Official players guide for Fifa09 from EA Sports. *updated 9/28!* 56k warning...

[BrianFifaFan]

Free Kicks

There is a built in feature in the arena mode that allows you to work on your free kicks, and it is strongly recommended that you take advantage of it to hone your skills. Simply move your chosen arena player anywhere on the pitch and hit the D-pad in any direction, and you will immediately be set up to take the free kick from that spot. If you are anywhere in the penalty box, you will immediately be set up to hit a penalty kick. When aiming, use the exact screen center as your aiming point and target. Play with various types of power on the meter to judge distances.

Also, the Left Thumbstick can be used to put spin on the ball while the mater is powering up. Holding the Thumbstick left/right will create maximum curl on the ball. Holding the Thumbstick to the Upper/Left or Upper/Right will create a shot shaped with topspin. You can hold down on the Thumbstick to create backspin.



Play with how long to hold the stick over to hit that sweet spot on the goal. Hold the stick all the way over until the player strikes the ball; you can put a seriously nasty arc on the ball, catching the keeper completely unaware it will even be on goal and usually catching him flatfooted. Other types of free kicks are mentioned below.

Short Pass

This is a simple touch pass restart which allows your team to maintain possession and continue on to the attack. Keep an eye on the positioning of the opposition’s players to determine where best to hit the short pass.



Lob Pass

The lob pass is used to hit target players to continue the attack a little further down field. Use the radar to notice which of your players has the best position and is under the least threat by the defending team.

(Image Lob Pass_Free Kick.jpg)



Shot

If the free kick is within target range for a shot on goal, sometimes a direct shot is a possibility. This shot is more of a controlled instep shot for deadly accuracy, aimed usually at one of the upper corners of the goal. Take time in the arena to really practice from various locations. Remember to use the screen dead center to aim, and practice distances to learn how much to power up the meter. Also while the meter is powering up, lean the Left Thumbstick either left or right to put curve on the shot and catch the keeper off guard. There is the possibility of putting a dramatic arc on the ball if you hold the stick all the way over until the ball is struck. You can also push the stick upper/left or upper/right for a topspin blast. Again, practice in the arena until you become a deadly sniper.



Driven Shot

The driven shot is a straight powerful shot directly at the goal taken full force with the laces of the boot. This takes some planning to avoid the wall, so scan the area carefully before choosing the best angle to hit the shot. Also, see the “Shot Power/Elevation Chart” in the Attacking Controls section to determine how to power up the meter.. Once again, use the arena to practice various distances and get comfortable with what works best for you.





Call Lay-off Player

Simply put, you can bring another player right next to you to confuse the defence as to which player is actually going to hit the shot. Usually, one player will approach from the right and one from the left, and each has the potential to hit opposite arcs on the ball. You will see below that you can choose either player to hit the shot. By adding curve to the ball on power up, it will be tough for your opponent to tell which way the ball will go. It is a good idea to bring the second player in; even if you do not intend to use him, it creates confusion for your opponent and adds to your unpredictability.



Lay-off Player Pass

Once you bring in the second player depending upon your range from goal, see if you have a close by player that could receive a simple pass and start a quick attack again. Again, check the radar and what you see on the screen to find the right target player.



Lay-off Player Shot

Use the layoff player to strike the shot on goal. Switch between your original player and the added target player randomly throughout the game so your opponent never knows who will play the ball. Locate your best angle with the best look at goal. Note the preferred foot of the shot taker and which player has the best angle to hit a critical target area on the goal. Judge your power on the meter carefully and add enough arc on the ball so it is difficult for the keeper to judge where the final path of your shot might end up. Take note of the positioning of the keeper and what location (near post or far post) looks like the best option.




Free Kick Defence/Wall

By default, the correct amount of players to go in the wall will be determined for you and is based on distance from your goal. To judge if you should have the wall jump, stay where it is or have a player rush the wall is based solely on where you feel the kick taker has the best opportunity to take a shot or lay off a pass. A good tip is to determine what you would do based on the players available to take the shot and work from there.

Jump

If you look at how your opponent is set up and it looks like from the position of the ball he might have a good shot at goal, or if further out might have a target player where he will more than likely play the ball over the wall with a lower trajectory, a jump might be a good option. Time it so that right as he strikes the ball, you jump the entire wall to try and stop the ball from making it to its target.



