Category: Transfer news

The tactical intricacies of modern football have often been left to Football Manager to replicate in the video game sphere, but EA Sports have stepped up their game for their latest EA FC release.

The introduction of FC IQ in this year’s game allows players unprecedented control in an EA FC (formerly FIFA) title, with player roles, tactical ingenuity and formation variety having an even larger impact on your performance.

Knowing where to start can be a little overwhelming and the effectiveness of different systems will adapt as the game is updated and tweaked by EA.

With that in mind, here are the best formations to use in EA FC 25.

Those looking for a balanced mainstream formation need look no further than the 4-2-3-1 (2) in EA FC 25. It offers security in the defensive third with two holding midfielders screening a flat back four, but allows versatility in attack with the use of an attacking midfielder and two wide players.

Of course, as for all formations, custom player roles are to be tweaked to best suit your specific gameplay style, but this system lends itself well to those looking for a solid middle ground between attack and defence.

System

Player roles

If you’re struggling with defending in EA FC 25, there is no shame in using a five-person defence either online or in single player modes. Out of the four formations in the game that have five at the back, the 5-4-1 offers you the most defensive security.

A flat midfield four makes sure there is plenty of cover for your defensive line, but with attacking wingbacks and inside forwards on the flanks, you’re also able to create plenty of opportunities.

System

Player roles

For those looking to attack at all costs, the gung-ho 4-2-4 formation allows players to maximise your forward potential. While it may leave you exposed on turnovers, it’s a system that is itself suited to benefit from counter-attacks.

This might be a useful system to switch to late in a match when you’re chasing a goal, or if you think your one-v-one defensive skills are at a high level.

System

Player roles

This specific formation has been built to replicate what Pep Guardiola does at Manchester City, utilising a 4-3-3 with an attacking midfielder and two holding players. While not the exact system used by the Spaniard, it’s the most similar formation in EA FC 25 when we include our tactical preset and player roles.

System

Player roles

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England were beaten by Greece for the first time ever in Thursday night’s UEFA Nations League clash, losing in stoppage time after Jude Bellingham looked like he had salvaged a draw.

Greece had never scored on three previous visits to the (old) Wembley Stadium in 1971, 1983 and 1994, but broke that run early in the second half through Vangelis Pavlidis.

Bellingham pulled England level with 87 minutes gone, but Pavlidis, who was England’s chief tormentor all evening, had the final say for the visitors as Lee Carsley tasted his first defeat since taking over as interim manager, and England lost a first competitive game at Wembley in four years.

How the game unfolded

It was a bright start from England, with Bellingham stinging the palms of Newcastle United goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos from the edge of the box and Cole Palmer, starting his first competitive international, rippling the top of the net with a free-kick. But Greece threatened too, mounting a dangerous counter that striker Pavlidis couldn’t quite finish off.

An almighty gaffe from Jordan Pickford, channelling his inner Rene Higuita by attempting to dribble into midfield after rushing out of his goal, almost gifted Greece a lead. But Anastasios Bakasetas’ opportunistic strike at the open net was heroically hooked off the line by Levi Colwill. The England goalkeeper didn’t instil confidence moments later when he attempted to claim a high ball but was beaten to it by Kostas Mavropanos of West Ham United. The resultant goal was ruled out for offside.

For England’s dominance, Greece went close again midway through the first half when John Stones diverted a shot from Bakasetas to safety just in front of Pickford. Immediately at the other end, Palmer blazed a glorious chance over the bar after Bellingham’s cutback. Anthony Gordon then ought to have done better with a header, having ghosted into the box.

But the quality and intensity waned as the interval neared, with Greece increasingly defending the penalty area and England struggling to find a way through.

England were caught cold when the game resumed, not doing anything like enough to stop Pavlidis dance his way through a crowded penalty area and fire a shot low past Pickford. He dedicated the goal to George Baldock, the England-born Greek international who passed away this week.

With their tails up and playing for their late teammate – both sets of player wore black armbands in tribute – Pickford had to deal with a Bakasetas shot in a somewhat unorthodox way. England were extremely fortunate not to fall two goals behind when Giorgos Masouras applied a clinical finish to a ball across the box from Pavlidis, who was offside in the build-up and eventually flagged accordingly.

