Introduction

The goal of this guide is to share a tactic that rely heavily on crosses. I’ll also use this intro to address some criticisms I could receive: for some, “spamming crosses” is anti-football, the negation of skills. I simply disagree with that, just as much as I disagree that playing counter and exploiting spaces behind the defenders with a fast forward is anti-football.

Also, you’ll see the formation is 4-2-4, which can be consider meta from the new update. My response to this is that I don’t care what the meta is, I’m just looking for new ways to play.

Tactic

The objectives are:

• Always have a good header in the box
• Create situation where I can cross

Always having a good header in the box

When a striker is alone, he can be late to the box as he drifted to the side or was involved in the build-up phase earlier. I don’t want to have a situation where I have time to cross but must wait my striker to rush into the box (and good headers are usually slow players). To resolve this issue, I simply have 2 strikers, and both are excellent headers.

Create situation where I can cross

The primary objective is to do stunning crosses. Basically, Stunning Crosses are better crosses but take time to execute, so you are vulnerable to pressing. To create situations where my winger is free and has the time to do this stunning cross, I want to create overloads. The winger is supported by a Fullback Finisher; which is a fullback that will attack the halfspace (he will underlap rather than overlap, as my winger is the player close to the touch line).

I opted for the Out Wide playstyle, that allows me to stretch the defense and so to free my crossers.

Example:

The winger receives the ball, but he cannot cross (being pressured, too early to cross, etc…). To build-up and combine, he has several options:

• I have strong support from Fullback Finisher
• I have a bit of support from DMF and the dropping striker

If I’m in a situation where I don’t think I can exploit space, I will switch the play: either by directly crossing from one winger to the other or by recycling the ball.

In terms of cross, I will look to execute a stunning cross. If I don’t have the time:

• The box is crowded: I will do a high cross. As my strikers are specialized in heading, they should generally be tall and Jump high.
• The box is empty (or my striker is free): I will do a low cross as shots have more chances than header to score.

I’m not a big fan of early crosses as they tend to produce header a bit far from the goal. I usually use them only if I do not have other choices. I also tends to cross to the second post if I have the choice. I don't know how much of this is superstition but it seems to be more effective.

An example of what I want to produce:

Erratum: in the caption it was the RWF, not the LWF

Formation and Roles

GK

• No particular comments.
• Skills: High Punt for the tall strikers. Low Punt can reach directly your wingers.

CBs

• Fast, as this tactic is vulnerable to counter attacks.
• Good passer, able to switch the play.

RB/LB

• Fullback Finisher: I want them supports the winger by attacking the halfspace. Their role is to support the wingers with one-two, and to act as secondary crossers if the situation calls it.
• Individual Instruction Offensive: I don’t want to wait for them when I switched the ball to their sides, so this instruction insures me they are already high on the pitch.
• Skills: Pinpoint crossing
• Optional: As they will be in the midfield, Balance and Ball Control will enhance them. After deflected crosses or shots they could be around the box, so some shooting skills and attributes are welcomed.

DMFs

• Anchor Man: They role is to protect the defense and to recycle the ball if necessary. Even with two DMF as Anchor Man, one will usually go up. They should have decent passing skills are they will switch the play from one side to another.
• Optional: As the RB/LB, after deflected crosses or shots they could be around the box, so some shooting skills and attributes are welcomed.

RWF/LWF

• Cross specialist: Their primary role is to deliver crosses. So they need to have an excellent Lofted Pass and the skill Pinpoint Crossing. Ideally they would be fast, be good at dribbling, have a good balance, etc… But the most important thing is the crossing abilities.