Wall Player Charge

With the selected player you can charge the wall again to try and keep the kick taker from getting the ball to its target. Take a look at what angle looks best for the shot taker to take, and switch to the right player to try and cut that off. Watch for potential lay off players and you could possibly be better served to charge a possible target player as well. Press and hold the X button on the PS3 and the A button on the XBOX 360 to perform this control.

[BrianFifaFan]

Corners

Corner kicks are an extremely effective dead ball opportunity to get a high percentage chance at a goal. The power meter is the key to hitting your target player, so a “Corner Distance Chart” has been provided to give you an average range for the power you select. Other types of crosses can catch your opponent off guard and give you a quick chance at a goal. See the list below for tips on when to use these most effectively.



Lob Cross

The lob cross is a high arcing corner kick that is best suited to picking out teammates inside the penalty area, either around the penalty spot or the front or back post. How much you charge up the power meter determines how far the cross goes in. A rule of thumb is the front post is a 50% power up on the meter and the back post is a 70% power up. With that in mind, pick out your target, determine the distance aim and let it go. Also, while powering up the right stick can be used to put a curve on the ball. This works well for in-swinging cross because the keeper thinks the ball is too far out, which often will freeze him on the line and prevent him for coming out and making a simple grab, ending your scoring chance.



Low Cross

The low cross is a very effective tool to catch your opponent off guard. The low cross is more of a driven cross that is usually one touched on for another team mate or a direct shot on the net. This cross is usually whipped in with a lot more pace than the typical high arcing cross, and can really cause your opponent problems. A good tip to remember if you are on the receiving end of this is to look around as you see it coming in, and if you do not have a strike at goal, then look to one touch or “flick” the ball onto another player. Use the receiver to change the direction of the ball and set up some interesting opportunities, or just go in with a full volley or header and stretch the old onion bag!



Ground Cross

This is much like the low cross, but is passed in with pace along the ground. The best way to do this is to look at your closest player and see where the defender is marking him. If the defender is playing off of him, then aim at him and strike a firm cross to see if he has a look at the net or can pass again to a teammate in a better position to finish. The ground cross is extremely effective in setting up for a quick attempt on goal and your opponent is usually not expecting it.



Short Corner

Sometimes the best chance you might have is to play the ball short to a player running up from the back, who then launches his own cross from the crossing zone or passes the ball to another target player. This tends to catch most teams off guard, and can force them to rush the player and may leave some key target players inside the box for a possible goal.

[BrianFifaFan]

Penalties

Once you are given a penalty kick, it is time to select your best option to bury the ball in the net. Refer to the “Penalty Target Zone Diagram” to pick the zone you think will surprise the keeper. Obviously, the corners of the goal are the most difficult for the keeper to get to the ball. If the tendency of the keeper is to dive, sometimes right down the middle works really well, but it is risky because if the keeper does not dive it is about the easiest save possible. It is important to note that the longer you hold the shot button, the further the ball will travel in that direction.

Try not to do the same thing twice in a row, mix up what you do, and remain unpredictable.

Aiming

Use the screen center as your aiming target. The colored zones listed break down the percentage of chance you have to score when you hit each zone, Red a guaranteed to score, Orange you have a high percentage, Green is a 50/50 ( the keeper guesses right he should get it) chance, and yellow is very risky.



Driven Shot

Taken with the laces of the boot, this is a hard shot where you hope to overwhelm the keeper with paces. Again, remember to be careful of the shot meter as the ball can rise very quickly, missing the goal altogether if the correct power is not applied.




Placed Shot

Hit with the instep of the boot, this is a more controlled shot with less pace on the ball but is more accurate. Remember that the longer you hold the shot button, the further towards the post in the direction you pulled the stick the ball will travel. If you hold the button too long, you could pull a John Terry from Chelsea at the Champions league final in 2008 in Moscow against Manchester United, and miss the goal wide altogether. Not a good feeling.





Chip Shot

This is a cheeky little shot that is very risky, but if successful, really makes your opponent look foolish. Remember when doing this that it is guaranteed that only one of you is coming away looking silly. This is just your best guess at what the keeper might do and is usually placed right down the middle, counting heavily on the fact that the keeper will pick a direction and make a strong committed dive in one direction. If not, once you stop blushing from embarrassment, regain your composure and retreat to position for the keeper to distribute the ball.