Although there was impressive energy from substitute Noni Madueke, England looked laboured and without a plan as the game wore on. Greece continued to create, however, and had the ball in the net a fourth time on the night as Pavlidis turned in from Christos Tzolis’ pass. England had cheaply lost possession from Pickford’s throw out but were saved, not by a flag, but by VAR ruling it offside.

Bellingham looked like he’d saved England late on, passing the ball into the net after Dominic Solanke’s low ball evaded everyone in the middle, allowing the Real Madrid man to run onto at the edge of the box. Vlachodimos got a hand on the strike but it was too powerful.

Parity lasted only a few minutes until stoppage time when Pavlidis was able to turn the ball into the net in a crowded box. It was ultimately poor defending from England, failing to clear their lines, but Greece by now rippling the net a fifth time, deserved the victory.

GK: Jordan Pickford – 4/10 – Didn’t start well at all, almost gifting Greece a pair of goals, but bailed out once by a teammate and then by an offside flag. A misplaced throw later saw the visitors score a would-be second that was rule out by VAR for offside.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10 – Culpable defensively for the Greece breakthrough. Got forward plenty but there were a lack of options for him without an attacking focal point for the first hour.

CB: John Stones (c) – 4/10 – Handed the captain’s armband for the first time. Too weak in his attempted challenge on Pavlidis as Greece took the lead. Not the leader he should have been.

CB: Levi Colwill – 6/10 – Cleared the ball just in the nick of time after Pickford went walkabout early.

LB: Rico Lewis – 5/10 – Wasn’t afraid to look for the ball and come into midfield. Poor for the second Greece goal that won the game.

RM: Bukayo Saka – 5/10 – Struggled to get into the game and succumbed to injury only a few minutes into the second half.

CM: Cole Palmer – 6/10 – Fans expected the net to bulge when Bellingham laid a first half chance on a plate for him. Wound up moving to the right flank when the tactics were switched up and faded.

CM: Declan Rice – 5/10 – Passed the ball accurately, but mostly backwards and sideways. Didn’t seem to have control of the midfield and lost more duels than he won.

LM: Anthony Gordon – 4/10 – Missed a header from a promising position, but overall saw less of the ball than Saka on the opposite flank. Didn’t play to his strengths, which is running at defenders.

ST: Phil Foden – 4/10 – Couldn’t really find his role in the system England started with. There were sporadic moments of link up with Bellingham but Greece closed the spaces pretty easily.

ST: Jude Bellingham – 6/10 – Nearly proved England’s saviour once more with the late equaliser to make it 1-1. It hadn’t been a brilliant performance up to then and he even looked quite disinterested in the move from which he scored until the ball was suddenly rolling towards him.

Substitutes

SUB: Noni Madueke (52′ for Saka) – 7/10 – Took the game to Greece more than any England player.

SUB: Ollie Watkins (60′ for Gordon) – 6/10 – Would have hoped this was his night without Kane. Had to settle for half an hour off the bench.

SUB: Dominic Solanke (72′ for Foden) – 6/10 – Credited with an assist but, in truth, it wasn’t Bellingham he was looking for with the pass.

Subs not used: Dean Henderson (GK), Nick Pope (GK), Kyle Walker, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Curtis Jones, Conor Gallagher, Angel Gomes.

Manager

Lee Carsley – 5/10 – Unable to call on Harry Kane and lined up without a recgonised striker, even with Ollie Watkins available. That didn’t really work and he was prepared to change things relatively early in the second half. Only three offside goals ensured it wasn’t embarrassing though.

Player of the match – Vangelis Pavlidis (Greece)

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Bukayo Saka is lost for words when it comes to reflecting on his role as Arsenal’s captain in the absence of Martin Odegaard.

The club’s academy graduate was first trusted by Mikel Arteta to wear the armband in October 2023, filling the void left by Odegaard who was allowed to rest on the bench while the Gunners romped to a 5-0 win over Sheffield United. The Norwegian skipper has been kept on the sidelines through injury this term, affording Saka ample opportunity to lead out the club he first joined as a seven-year-old.

When asked to sum up the importance of captaining Arsenal in an interview with CBS Sports this week, Saka said: “That’s one of the things where I become speechless when people ask me. Everyone knows my journey, where I came from. To take the captain’s armband, walk the lads out at the Emirates Stadium. I can’t put it into words.”

Saka is proud of his career path. The winger had a picture of himself playing grassroots football on his fridge and carved out a spot in Arsenal’s first team when he was 18, originally forging a role as a left wing-back before Arteta unlocked his full attacking potential on the right side of the frontline.

