Unrealistic last ditch tackle
I can accept that dribbling through midfield is harder this year. The AI midfielders lock on like heat-seeking missiles, the jockeying feels magnetic, and even when you get past one, there’s another with a “trailing leg” that somehow clips the ball. That’s fine- you win some, you lose some. I don’t mind grinding through two or three layers of pressure if that’s the challenge
But when I’ve actually beaten the defensive shape - when I’ve pulled players out of position, built a perfect passing triangle, and sacrificed my own defensive shape to get numbers forward - the game completely betrays me. Even before I make the final move, my attacker gets nudged off the ball or muscled aside in a way that feels totally scripted. It’s like the defender suddenly locks on and takes over the animation before I can pass or shoot. There’s no time to react — the moment my player shapes up, he’s already being swarmed.
EA has disguised it cleverly. Instead of those old teleporting interceptions, defenders now start moving toward the player you’ll pass to two or three moves ahead, before the ball even arrives. There’s no teleport, but there’s clear pre-movement. No human can switch that fast, especially across the back line. It’s like the AI already knows where the next phase of play will go and quietly positions itself for the tackle.
I can tolerate the magnetic jockeys, the auto-pressure, the over-tuned midfield duels. But that last-ditch animation that wipes out a perfect attack? That kills the joy of football.
If EA wants defending to be manual, then let it actually be manual. Don’t let the engine bail defenders out at the one moment where creative play should be rewarded.
It feels a lot like EAFC 25 all over again, the same unreal reactions. And dare to try a through pass in offense? Defenders swarm your player like crazy, winning the ball without committing any foul — it’s ridiculous. Even low-rated defenders can pull it off like prime Maldini.
It’s getting to a point where pros don’t even press — they just sit back, let you do all the work, and rely on that miracle tackle at the end.