Penalty Saving

This is a total guess, no doubt about it. However, look at the favoured foot of the kicking player, and sometimes that helps when he approaches the ball to make a correct guess. Be aware as well that he may go right down the middle, so make a strong decision and watch what he does. More than likely, he will not do that same direction the next time, especially in an overtime shootout. Remember what he did last and commit to moving your keeper in another direction the next time.

Move GK

Use the Right Stick to select a direction you want the keeper to move in left or right along the line. You might want to cheat your keeper in one direction along the line before the kick is taken to try and provoke your opponent to hit the shot to the opposite side of the goal.




Dive

Use the left stick to tell your keeper what direction you want him to dive. If you have cheated him to one direction, then when the kick is taken, dive in the opposite direction and hope for the best! Again, just make your best call; you are expected to miss so you have nothing to lose, and if you save it you just became a hero. Again, take note of what your opponent did the previous time, and assume he will do something different the next time.

[BrianFifaFan]

Assistance

Hardcore FIFA gamers will insist that Manual is the only way to play the game. It is true that turning all of the assists on Manual can result in amazing organic football. However, for the average gamer, going all Manual is just a bit too hard to handle.

If you do decide to make the transition to Manual play, do it gradually. Start with Manual Through ball, move to Manual Crossing, and then take on passing and shooting. You may need to even drop a difficulty level until you become comfortable with your new skill set.

Let’s take a quick look at each of the Assistance options in the game and how they affect the way you play.

Pass Assistance


Assisted (Default) Pass direction and power will be assisted to help play passes into the receiver’s path and avoid opponent players.
Semi Pass power is assisted, but the CPU will only help you a little with the direction.
Manual The direction you point is the direction the pass goes, and the longer you hold the pass button, the stronger the pass will be.

Assisted passing is the default setting in the game. You’ll be able to knock it around pretty much as you please without having to think much about where or how hard you are hitting the pass. As long as you point in more or less the correct direction, the ball will reach its target. Semi-assisted passing takes care of the power for you, but you will need to be a bit more precise with your aiming. You can’t be totally sloppy here.

Manual can really put your skills to the test. You’ll need to think about pass weight and direction every single time you hit the ball. Once you master it, you can put the ball right where you want it. The game flow totally changes when you go Manual.

Through Pass Assistance


Assisted (Default) Through pass direction and power will be assisted to help play passes into the receiver’s path and avoid opponent’s players.
Manual The direction you point is the direction the pass goes, and the longer you hold the through pass button, the stronger the pass will be.

If you are looking to create a more organic experience for yourself, then putting Through Pass Assistance on Manual is a good choice. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll actually have some tactical advantages over players that have their settings on manual. In FIFA 09, every touch that a player takes on the ball slightly diminishes their speed. If you can play a through ball further ahead of him, then he can run further without the ball before touching it. With a speedy player like Cristiano Ronaldo, you can clear your defenders by 15-20 yards by the time you pick up the ball.




Ronaldo is tearing down the line when he sees Scholes cutting in from the middle of the field.



A standard through pass would result in a ball played into the box in front of Scholes. This would be right in the teeth of the defence. Since we have Manual Assistance on, we are able to put the ball down the line instead.




Scholes receives the ball in space and has time to put in a quality cross.

Shot Assistance


Assisted (Default) Shot direction will be assisted to always aim towards the goal.
Semi You have to aim toward the target to keep your shots on target.
Manual Shot direction will be assisted to always aim towards the goal.

With Semi and Manual settings, you have to be much more precise with your aiming. With Assisted shooting, the CPU will pull your aim inside of the post. With Semi shooting, the CPU will pull your aim in a bit, but if you push the Left Thumbstick too far to the outside, the shot will go outside of the post. On Manual, you have to have your aim down perfectly or you will miss the goal. This can be pretty frustrating, especially if you have worked hard to build up to a quality chance. We recommend Assisted or Semi for most gamers.

Cross Assistance


Assisted Cross direction will be assisted towards a teammate. Cross power will be assisted to front or back post areas and there will be no power bar on the cross.
Semi (Default) You have to choose the right power, but the cross will be assisted to front and back post areas.
Manual The direction you point is the direction the pass goes, and the longer you hold the button to perform crosses, the stronger the cross will be.

