Lineup: who contributes to what
Each position and each individual order uses a different share of the player's skills for the ratings of the 7 sectors. The table tells you where to put whom.
Contributions by position (in % of the position that contributes most)
MF = midfield (playmaking); CD = central defence; WD = wing defence; CA = central attack; WA = wing attack. GK = goalkeeping, DEF = defending, SC = scoring, PS = passing, WG = winger. The darker the green, the more the position uses that skill.
Codes: CD central defender (O offensive, TW towards wing); WB wing back (N/D/O/TM normal, defensive, offensive, towards middle); IM inner midfielder; W winger; FW forward (DF defensive, TDF technical defensive, FTW towards wing). The keeper gives 87% of his goalkeeping and 35% of his defending to central defence, 61% and 25% to wing defence.
Crowding penalty in the centre
It affects all the skills of the players in that central position. Three inner midfielders lose 17.5%: the third one must be really good to be worth it.
Man marking
- You can mark only one player per match, with a defender or an inner midfielder on a normal order (even if he comes on from the bench).
- The marker loses part of his contribution: −50% when marking in the "opposite" sector (central defender vs forward, wing back vs winger, inner midfielder vs inner midfielder), −65% in the other cases, −10% if the marked player is not on the pitch.
- Effect on the marked player: marker's defending3.5 / (defending3.5 + marked player's best skill3.5). Marker bonus: powerful +10%, no specialty +5%. Marked player technical −8%, unpredictable +8%.
- It affects defending, playmaking, winger, passing and scoring, and in turn tactic levels and special events. It does not affect set pieces and goalkeeping. Calculator in the Calculators section.
Lineup tips
- Think in terms of team ratings, not individual players. Midfield remains the most important thing (unless you play counter-attacks).
- With a single forward, shift the attack to one side: forward towards wing, inner midfielder towards wing or offensive wing back.
- Players with some playmaking in every position raise the midfield.
- The final ratings are an average over the match: position changes and substitutions "hide" them from your opponents.
- Tactical assistant: with an offensive or defensive coach you can reach a neutral style with level 5; with a neutral coach you can go from 50% defensive to 50% offensive.
- Against a team that sends no lineup you win 5-0, with full training and formation experience, but no experience for the players. Since 2023 teams without a lineup still field an automatic lineup, with penalties on team spirit, form and confidence.