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The 4-1-2-1-2 formation has been the meta for multiple previous FIFAs, but it's fallen somewhat out of form in FIFA 23. All formations are viable in FIFA, but some are better than others. In FIFA 23, wider formations seem to perform better at the moment, but that could always change depending on future patches. Regardless, many fans still love this formation because of how balanced it is, especially if players can deploy the best players in their team for the same.

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Players who still want to use the 4-1-2-1-2 formation can do so but be prepared that it may not quite be as easy to use as in previous FIFAs. That being said, players who get the most out of this formation will find themselves easily steamrolling through their opponents in FIFA 23, especially since a narrow overload coupled with wide players means that players can press with ease to get the ball back before sending it wide and advancing it up the field with ease.

Updated on June 28, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: FIFA 23 is the final game in the series to use the FIFA license, with EA failing to land a deal with the governing body. The term EA Sports FC may not have the same ring to it, but most players won't mind as long as the game continues the same trend of engaging arcade-y gameplay that many players have come to associate with the series. Sure, there's always the complaint that every annual entry simply doesn't justify its presence because of the minor improvements and additions that come bundled in with each entry, but players who manage to look past this issue enjoy everything else that FIFA 23 brings to the table.

Players who want to get into this game properly should know of the many ways that formations play a role in this game. There are a bevy of choices in this regard that players can make, with 4-1-2-1-2 being a fairly popular choice that many players love to mess around with, even if there aren't too many teams employing this tactic in real life.

The Prominence Of 4-1-2-1-2 On The Pitch

The narrow 4-1-2-1-2 in FIFA 23

The 4-1-2-1-2 was a prominent formation during the early 2010s, allowing teams to add more width to the pitch and slotting in one midfielder that could help the defense out in a tough spot while another functioned as an attacking midfielder. This allowed for both sides of the game to be covered up adequately, with players being able to stretch the pitch while ensuring that enough bodies remained in the middle to receive crosses and passes.

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However, as football has moved on over time, the traditional system of crossing the ball to an attacker has become pretty outdated. Nowadays, teams prefer to build up moves using grounded passes for more control, which is perhaps why the 4-1-2-1-2 formation doesn't witness too much use in modern football. While the formation has its uses, there's no denying that teams that end up losing position in the opposing third will lead to the fullbacks scrambling to recover their position. Meanwhile, a defensive midfielder under pressure will also be vulnerable to getting dispossessed if they are caught unawares, putting the defense in a tight spot.

Using The 4-1-2-1-2 Formation In FIFA 23

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Using the 4-1-2-1-2 formation in FIFA 23 is suitable for players who like to have a narrow formation, with a style of play that is very focused in the center of the pitch. Gamers that like to use this formation will need to have good dribbling skills and enjoy a fast build-up, as playing pretty much entirely through the middle requires a good pace to the game. This is certainly achievable with the right players, but teams that are filled with players that have sub-par dribbling and pace may find that they struggle using this formation.

The 4-1-2-1-2 (2) variation is the best to use, so gamers should make sure to stay away from the other variations. Gamers should set up their 4-1-2-1-2 custom tactics with the following options in mind:

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Defensive Width: 65
  • Defensive Depth: 50
  • Offensive Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Offensive Chance Creation: Direct Passing
  • Offensive Width: 65
  • Players In Box: 4
  • Corners: 3
  • Free Kicks: 2

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These custom tactics will complement the narrow nature of the formation and compensate for that by bringing the players out a little wider in defense and attacking moments, making sure that the opponent's wide attacks don't burn a hole through the defense and result in conceding lots of goals.

Gamers should set up their 4-1-2-1-2 player instructions in the following way:

  • Goalkeeper: Leave on balanced
  • Fullbacks: Leave on balanced and default for everything else
  • Center Defensive Midfielder: Stay Back While Attacking and Cover Center
  • Center Midfielders: Keep everything balanced and put on Cover Wing
  • Center Attacking Midfielder: Put on Stay Central and Get Into The Box For Cross
  • Strikers: Put on Stay Central, leave everything else as default
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These player instructions can be slightly adjusted depending on the players being used and any tweaks a gamer wants to make based on their own play style. It's still very much a viable formation in FIFA 23 for players who don't want to change and follow the new meta. This is understandable, given the fact that some players don't want to min-max each and every aspect of the gameplay in this title to suit what is considered to be the best of the lot.

Instead, some players just want to have fun and don't want to feel the pressure of having to constantly keep track of all the patches in FIFA 23 so that they can tweak their formation accordingly every single time.

FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

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