By default, FIFA 09 defaults to the Semi Assisted crossing setting. For most purposes this is perfect. You can pick out where in the box you want the ball to go by adjusting the power of your kick. 50 percent power results in a front post ball. 70 percent power will put the ball on the back post. Manual control will allow you to control both power and location, but this can be tricky to master.



Lob Pass Assistance


Assisted (Default) Lob pass direction and power will be assisted so that lob passes will be played towards a teammate.
Manual The direction you point is the direction the lob pass goes, and the longer you hold the lob pass button, the stronger the pass will be.

Manual versus Assisted Lob Pass Assistance works very much like the through ball mechanism. You’ll have more control over your lob passes and can drop the ball into dangerous spaces. Manual settings as a whole give the game a more organic texture and allow you to play with more creativity. As we have said all along, being unpredictable is a big plus when attacking in football.

[BrianFifaFan]

Throw-ins

Throw ins are not really rocket science, and usually do not involve a lot of trickery. However, it is a good idea not to aim at the player you want to throw the ball to right away; try to provide at least a little deception for your opponent. One good tip to use especially if there is a lot of player traffic around is to not aim at the intended target player until the last second before throwing, thus giving your opponent the least amount of time to react.

Throw Direction

The direction you aim is the direction in which the ball will be thrown. As mentioned above, try not to be too predictable. Attempt to fake out your opponent to committing to a player you do not intend to throw the ball to, and then change direction. Hit your target player and build the attack once again.



Short Throw

Use the X button on the PS3 and the A button on the XBOX 360 to hit the closest player in the direction your player is facing. A good tip if the player is marked is to immediately pass the ball back to the thrower to build the attack up once again.



Manual Short Throw

A manual short throw throws the ball into space rather than to a player to allow one of your players to run on to the space to get the ball on the fly rather than receiving the throw from a standing position. Press the Triangle button on the PS3 or the Y button on XBOX 360 to trigger this short throw.




Long Throw

Press and hold the Square button on the PS3 or the X button on the XBOX 360 to achieve the desired distance to hit the intended player. The longer you hold the button, the further he will throw the ball. Again, make sure you are not obvious right away where you are aiming, so you do not give your opponent much time to set up.





Move Receiver

Tap the L1 button on the PS3 or the LB button on the XBOX 360 to gain control of a receiving player closest to the throw. Move the player where you want him to go, preferably to the most open space, and then tap the same button a second time to regain control of the thrower put the ball back in play.

[BrianFifaFan]

Goalkeeper Controls

It goes without saying that the goalkeeper is a crucial position on the field. He can be used as the 11th player on the field and can assist the defence in being the relief player for the big clear on a pass back. His positioning is crucial to the success of the team. Once he is in possession of the ball, there are several things he can do depending on what is happening in the game. A balanced keeper will be alert for back passes and get a good feel for how to best cut down a shooter’s angle.

Rush

This is always a calculated risk and should only be used as a last resort in preventing a breakaway goal. It is a very tough skill to master because if your keeper comes out too fast, the attacker can put one good move on and be in on an open goal. Likewise, if he holds back too long, the attacker can get a good look at the goal and pick his target. The following two diagrams will show you the importance of picking an angle that cuts down the attacker’s shooting options.




With the keeper back on his line, Rooney has plenty of target space to either side of the goal.




In this example Peter Cech rushes out to cut down Rooney’s angle. Rooney still might be able to hit the far post, but his finish has been made much more difficult.

Also be aware that the attacker may choose a chip shot. Some good advice is to make a strong commitment and go for it. You will learn as you play the timing of what works best and it does indeed depend highly on the ratings of your player.



Drop Kick

The drop kick is the best way to get the ball down field quickly. Check the radar before you let it fly. Make sure you target a player. Also, this is a good tool if when you gain possession of the ball you see a lot of your opponent’s players around you; it might be a good idea to hit the ball up field and possibly trigger a counter attack. However, unless you have a clear target player, it puts the ball up for a 50/50 challenge to maintain possession.













