Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

[SeanDylan]

As the title says, my skill level seems to be between Pro and World Class. The only problem is that on Pro it's way too easy. I'm currently playing with a 3.5 star team and I beat a 4.5 star team 6-0, I then go on World Class and that same time I beat 6-0, I lose 6-0. It doesn't make any sense.

I've already looked at the sliders people have created which I do appreciate and have tweaked them a bit. Unfortuantely it hasn't done much. I really wish they offered more variety in their sliders. It really pisses me off when the CPU defense swarms 2+ guys onto me (which is perfectly fine) while my AI defense just stand there until I control them. They are literally ********. I don't understand how on one side they actually play solid defense and the other (mine) they stand there like a 90 year old man.

The other thing that is aggravating is the fact that the CPU controls the ball so damn well. I don't mean first touch you can adjust that, I mean generally speaking. They dribble around me way too easily. I know on defense it's better to give them room and then put pressure just around the box but still.

I heard that Legendary plays fairly well. Is this because that your team AI is much smarter and actually plays defense? I've read in a few places that this could be the case but not quite sure. If my team AI is still as horrible there's no way I'm ever making that transition to Legendary but if my AI is more intelligent then I can compensate with the CPU's sliders to make it fair.

One more thing, I seem to have trouble scoring. On Pro the majority of my goals come very similar. Either on a breakaway where the last second I pass to a teammate to my right or left for an easy goal or I'll hold down RT and LT (Xbox 360) just outside the box, when I see an opening, let go LT and keep holding down RT and take a powerful shot a few yards or just at the box and they almost always go in. Seldomly do I score off corners and or free kicks and or crosses inside. I'd say at least 85% of my goals come from what I said above and not the latter.

Any advice and or comments would be appreciate.

[iaxy]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

I was exactly like you until two days ago. Getting totally frustrated with the CPU's ridiculous dribbling and ball retention.

Then I watched a youtube video made by this German guy (can't remember the name), who basically goes at great length describing how to use Tactical defending in FIFA. And bingo, now I can play 3-4 consecutive games without conceding on World Class. Mind you, scoring is also a challenge on that level!

The essence of this tutorial is to always remember two things:

1) Constantly switch players, so that the player you are controlling is the closest to the CPU ball carrier at all times. That is very important because your team maintains shape and your AI-controlled defenders will close gaps as soon as you “release” them from being controlled. So basically contain at all times. To begin with, it will feel strange because you will just contain which will look (and feel) like very passive defending. However, after a while you will notice how changing constantly defenders and containing the ball carrier will negate the CPU from penetrating. He (the CPU) will still do its dangles and dribbles, but would be far less effective and sooner or later they will give up possession. Also, use “teammate” pressure in combination, but only in areas where it’s not dangerous for the CPU to do some trick and blow by both players resulting in a one-on-one with your keeper.

2) Only use the tackle button (circle on the PS3) in extreme situations. His advice was not to use it at all, but I do find some use for it outside the area.

I tried these tactics and already in my first game on World Class I was able to keep a clean sheet. I did not score either, but at least I felt like I had earned the draw with some good defending. I don’t know, may be it’s the way the AI is programmed in this game, but if you take your player out of position, the CPU will burn you immediately, but if you hold position and just contain through frequent player switching, it feels like the CPU just goes into a tilt and forgets how to penetrate. I guess you can call it a glitch, but at least it allows you to play on World Class.

Let me know if that helps (and look up that youtube video I mentioned).

[aarontab]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

I'm kind of in the same boat right now but i'm sandwiched between WC and Legendary. I can't seem to find a balance of sliders to make it difficult enough and a lot of the time, when i think i'm making it more difficult, it just seems easier. Looks like i'll be making the jump to legendary again (i've played it in past versions, 3-4 years ago and it was an EA-style cheatfest) and hoping i can retain my sanity. Good luck to you though, it's SUPER rewarding when you jump up a difficulty and start winning so hopefully you give it a shot and stick it out.

[JamieMUFC1990]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

Play possession football if a opponents player is coming anywhere near you pass even if you have to pass backwards just pass and keep the ball as long as you can eventually you will see the openings to get up the pitch you just have to be patience and not rush or try to force things to happen.

