Tactics & Lineups

Your squad screen has two sides: the Roster (who’s on your books) and Tactics (how they play). Get both right before every match.

Picking your XI

Set your lineup by filling each position slot on the pitch:

• Tap a slot to open the picker and choose the player for that role.
• Auto-pick fills the whole XI with your best available players in one tap — a great starting point you can then tweak.
• Injured and suspended players are skipped automatically; you can only field players who are fit and available.

Try to play footballers in their natural positions. A player’s card tells you where he belongs.

Formation and style

On the Tactics tab you shape how your team plays. You can set your:

• Formation — choose from six shapes to balance attack and defence.
• Mentality — how aggressive or cautious your approach is.
• Tempo — how quickly your team looks to play.
• Pressing — how hard you chase the ball off it.
• Passing style — short and patient, or direct and forward.

Save your tactics and they carry into your matches until you change them.

Match your tactics to your players

There’s no single “best” setup — the right choice depends on the players you have. A squad full of pace and energy can press high and play a quick tempo; an older, more technical side may prefer to keep the ball and control the tempo. Pick the style your XI can actually deliver.

Substitutions

You get three substitutions per match. Use them well:

• Freshen up tired legs late in a game.
• Replace a player who picks up a knock.
• Change your shape to chase a goal or protect a lead.

Once you’ve made all three, your XI is locked for the rest of the match — so don’t burn them all too early.

The same tools on matchday

The pre-match screen gives you the same lineup and tactics controls, so you can make final changes right before kickoff — a late fitness check, a tweak to your shape, a different player in a key slot.