Throw

The throw is the best way to accurately get the ball onto the feet of your team member right away. A good tip unless time is running out and you are behind is to let the keeper hold the ball for a few seconds and allow your opponent to clear out. Once the area is clear, you can target a defender to start to build your attack. Make sure you are aiming at the right player before you release the ball; the default player that is chosen is not always the best choice. Also, the longer you hold the pass button, the further he will throw the ball. If you check the radar and see a player open or on your goal’s side of the opponent, judge the distance, face his direction and launch the throw. This is a very accurate way to send a player on a quick counter attack. Take note of how many defenders your opponent is running and you may get a chance at a long throw to break away.





Drop the Ball

Dropping the ball is a risky move, but can be used effectively to get the ball down and start the possession right away or make a big clearance. The biggest tip for this is to take a very good look around your player and the radar to make sure you are not wrapping up a gift goal for your opponent. If your opponent’s defenders seem to play be playing far back, this might work well.




Goal Kicks

Goal Kicks is the keeper’s mechanism for restarting the game after the offense knocks it over the endline. Here are some good tips to remember: if time is running out, then a short kick is not an option. If time is not a concern, it is a good idea to use the short pass.

Short Pass

This is almost always the best option just because it almost assures that you will regain possession. Target the best defender with the most open space and start your build up from there. You often will need to take control of the receiving player and bring him back to the ball once the pass is made.




Lob Pass

There is no guarantee that you will win this one, but your best shot is to check your radar and find the best potential target player. Make sure you go up strong with that player to get to it first. This is best done if there is a hard press on your goal by the opposition, as it can give you the potential of a quick counter attack.

[southernbelle]

Quote: Originally Posted by Xaor

I believe it is LB/L1

thanks - though i meant for everything... just indciate buttons with each passage.

[BrianFifaFan]

Beating Your Opponent One-on-One

We have taken a look at Basic Skill moves, Advanced Skill moves, and Combo moves. You should have a pretty good feel for how each one works, and how to execute each move. The more time you spend working on your moves in the Arena, the quicker you will be able to perform them. We recommend starting with the basic moves like the Body Feint, Stepover, and Reverse Stepover. Then move on to the 360 Roulette and other more advanced skills.

Now it is time to take your new skills to the pitch and put them to use against both CPU and Human Opponents. You can be successful at Fifa 09 by just working the ball, using good tactics, and finishing, but what fun would that be? Breaking the ankles of a CPU defender or smoking our friend’s player and leaving him in your wake is much more fun.

We recommend avoiding skill moves in your own defending third. You could execute a simple Drag Back or Ball Roll if you are not under pressure and want to hot dog a bit. Skill Moves can be risky, and you don’t want to be risky in your defensive half. As you approach the halfway line, you can begin to pull out more of your arsenal. The final third is a great place to put your skills to use, as often you will have to beat a defender in order to get a chance on goal. In addition, using skill moves will often force the defence to foul you. This will provide you with set piece opportunities in dangerous areas of the pitch.

Control the Ball

One of the best pieces of advice we can give you when it comes to beating players off the dribble is to learn to lay off the Sprint button. You can’t turn as sharply, and your player is much easier to knock off the ball when he is at a dead sprint. Only use the Sprint button when your player has lots of open field, or to briefly explode past your opponent after you make a skill move.

There are a number of different skills that your player will utilize even when you don’t activate a skill. For example, top skilled players like Ronaldinho and the like will use a Cruyff move when they make a 180 degree change of direction. Highly skilled players will also be able to perform double-touch moves with the ball as they quickly change direction from side to side.

You can beat overeager defenders by just keeping your player at a jogging pace and making quick change of direction moves.

Use Change of Pace

Once you have mastered controlling the ball in tight spaces, you can begin to use change of pace to beat defenders. Use the Stop ball control liberally. Take a few dribbles, perform a hard stop, and then explode in a different direction.

Once you see a defender lean the wrong way, use the Right Thumbstick to knock the ball in a different direction. Make sure you have plenty of room, or you risk knocking the ball too far ahead into a second defender. Stop and go play is especially effective against human opponents. Blast straight down the field, hit R1/RB to hit the brakes, and then accelerate in a new direction. You’ll be able to create acres of space with this technique.

The Importance of Exits

One aspect of the Skill Move system that is often overlooked by Fifa gamers is the Exit move. While the Skill Move is pretty to watch, the Exit move is what makes the skill worth performing. Exit moves allow you to explode in a new direction and take advantage of a defender who has bitten on your fake.