Also if you don't have it on auto switching then try that because it will get you used to which players you need to switch to in different situations.

Try my latest sliders that I updated today because I think I have stopped most of cpu's overpowered playing while still keeping it challenging.

[SeanDylan]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

Iaxy I just did a quick youtube search, is this the name of the video you're referring to, "ifa 13 | Defending Tutorial | How to defend in Fifa 13 | IN-DEPTH | by PatrickHDxGaming?" I'm assuming it is so I'll give it a watch. I'll comment on after I watch but as I play currently I don't really switch players a lot, whichever player is closest to the ball I'll switch to and I'll basically contain. I won't hold down the contain button but I'll back off and if they go somewhere else I'll switch players and do the same thing. It still doesn't really work but like I said I'll watch this video and see what he's talking about thanks for the recommendation.

Jamie, I try to play possession ball. The problem is I only have my game length at 8 minutes as I want to play more games and not less even though it's a tad bit less realistic that way. This means I have to try to do something with the ball a bit quicker but that doesn't mean I just try to go inside the box and immediately score.

I have auto switching on and I have a good feel for when I should switch to certain players. I also am using an adjusted form of your sliders but still doesn't help much. The opposition tends to score quite easily if they're a decent team.

[SeanDylan]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

Just played an 16 minute game on World Class with adjusted sliders. I was Venezuela against Columbia, being away, and lost 1-5. I tried to implement what the German dude taught in his video but it's a bit different. I can see the advantages it gives you I was stealing more balls by being in the proper position but did have a few questions about it.

Are you supposed to be holding down contain and teammate contain all the time? Or only teammate contain and you jockey where you think he's going to pass? Kind of confused on this as he doesn't explain it to well other than saying keep tapping contain while holding down teammate contain. I really wish that the old style of play, where you could call a defender to attack the ball carrier was still in it. I guess teammate contain is similar but not as good.

[HKPound]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

Is there the same issue as there seemed to be last year and in Madden where when you switch to a defender running step by step with an offensive player he slows down and gets beat?

[eyeamg0dly]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

to the op, i think it is fundemental problems you are having with the game. Kinda like the post with tactical defending, you should be trying to control the area by forcing the ball to go where you have help. I dont use the contain button much only around the box when my defenders are playing off the ball too much.

example is the sideline. use it as a defender. dont control the fullback let him contain the play naturally, instead you play the wide midfielder or winger and take away the passing lane. once the passing lane is contained by you, then move in to pressure.

make him play the ball where you want him to play it. it is not full proof but make sure the cpu has to play flawless to beat you. in this same situation if you control the fullback and miss a tackle, he moves into the box and breaks your shape, now someone is unmarked and you have just given them a free chance at your goal. dont make these kind of mistakes.

best approach imo is to play the libero style. pick a cdm or any midfielder and only control that player on defense. take away passing lanes and apply pressure. once you start to understand that concept then you will feel more comfortable with defending with other players.

on offense, you have to use supporting passing and know how to read the defense. if the defense is being aggressive. meaning they are going after you and not to give you room to breath. you have to play those short support passes. 1 2 pass down the field. play that forward pass and when they jump on it, immediately hit the guy making his run. this can break their shape and give you room in the box. if they are playing passive (not jumping passes or pressing) then you have room to shoot from the edge of the box. this is where you want to isolate players with speed or agility against players that dont have it. they can create space and create chances.

[aarontab]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

To add to the excellent advice i'm seeing in this thread about defense, i'm noticing in my experience that you get infinitely better results when switching defenders as frequently as you can to stay in front of the man on possession. It seems like the best (only?) way to keep your center backs from "sandwiching" down and allowing a lane to open up for an easy attempt on goal. I feel almost like EA punishes you more for running a man out of position- this habit of bringing my fullbacks across to pinch a winger heading into the box has opened up the middle more times than i care to remember. The more i switch and stay in front of the possession, the more successful i am as the CPU makes an inevitable mistake or i see the clear passing option and have a chance to step in and intercept.

