Before consideration, it is not just vital to know and give a try to these formations, but knowing how to use and set them in their perspective position also gives you a chance to play in different game styles like possession, out-wide, long ball, and the quick counter gameplay in EA Sports FC 25.
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4-3-2-1 Balanced Formation and Custom Tactics
4-3-2-1 formation
DEFENSIVE TACTICS
Width: 45
Depth
Defensive Style: Balanced
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
Chance Creation: Direct passing
Build-Up Play: Balanced
Width: 45
Players In Box: 5 bars
Corner and Free Kick: 1 bar
PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS
Left-back: Balanced
Right-back: Stay back while attacking
Left Central Midfielder: Cover center, stay back while attacking
Central Midfielder: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
Right Central Midfielder: Cover wing
Center Forward: Get in behind
Strikers: Stay central, get in behind
Everything depends on the strong foot of your attacking player in center mid. If the player is left-footed, use them as an LMF. The fullback will retain back while attacker’s start high pressing from the CDM to the attacking central mid, while the other outside back remains equalized, this formation stands out more as a defensive formation. The full back stays back while attacking is going on as only the left and right full backs join the attack.
4-3-3 Attacking Custom and Tactics
4-3-3 formation
DEFENSIVE TACTICS
Width: 45
Depth: 55
Defensive Style: Pressure on heavy torch
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
Build-Up Play: Fast Build up
Width: 50
Players In Box: 4 bars
Chance Creation: Direct passes
PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS
Left-back: Join the attack
Right-back: Join the attack
Center Back: Balanced
Central Attacking Midfielder: Cover counter attack
Central Midfielder: Stay back
Wingers: Cut inside
Striker: Stay central
The 4-3-3 formation helps to widen the opponent’s defense as wingers are set to cut in, midfielder can join the attack and also stay back while the center backs can overlap a little, and the left and right backs over laps to join the attack or counter.
The formation should be balanced for a possession game alongside a quick counter.
4-1-2-1-2 Narrow Custom and Tactics
4-1-2-1-2 formation
DEFENSIVE TACTICS
Width: 45
Depth: 55
Defensive Style: Balanced
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
Chance Creation: Forward runs & direct passing
Build-Up Play: Balanced
Width: 40
Corner and Free-kick: 2 bars
PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS
Left-back: Stay back while attacking
Right-back: Stay back while attacking
Central Defensive Midfielders: Stay back while attacking
Central Attacking Midfielder: Stay forward and join the attacking
Central Midfielders: Overlap and and get forward
Striker: Stay forward
This formation gives you plenty of options while going on counter attacks and build up plays, especially center attacking midfielders with speed can boost the teams chances. This formation deals on quick counters and isn’t really operated much on the wing side as there are less players there. Packing out the midfield in EA FC 25 gives you plenty of options when trying to build an attack.
4-4-2 Flat Custom & Tactics
4-4-2 formation
DEFENSIVE TACTICS
Width: 50
Depth: 70
Defensive Style: Balanced
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
Chance Creation: Direct passing
Build-Up Play: Balanced
Players In Box: 5 bars
Width: 50
Corner and Free kick: 3 bars
PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS
Left-back: Stay back while attacking
Right-back: Stay back while attacking
Center Midfielder: Cover center
Left Midfielder: Comes back and defend, stay at the edge of the box for crossing
Right Midfielder: Comes back and defend, stay at the edge of the box for crossing
The 4-4-2 formation is very tactical type where as the defensive and the midfield lines are highly supportive as it contains much of players on their line. It is very vital to know while attacking the left and right midfielder always support the strikers at the edge of the box for assist and direct passing leading to goal, and still fall back to join the marking. The 4-4-2 formation is more of a defensive formation where none of the defenders overlaps forward while attacking as this is done and I know to be the role of the midfielders.
5-3-2 Holding Formation and Custom Tactics
5-3-2 formation
DEFENSIVE TACTICS
Width: 40
Depth: 70
Defensive Style: Drop back
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
Chance Creation: Direct passing
Build-Up Play: Long ball
Players in Box: 5 bars
Width: 40
Corners and Free-kicks: 2 bars
PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS
Left-back: Join the attack
Right-back: Join the attack
Central Defense Midfielder: Balanced
CM’s: Join the attack, balanced
ST’s: Target player
For those who are familiar with playing the long ball out-wide play style, this is one of best formations to use in breaking an opponent’s defense. This is more of a defensive formation as you have 5 defenders, 3 compacted midfielders, making it very difficult to break through, and 2 strikers inside the box. Using the 5-3-2 formation, you can play a possession and an out-wide play style in EA Sports FC 25.
3-4-2-1 Counter Attacking Custom and Tactics
3-4-2-1 formation
DEFENSIVE TACTICS
Width: 35
Depth: 55
Defensive Style: Balanced
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
Chance Creation: Direct passing
Build-Up Play: Balanced
Players In Box: 6 bars
Width: 50
Corner and Free-kick: 2 bars
PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS
Center Back’s: Stay back
Central Midfielders: Cover the center backs, while attacking, moving to the edge of the box for crossing and passes.
Left Midfielder: Stay wide, join on defense, cut into the box.
Right Midfielder: Stay wide, join on defense, stay at the edge of box for crossing and passes
Strikers: Stay forward, stay central
The 3-4-2-1 formation is tactical ok for people who love to play quick counter games especially, from the formation it is mostly an attacking formation with just 3 defenders in the box, 4 Midfielders who cover the defenders, 2 attackers supporting the CF and just 1 ST. Mastering this formation, it can get you a lot of goals from the wing side especially with enough players in the box and outside while on quick counter and attacking.
5-4-1 Defensive Formation Custom & Tactics
5-4-1 formation
DEFENSIVE TACTICS
Width: 35
Depth: 50
Defensive Style: Balanced
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
Chance Creation: Direct Passing
Build-Up Play: Long ball
Players In Box: 8 bars
Width: 50
Corner and Free-kick: 3 bars in the corner and 2 for Free-kick
Player Instructions
Left-back: Join the counter and overlap
Right-back: Join the counter and overlap
Center Midfielder: Stay back, Cover the Center during attacking
Left Midfielder: Fall back on defense, get into the box for crosses
Right Midfielder: Fall back on defense, get into the box for crosses
Strikers: Stay forward
For those who love to play a defensive out-wide formation, the 5-4-1 is one of the best formations to adapt to. In this formation, you get a wide-open formation with 5 defenders and 4 Midfielders, at least 2 of the midfielders join the attack giving support to the center forward. While manipulating this formation, it can also be turned into a formation for the possession style in EA Sports FC 25.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, these particular formations are highly tactical and undoubtedly have a symbolic impact if being used in EA Sports FC 25. However, it’s important to note that some of the formations need the right players to step in.