NOTE: One mistake that gamers make is to perform the Skill Move too close to a defender. You need to be sure that there is enough space between your player and a defender to execute the move. You can get results even if the defender is 5 yards or more away. He will still bite on the fake.

You will want to spend time in the Arena looking at all the different types of Exit moves that can be performed. Look specifically at the Stepover, Reverse Stepover, and Drag Back moves.

Often a very simple stepover can reap huge benefits if it is coupled with an explosive exit.




In this example, Ribery begins to perform a Reverse Stepover as his defender closes in.




With the move completed, Ribery starts to push the ball to the left with the outside of his foot.




Already you can see him begin to clear his shoulders and seal off the defender.




Ribery completes the move and leaves the defender in his wake.

Best Moves & Combos to Beat Your Defenders

In this section of the guide, we will show you some of the best moves to use to beat defenders in one-on-one situations. Just about every skill move in the game has its proper place, but we have found that some moves are more effective than others.

Body Feint w/Drag Across Exit

This move is very strong in the open field. If you time it right, you’ll go by the defender almost every time. It can also be an effective choice when you get one-on-one with a keeper.




We are dribbling with Ribery in the middle of the field with an approaching defender.




We fake to the right with the Body Feint skill move.




After the fake, we exit forward and to the same side that we faked (45 degree angle Forward/Right).




We easily break free of our defender and head into open field.

Head-On Ball Roll

This is one of the simplest (and thus most overlooked) moves in the game. You can use this move to “change lanes” when a defender is attacking your player head-on. Look to see if the defender is shading to one direction, and go the opposite one.




We charge down the sideline with Ribery, ready to take on the defender.





The trick is to slow down just a bit and let the defender commit to his tackle.




We slap roll the ball to the left side (opposite of the side the defender was shading).




Ribery has space to escape down the sideline. This would be a good opportunity to use a Knock On and exploit Ribery’s speed advantage.

Jump Slide Tackle

If you are playing an opponent who is a slide-tackling machine, then you’ll want to break out this move to slow him down. We don’t recommend using it often against the CPU as they are tough to fool, but an overaggressive human defender can often be exploited.



We are dribbling the ball with Rooney and see our friend’s defender closing in for the slide tackle. This is his defensive tactic of choice when we are racing down the sideline.



We execute the move early to be sure that we can clear the defender. It looks really early in the picture, but trust us, it’s perfect.



Here comes the slide, right on cue.




Rooney completes the move by leaping over the would-be tackler.

McGeady Spin

Named for Celtic player Aiden McGeady, the McGeady spin is useful all over the pitch. You can use it to turn and get a shot off with a defender on your back. It is also useful to fool a defender and create space when you are face up with your opponent.



We have the ball with Rooney in midfield with a defender closing in.



Rooney begins to execute the move by pulling the ball away from the defender and shielding it with his body.




Rooney pivots and pushes the ball away with the outside of his left foot.




We now have the space we need to take a couple of touches on the ball and find an open player.

Reverse Stepover Drag

We just love the way this move looks. It doesn’t hurt that it is very effective as well. If you like a little bit of flair in your game, but don’t want to sacrifice function, then the Reverse Stepover Drag is going to be right up your alley.




Again, we have Ribery with the ball as we prepare to embarrass yet another hapless defender who over commits to his tackle.



We complete our Reverse Stepover fake as the defender closes in.




We exit the move Forward/Left. Ribery complies by dragging the ball forward with the heel of his rear foot.




The defender can only look on as we explode right by him into open space.

360 Roulette

This move can be executed just about anywhere on the pitch, but it is most effective in the middle of the field. You can get closer to defenders before performing the 360 Roulette than any other move. For that reason, it can be useful when you have taken a bad touch and have a defender swooping in for the tackle.




We have just received a through ball with Ribery and are still fighting to get control of the ball. Unfortunately, a defender is closing in rapidly.





We perform a panic 360 Roulette in hopes that we can beat our defender and keep possession.



We successfully shield the ball as we make our turn. The defender is trying to check his momentum, but has committed too far to stop us now.



There is a lot of open field ahead of us as the defender tries to desperately close the gap. If you can beat the Central Midfielders with a skill move, it often opens up a great attacking opportunity for you, as your forwards will occupy the attention of the Central Defenders.