Also, i saw mentioned something about tackling and i second that opinion, it is better to line yourself up with the man on possession and manually assume possession from him than to tap the stand tackle button and chance missing it and being exposed entirely. They really love to punish that.

[olig23]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

I can't speak for how you play, so forgive any assumptions or generalisations.

I have found from seeing how others play that the main area where people make mistakes is with a lack of patience. Many players seem to have an addiction to the sprint trigger which I believe is the biggest reason for people shipping goals on World Class or Legendary. Even a quick burst on the print button can be fatal if the play is coming toward you. In fact, even nudging your man forwards at the wrong time often can catch you out with the defenders momentum heading forwards as the play goes past him. Ultimately it is about being less aggressive.

With tactical defending you have to allow the opposition to have the ball and try and take away the obvious passes which are into the striker, or more usually down the wings. If you find that a lot of problems come from the space in behind your full back I would try to pay attention to how often you send your man haring after the man with the ball.

The temptation I find is either to either use the full back to move inside pursuing the player in possession or, if the play is already out wide, bring the central mid-fielder over to support the full back, allowing space for the CPU to come in-field. In the end I find the best thing to do is try and get tight but don't go mad trying to win the ball. One of the really good things about the new first-touch mechanic is that you will get the opportunities to win the ball, unless you are playing elite opponents (which is how it should be).

Another thing I notice is that players who play as top sides get frustrated by having to allow the opposition the ball because they see that as implausible. I personally think that often the way the game is played causes this. Essentially if you are more patient in attack, have longer stints of possession and more considered attacking lay means you get a more realistic reflection of football and you ship fewer goals. The number of players I see who get the ball and just pass forwards all the time or go straight for the cross is remarkable. Give your mid-field the chance to gradually move up the pitch and don't be afraid to go back. Even in the final third. Ambitious long through balls have their place, as do quick counter-attacks, but they are used in situations where it is 90% likely to result in giving the ball away - followed by a sprint rush to get it back in frustration.

The only other things I would add (the first of which has already been mentioned) is to play manual or air ball on the changing players. Also, ensure your team is set-up properly from a personnel and tactics perspective. I think players often just remove the players who have lower overall, especially in CMF where a players interceptions, marking and such are vital. If a team has say Modric and Van Der Vaart in MF they will ship lots of goals.

Just my observations though...

[32MJ32]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

As the title says, my skill level seems to be between Pro and World Class. The only problem is that on Pro it's way too easy. I'm currently playing with a 3.5 star team and I beat a 4.5 star team 6-0, I then go on World Class and that same time I beat 6-0, I lose 6-0. It doesn't make any sense.

I've already looked at the sliders people have created which I do appreciate and have tweaked them a bit. Unfortuantely it hasn't done much. I really wish they offered more variety in their sliders. It really pisses me off when the CPU defense swarms 2+ guys onto me (which is perfectly fine) while my AI defense just stand there until I control them. They are literally ********. I don't understand how on one side they actually play solid defense and the other (mine) they stand there like a 90 year old man.

The other thing that is aggravating is the fact that the CPU controls the ball so damn well. I don't mean first touch you can adjust that, I mean generally speaking. They dribble around me way too easily. I know on defense it's better to give them room and then put pressure just around the box but still.

I heard that Legendary plays fairly well. Is this because that your team AI is much smarter and actually plays defense? I've read in a few places that this could be the case but not quite sure. If my team AI is still as horrible there's no way I'm ever making that transition to Legendary but if my AI is more intelligent then I can compensate with the CPU's sliders to make it fair.

One more thing, I seem to have trouble scoring. On Pro the majority of my goals come very similar. Either on a breakaway where the last second I pass to a teammate to my right or left for an easy goal or I'll hold down RT and LT (Xbox 360) just outside the box, when I see an opening, let go LT and keep holding down RT and take a powerful shot a few yards or just at the box and they almost always go in. Seldomly do I score off corners and or free kicks and or crosses inside. I'd say at least 85% of my goals come from what I said above and not the latter.

Any advice and or comments would be appreciate.

Hey mate,

I share your frustration. I am very experienced FIFA player and I'm not having much fun at all on World Class. The CPU is juiced up to a crazy level.

