn how to defend better and improve your defensive skills in FIFA 15

As FIFA 15 has a different gameplay than FIFA 14, its defending mechanics have become more realistic. But, it’s now more difficult to defend in FIFA 15 while the attacking is easier since the dribbling is simpler in this game.

In this article, you will find some tips and tricks that can help you improve your defensive skills and do defend properly at FIFA 15 especially when you play online.

The fact is that FIFA 15 defensive mechanics were improved and became even more real. What you need to do is basically to go close to the attacker and press the standing or sliding tackle button at the right time. So it means, it’s more about the mental action and you have to think about it more than before, it is called Tactical Defending which is there in FIFA game since FIFA 12. You can still switch it back to the classic defending method by going to the setting and change it Legacy Defending. But, I personally recommend you to stick with tactical defending and try to get pro at it.

Know the Controls
First off, you need to know the defending controls in FIFA 15. I suggest you to download FIFA 15 manual first. Here are the basic classic controls for defending in FIFA 15:

The circle (Playstation) or B (Xbox) button performs a sliding tackle. Be careful, you need to do it with the right timing, otherwise the attacker will easily dribble the ball and avoid you.

The X (Playstation) or A (Xbox) button will put the pressure on the attacker by doing a short standing tackle to grab the ball. This button is very effective, you probably will need to use it the most.

The square (Playstation) or X (Xbox) button will do a sliding tackle. This type of tackle could be very dangerous, because either a physical contact or a shirt pull or a at its worst, a long tackle can be finished up with a foul and a possible yellow/red card.

With button L2 (PS) or LT (Xbox) you can contain an opponent.

R1 (PS) or RB (Xbox) button allows you to call a second player to put pressure on the attacker who carries the ball.

FIFA 15 A Bad Tackle

Practice with these buttons and get your fingers very comfortable on the controller with them. You need to be able to push these buttons quickly when need them.

Do the Basics
Go to Skill Games and do all the defensive skill drills there. Those drills will help you to improve your defensive skills from basic to advance.

Play Single Player Games
The CPU might not be as smart as human but the fact is that CPU is controlling the pattern and the mechanics of the gameplay even when a real player is playing FIFA 15. So playing against FIFA 15 AI can improve your defensive skills for sure.

Play single player matches and focus on the defending. Try to read CPU’s strategies for the attacking. Prevent their passes and block the receivers before a pass happens. See how the AI system is dribbling the ball and try to tackle at the right time. Start with the beginner difficulty and try to promote your defending skills by going to higher level of difficulty.

After doing this, go and play online games and try to defend against a real person and do the same techniques as above to read people’s tactics and strategy in order to improve your skills for defending in FIFA 15.

FIFA 15 Managing the Defence

Defending Tactics and Strategy
As mentioned above, FIFA 15 defensive pattern and mechanics are more real. Therefore you need to put your mind to it. I suggest you to choose your favourite team, or to buy your favourite players if you’re playing Ultimate Team. This will help you to know your team’s tactics and strategy much better. You need to get comfortable with your team and know your defensive weaknesses and mistakes. Then try to fix and modify them.

Also, don’t forget that in Team Management, you can define and modify player roles and instructions. And using the analog pad on your gamepad controller, you can apply the quick tactics in the game.

Be Patient
Make sure you do not rush when defending. Keep in mind that CPU is also assisting you on defending. Sometimes, you need to just let CPU to defend for you. When your opponent is one the ball and attacking your goal, you don’t have to panic. Just respect your opponent and go for the ball, do the pressure, do the defending techniques and press the right defending button depending on your situation.

Keep Learning
Always try to learn more on defending. Learn from professional FIFA players when you’re playing online or by reading their articles online.

There are some more tips here at FIFPlay written by FIFA 15 experts:
Advanced Defending Tips for FIFA 15
Quick Defending Tips for FIFA 15
Best Defenders in FIFA 15
FIFA 15 Tips Central

Comments (7)

7 thoughts on “How to Defend in FIFA 15

  1. Im só disapointed.real????you think that type of defence is real? Your programmers never played football. This is só wrong. I just want my money back and move on. 🙁 im one of the best players for years. I stayed at FIFA 13 since FIFA 14 was só bad, and last week i give a chance to FIFA 15 and….come on…. I have to try pes 15. Bye bye EA. 🙁

  2. I need some advice. My friend always play as Real Madrid. Most of the goals he does made by long crosspasses to Ronaldo and he get 1 vs 1 against the goali. How do i defend against those goals.

    1. Put his striker in offside trap. To do so, you should not switch to your defenders, you should leave your last defensive line alone to do defending by AI, they set offside trap automatically but if you touch them it won’t work.

      Another thing you can do is to block or cut off his passes, you need to hold R2 (playstation controller) when your defender is close to the passer who is sending the through/long pass.

  3. “The fact is that FIFA 15 defensive mechanics were improved and became even more real.”

    This is not only NOT a fact, it’s also very wrong, and essentially discredits any advice you might have about this game, let alone defending.

Post Your Comments