Ball Roll to Cross

Crossing on the run can work, but if you can square up on the goal and take your time, then your crosses will be much more accurate. Burst down the sideline and then use the L1/LB button to face the goal. Usually the defenders will come charging in at you. This is when you pull out the Ball Roll to create space to get your cross in.



We are able to get Rooney down in the corner and square up on goal.



As the defender charges in, we begin to execute the Ball Roll.



Rooney completes the move as the defender tackles empty air.



We have plenty of room to cross the ball or burst into the box for a shot of our own.

Ronaldo Cut

Cristiano Ronaldo is most known for this quick behind-the-leg cut, but Rooney can pull it off just as well. You will use this move typically down the sideline with a defender in hot pursuit. It works best if the defender is slightly ahead of your player.




We are busting down the line with Rooney. A defender is shadowing us and is ripe for the Ronaldo cut.



We execute the Ronaldo cut. Rooney throws his inside leg forward to clear room for the cut move.




Rooney heel flicks the ball behind this leg and to the inside.




The defender can’t match our move and Rooney cuts inside unmarked.

Shield Ball to Spin Out

A strong player can hold the ball up and protect it from a defender with the Shield Ball move. Target men can use it to keep position while the other strikers and midfielders join the attack. By holding the R2/RT button, your player will go into shield mode. You can then use the Right Thumbstick to perform ball fakes.




Ribery is holding off his defender down in the corner of the field.



We use a quick fake to make the defender think we are cutting towards the sideline.




We then release the R2/RT button and push the Left Thumbstick towards the goal to spin out of the Shield position.



Our defender is behind the play and we are on our way to the net.

Stepover to Flip Flap

This quick combination move needs lots of space to pull off. Life the other moves in the section, if can effectively beat defenders and create space for your player to attack the goal.



We start the Stepover move to the left as the defender moves in.




We exit the Stepover and immediately transition into an Elastico.




The move finishes with a hard cut move across the face of the defender and to the left.




Ribery beats the defender and takes off down the field.

Stepover to McGeady Spin

This final combination is one of our personal favourites. You don’t need as much space as the Stepover Flip Flap since you will be pulling the ball away from your opponent. The nice aspect of the McGeady exit is that it creates lots of space from your defender. If you hit the timing right, you’ll have plenty of room to make your next move.




Ribery begins the Stepover move to the left side, hoping to get the defender to commit in that direction.



We complete the Stepover, but the defender keeps coming straight in. With other exits here, the ball would be stolen.




The McGeady Spin shields the ball as Ribery begins to spin out to the side.



Ribery skips free of his marker and can hit his next target down the field.

Final Thoughts

This series of moves only scratches the surface of what you can do in Fifa 09. Each day that we play, we find a new combination that works. Master the moves in Arena mode and then take them onto the pitch and dazzle the fans while you wreak havoc on defenders

[BrianFifaFan]

Combos and Exits

We’ve taken a look at all of the Basic and Advanced Skill moves in Fifa 09. Now it is time to put these together to create some devastating dribbling combos.
Some of these combos require players with a higher level of skill. It is a good idea to take players from your favourite team into Arena mode and put them through their paces. This way you will know which moves your players can perform.Players like Ronaldinho and Franck Ribery can perform all of combos and exits in this section of the guide. Less skilled players will perform simpler variations of some of the skills, or will be unable to perform them at all.These instructions assume that you are facing forward (like in the Arena) and that you have held down the Skill modifier button (L2 on PS3 or LT on Xbox 360).