Many of the tips in here I agree with, especially going easy on the sprint button on both attack and defense and building as patiently as possible. This may result in a lot of 0-0 games to start with, but its a good place to begin while you get the hang of the pace.

For mine, the biggest advantage the CPU has on World Class is speed all over the field. Their attackers are faster than your defenders and their defenders are faster than your attackers, regardless of the ratings. Why EA Sports decided this was a realistic way to represent difficulty, I have no idea, but we are where we are.

I suggest going to the CPU Customization screen and lowering their speed and acceleration. Even putting them to 48 should show a noticeable difference. You'll now be able to send your fast attackers away using through balls without the CPU running them down every time, win a few more loose balls in midfield and recover better on defense. If you make sensible decisions with the ball, you should have more luck getting shots on goal and hopefully a few of them find the back of the net.

See how you go.

[aarontab]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

For mine, the biggest advantage the CPU has on World Class is speed all over the field. Their attackers are faster than your defenders and their defenders are faster than your attackers, regardless of the ratings. Why EA Sports decided this was a realistic way to represent difficulty, I have no idea, but we are where we are.

I suggest going to the CPU Customization screen and lowering their speed and acceleration. Even putting them to 48 should show a noticeable difference. You'll now be able to send your fast attackers away using through balls without the CPU running them down every time, win a few more loose balls in midfield and recover better on defense. If you make sensible decisions with the ball, you should have more luck getting shots on goal and hopefully a few of them find the back of the net.

See how you go.

This is the truest assessment of FIFA's difficulty. It's actually an EA staple with their american football titles too. When the difficulty goes up, they make the opposing team PHYSICALLY better than you instead of just tactically or technically better. It's either a reflection of how difficult it is to create a true difference in difficulty levels or a sign of laziness on the part of the programming team. Or a bit of both.

There are however two issues with lowering the speed slider for the CPU: because the CPU speed is such a deciding factor in determining difficulty, lowering it for them (or creating any user speed advantage) makes the game MUCH easier starting at a difference of 2 and increasing more with each point difference you create. It negates a lot of the challenge and can (in some cases) make it too easy. Just a forewarning.

The other issue is that unless you make the speed difference high enough, the CPU will still use a "speed boost" to negate the advantage at key points in the match. The other thing EA uses to create difficulty is allowing loose balls to drop to their players in key moments, overly punishing mistakes if it works to their advantage and good ol' fashioned cheating. The CPU player will sometimes outrun you to get to a ball if the game has determined that they absolutely need that ball to win. The other part to this is the varying ball speed if it helps/hurts. In that case, a ball will either speed up to avoid you intercepting it (thereby making good defense and playing the passing lanes a futile enterprise) or speed up to roll out of play when you think you just made a good pass. Sometimes the opposite happens and the CPU will have a ball die right on the touch line so they can run over and assume possession of it. I guess what i'm saying as it relates to that is that you either have to make it too easy or leave the built in advantages and learn to cope with them. So although you are absolutely correct and your advice is spot-on, it can come with a price once you remove the illusion of good AI and a true challenge.

If nothing else, if you play with a speed advantage and see the challenge melt away, it can really jade you and change your perception of the game's quality. Utilize at your own risk.

[eyeamg0dly]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

This is the truest assessment of FIFA's difficulty. It's actually an EA staple with their american football titles too. When the difficulty goes up, they make the opposing team PHYSICALLY better than you instead of just tactically or technically better. It's either a reflection of how difficult it is to create a true difference in difficulty levels or a sign of laziness on the part of the programming team. Or a bit of both.

There are however two issues with lowering the speed slider for the CPU: because the CPU speed is such a deciding factor in determining difficulty, lowering it for them (or creating any user speed advantage) makes the game MUCH easier starting at a difference of 2 and increasing more with each point difference you create. It negates a lot of the challenge and can (in some cases) make it too easy. Just a forewarning.