Arsenal’s part-time captain finds it far easier to talk about his teammates. “I’ve always thought Kai’s an unbelievable player,” Saka gushed to CBS when reflecting on Kai Havertz’s prolific start to the new campaign.

The German equalled Robin van Persie’s record of scoring in seven consecutive appearances at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday with an equaliser against Southampton. Saka provided the assist.

“This season he has come out with even more confidence, I think he’s scored in almost every game,” Saka continued. “He’s going to score a lot of goals this season. He has a really good understanding around the box, when to attack it, and that’s why he gets a lot of chances and that’s why hopefully he’ll score a lot of goals.”

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Jurgen Klopp is alleged to have agreed his move to Red Bull as their new Head of Global Football as far back as 2022, at a time when he had almost two years left on his Liverpool contract.

Klopp stepped down when his Anfield deal expired at the end of last season. His job with Red Bull, which starts in January 2025, was announced this week. He has also been slated, both for the role itself, and going back into work so soon after declaring he had no energy left and needed time off.

It was initially anticipated to be a year out of football to recharge, similar to what Pep Guardiola did in 2012 after leaving Barcelona. But since he walked away from Liverpool it has been four months.

“A few months ago I said I don’t see myself on the sideline anymore and it is still the case. But I still love football and working and Red Bull gives me the perfect platform for that,” Klopp explained.

German publication TZ claims that Klopp was invited to a secret meeting in Salzburg with Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. It is said that the Austrian billionaire, who was terminally ill, was able to personally convince Klopp to join Red Bull from 2025.

Mateschitz passed away at the age of 78 only a few short weeks later. But it seemingly meant that Klopp’s future was mapped out, and without anyone but a select few knowing.

Whether confirming the claim, or simply reacting to news of it, Red Bull’s Formula One director and chief adviser Helmut Marko told TZ: “It’s unbelievable how such a mega deal could remain secret for so long. That would never have been possible in Formula 1.”

Klopp was the subject of ambitious interest from US Soccer to take charge of the United States, before the job eventually went to Mauricio Pochettino, but rejected the approach. He was also linked with the England vacancy in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s departure.

As recently as last week, Klopp insisted he wasn’t thinking about returning to work when speculation arose about becoming Germany’s next head coach. “I would be reluctant to talk about football today because there is nothing to say,” he commented.

But it seems his next move was already locked in and had been for some time.

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Barcelona’s explosive midfielder Gavi has entered the final stages of his recovery from an ACL injury, charging through a first-team training session on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old suffered a complete tear of his knee while on international duty with the Spanish national team in November 2023. Just one day earlier, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente had played down calls to leave the dynamic midfielder out of his lineup for a qualifier against Georgia by arguing: “Good players never rest.”

Gavi has been shackled to the sidelines over the subsequent 11 months, watching on as his compatriots defeated England in the final of last summer’s European Championships. The long hours in the gym have all been working towards a return to first-team action, which could come later this month.

Barcelona’s number six was reminded of the intensity demanded by top-flight football football during a training game put on by manager Hansi Flick during the October international break. The 11-a-side contest filled out by youth-team players was played “at a good pace” according to Santi Ovalle in Cadena Ser’s Que t’hi Jugues radio show.

Lining up in defensive midfield alongside Frenkie de Jong, who only recently made his return from a layoff stretching back to April, Gavi was given around 40 minutes. The high-energy midfielder has been back on the grass for a month and is eagerly eyeing up his first top-flight appearance since November 2023. According to Ovalle, Barcelona’s medical staff “has to slow him down because he wants to return now”.

Spanish publication El Mundo Deportivo claimed that Gavi is “very close” to a return and have highlighted Barcelona’s first game after this month’s international break – the visit of 12th-placed Sevilla – as the midfielder’s comeback.

When Gavi damaged his knee, Xavi Hernandez was Barcelona manager. The former club captain had experienced a similar issue during his own playing career and explained at the time of Gavi’s injury how it could benefit his young compatriot in the long run. “It helped me take better care of myself and be more professional.”

Barcelona failed to defend the league title in 2023/24, but Flick’s side have enjoyed a fast start to the new campaign thanks largely to the reinvention of Raphinha in a more central role, which allows him to produce the skills of the Spaniard.

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