How to Execute

Move	How to Execute
Ball Roll to Cruyff Dribble Turn	Hold Right Thumbstick Left, Release LT/L2 and Hold Left Thumbstick Right – Jogging Only
Ball Roll to Triple Flip Flap	Back to Right (hold for half a second) to Back to Left
Ball Roll to Hocus Pocus	Back to Left (hold for half a second) to Back to Right
Body Feint Pull Across	Flick Right Thumbstick Right, Flick Left Thumbstick Forward/Right
Double Stepover	Forward to Right to Forward to Left (repeat for multiple stopovers)
Drag Behind the Standing Leg	Flick Left Thumbstick Back, then Left (if right foot drag) or Right (if left foot drag)
Fake Shot to Drag & Go	Press Pass while Shot/Lob Power is ramping up. Flick Left Thumbstick Back then Forward
Fake Shot to Heel to Heel	Press Pass while Shot/Lob Power is ramping up. Right Thumbstick Forward then Back
Fake Shot to Flip Flap	Press Pass while Shot/Lob Power is ramping up. Right Thumbstick Right to Back to Left
Fake Shot to McGeady Spin	Press Pass while Shot/Lob Power is ramping up. Flick Right Thumbstick Forward then Left
Jay Jay Okocha Skill	Hold Right, to Forward
Multiple Ball Rolls	Hold Left or Right
Reverse Stepover Drag Through	Right to Forward, Exit Forward on Left Thumbstick or Exit Forward/Left
Reverse Stepover to Spin Exit	Right to Forward, Exit by Holding Left on Left Thumbstick
Reverse Stepover to McGeady Spin	Right to Forward, Flick Right
Stepover Left to Hocus Pocus	Very quickly spin the Right Thumbstick counter clockwise 2x starting at Forward
Stepover to Matthews	Forward to Left to Back to Right

We have included a picture sequence of each Combo/Exit below so you will be able to see what they should look like when executed properly.

Ball Roll to Cruyff Dribble





Ball Roll to Triple Flip Flap





Ball Roll to Hocus Pocus





Body Feint Pull Across





Double Stepover





Drag Behind the Standing Leg





Fake Shot to Drag & Go





Fake Shot to Heel to Heel





Fake Shot to Flip Flap





Fake Shot to McGeady Spin





Jay Jay Okocha Skill





Multiple Ball Rolls





Reverse Stepover Drag Through





Reverse Stepover to Spin Exit





Reverse Stepover to McGeady Spin





Stepover Left to Hocus Pocus





Stepover to Matthews





Final Thoughts

There are tons of Exit and Combo moves available in Fifa 09. Spend some time in the Arena experimenting on your own and see what else you can come up with.

[BrianFifaFan]

Juggling

Unless you are beating your opponent very badly and just want to rub it in his face a bit, you won’t have too many opportunities to juggle in game. However, juggling is a fun way to pass the time in Arena mode as there are numerous tricks that you have at your disposal.

These instructions assume that you are facing forward (like in the Arena) and that you have held down the Skill modifier button (L2 on PS3 or LT on Xbox 360).




How to Execute


Move How to Execute
Flick Up Tap R1/RB – Less Skilled Players
Ronaldinho Flick Up Tap R1/RB – Advanced Players
Laces Flip Up Hold R1/RB – Advanced Players
Juggling/Kick Ups Tap R1/RB repeatedly
Sombrero Stall Flick Back Hold Left Thumbstick back while juggling – Advanced Players
Sombrero Flick Back Hold Left Thumbstick back while juggling – Less Skilled Players
Around the World Back to Left to Forward to Right (5,6,7,8,1,2,3) – Advanced Players
Around the World Alternate Back to Right to Forward to Left (5,4,3,2,1,8,7) – Advanced Players
AkKa/In Air Flip Flap Flick Right, Left (3,7) – Advanced Players
Sombrero Flick Left Hold Left Thumbstick left while juggling
Sombrero Flick Right Hold Left Thumbstick right while juggling
Knock it High for Bicycle Hold Left Thumbstick forward while juggling
Chest Flick Hold L3 and Triple Tap R3 – Advanced Players
Hop the World Trick – Right Foot Hold L3, Right Thumbstick Back to Right to Forward to Left (L3,5,4,3,2,1,8,7) – Advanced Players
Hop the World Trick – Left Foot Hold L3, Right Thumbstick Back to Left to Forward to Right (L3, 5,6,7,8,1,2,3) – Advanced Players

We have included a picture sequence of each Juggling Skill below so you will be able to see what they should look like when executed properly.

Ronaldinho Flick Up



Laces Flick Up



Sombrero Stall Flick Back



Around the World



Around the World Alternate




Akka/In Air Flip Flap



Sombrero Flick Left/Right




Knock it High for Bicycle




Chest Flick




Hop the World



Final Thoughts

While the Juggling moves are not typically useful in game situations, they can be a good way to improve your timing and stick skills in the game.