The other issue is that unless you make the speed difference high enough, the CPU will still use a "speed boost" to negate the advantage at key points in the match. The other thing EA uses to create difficulty is allowing loose balls to drop to their players in key moments, overly punishing mistakes if it works to their advantage and good ol' fashioned cheating. The CPU player will sometimes outrun you to get to a ball if the game has determined that they absolutely need that ball to win. The other part to this is the varying ball speed if it helps/hurts. In that case, a ball will either speed up to avoid you intercepting it (thereby making good defense and playing the passing lanes a futile enterprise) or speed up to roll out of play when you think you just made a good pass. Sometimes the opposite happens and the CPU will have a ball die right on the touch line so they can run over and assume possession of it. I guess what i'm saying as it relates to that is that you either have to make it too easy or leave the built in advantages and learn to cope with them. So although you are absolutely correct and your advice is spot-on, it can come with a price once you remove the illusion of good AI and a true challenge.

If nothing else, if you play with a speed advantage and see the challenge melt away, it can really jade you and change your perception of the game's quality. Utilize at your own risk.

i agree to a point. the momentum or whatever they want to call it really kills the game. i dont see it much vs the cpu, but online it is very noticable. however it is alot more subtle then what you actually think. majority of the time it is the ai loosely marking players especially on corners, or goalies forgetting how to dive at the ball.

my last game online, i gave up a goal from a slow shot outside of the box that went between my goalies legs. goalie did not have to move to block the shot, he just kind crouched over to pickup the ball it just went right through his legs. i can see if my opponent got lucky from upclose in the box or was skillful enough to time the shot, but this was just absolutely terrible.

i came back though and took a 2-1 lead only to lose a header in the box with around 10 mins left in the game. just a lazy random packpost cross that my guys loosely marked and then he just kinda floated above my defender and put it past my goalie. typical fashion though. sometimes in this years game, you can just blindly cross all game long and eventually you will put one in the goal due to some statistic saying you should have already done so.

other then those moments when the momentum kicks in, the game actually plays very well. the cpu attack ai this year is very creative. sometimes i feel like im playing a real person.

[32MJ32]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

This is the truest assessment of FIFA's difficulty. It's actually an EA staple with their american football titles too. When the difficulty goes up, they make the opposing team PHYSICALLY better than you instead of just tactically or technically better. It's either a reflection of how difficult it is to create a true difference in difficulty levels or a sign of laziness on the part of the programming team. Or a bit of both.

There are however two issues with lowering the speed slider for the CPU: because the CPU speed is such a deciding factor in determining difficulty, lowering it for them (or creating any user speed advantage) makes the game MUCH easier starting at a difference of 2 and increasing more with each point difference you create. It negates a lot of the challenge and can (in some cases) make it too easy. Just a forewarning.

The other issue is that unless you make the speed difference high enough, the CPU will still use a "speed boost" to negate the advantage at key points in the match. The other thing EA uses to create difficulty is allowing loose balls to drop to their players in key moments, overly punishing mistakes if it works to their advantage and good ol' fashioned cheating. The CPU player will sometimes outrun you to get to a ball if the game has determined that they absolutely need that ball to win. The other part to this is the varying ball speed if it helps/hurts. In that case, a ball will either speed up to avoid you intercepting it (thereby making good defense and playing the passing lanes a futile enterprise) or speed up to roll out of play when you think you just made a good pass. Sometimes the opposite happens and the CPU will have a ball die right on the touch line so they can run over and assume possession of it. I guess what i'm saying as it relates to that is that you either have to make it too easy or leave the built in advantages and learn to cope with them. So although you are absolutely correct and your advice is spot-on, it can come with a price once you remove the illusion of good AI and a true challenge.

If nothing else, if you play with a speed advantage and see the challenge melt away, it can really jade you and change your perception of the game's quality. Utilize at your own risk.

Great post. Agree 100%.

FWIW, I'm still slogging away on World Class default, trying to master it. Time will tell whether I give in and mess with customizations, give up on the game altogether or get good enough to beat it. Right now I'm winning consistently but not enjoying myself at all. The amount of concentration and effort it takes to beat the super-juiced up AI makes it hard to have fun, IMO.

[HKPound]

Re: Getting spanked on World Class dominating on Pro - any tips?

EA always has always suffered from this issue unfortunately. ie. Madden with All Pro and All Madden settings.