SS

• Deep Lying Forward: This striker will drop to provide a solution in the build-up phase. The “original” midfield being only two DMFs, he provides a solution and is able to support and launch the wingers with a through ball. Due to this, I noticed most of my crosses (hence goals) come from his side, the target being the other forward, the Goal Poacher. I think a Target Man as SS could also work. As he is dropping deep, he might be late in the box when I’m crossing. This is not a problem as the 4-2-4 insure me I will have the other striker. Also, he is arriving at full speed in the box, which can be even better and allow him to beat defenders with the right cross.
• Specialized header: Height, **Attributes (**Header, Jump), Skills (Heading, Aerial Superiority, Acrobatic Finishing, First Time Shot)

CF

• Goal Poacher: I still need a striker to attack the space behind the defense to push the defenders back. He will be the main goal scorer of the team.
• Specialized header (cf above)

This (inevitable) Haaland is a Goal Poacher

Some clips:

Comments

In attack: The first objective is to put your excellent crossers in the conditions to do a stunning crosses. Don't forget that it's your first objective. If he's not, switch the play either directly to the other winger (not difficult for your excellent crosser) or with support (the tactic ensure you have enough). Also, keep in mind it's easy to cross, not easy to score. You will certainly not have the same conversion rate as a 1vs1 with Messi of Mbappé. You have to put quantity of crosses here, but don't get frustrated and do just "normal" crossing as soon as your winger or fullback has the ball.

On the SS: Depending how you play, your available players, how good you are at shielding the ball, how much support you expect from the SS, etc... You can try alternatives as DLF as CF, Target Man as SS or CF, or maybe even a Fox in the Box (but still need to be a good header).

In defense: If your opponent is patient and take the time to build-up, you will have your 4 defenders and 2 midfielders. This is a bit light, even with two excellent Anchor Man. So I do not over commit my midfielders, I try to contain them, and call the teammate's pressure for one of my front line (L/RWF and SS/CF) to help.

Adaptation

The biggest weakness of this tactic is its vulnerability to counter attacks. With my fullbacks pushing high and one of my DMF sometimes joining the attack, I often found my self with 3 defenders (2CB + 1 DMF). The adaptation depends on how good you are at defending in those situations (and obviously how good is your opponent).

IF you are against a stronger opponent and conceding to many shots/goals, for me there are two ways to balance this:

• Drop one your DMs as CB, making the formation a 5-1-4. This sounds like completely abandoning the midfield but keep in mind you still have 1 DMF, 2 Inverted wingbacks (the fullback finishers) and the SS dropping. Also the remaining DMF will less likely go high on the pitch. So now you have less control on the midfield but 4 players against counter attacks
• Put your wingers as LMF/RMF (instead of LWF/RWF). They will join the midfield line in defense at the expense of your attack. I have not tested the Deep-Line Individual instructions that could work, but I guess they will take more time to come back in defense and be more tired.

The hardest time I’ve got was when my opponent man marked my wingers. In this situation, you have to acknowledge it quickly and adapt your way of playing. As the tactic is fairly balance, you will still be able to be dangerous by exploiting the midfield and the two strikers.

Substitutions

The most tired players are the DMFs and the Fullbacks, so that are the substitutions I always make. The wingers and strikers do not really need substitutions honestly.

Discussion

The Out Wide playstyle is in my opinion the best suited as it allows constant movements and stretch the defense to free my crosser. However I noticed from my previous post that this style overwrite the Player Playstyle of L/RWF. This means I could use Neymar on the right side and still be efficient. This is a good news if you do not have any Cross Specialist, which are uncommon players (but you still need a good crosser with Pinpoint Crossing and a good attribute of course). I don’t know if the style also overwrites the L/RB playstyle, hence if I necessary need Fullback Finisher. I’ve been satisfied with Fullback Finisher so I did not tested further. Also I like to include some realism (and maybe some roleplay), and that’s why I still use Cross Specialists and Fullback Finishers.

In conclusion, I'll just say this is fun to play another specialized way. Also, I've reached Div.1 with this tactic. I only reached Div. 1 once before, with my tactic presented in my previous guide. What I mean is that given the time thinking and testing I gave to the game recently, I don't know if I've became intrinsically better or if it's the tactic, but at least it's effective if that what your are looking for.