eFootball 2025: A complete guide to build a Long Ball Counter squad

As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours on the virtual football field, I can confidently say that the long ball counter strategy is a game-changer in eFootball 2025. Having dabbled with this playstyle way back in PES 2021, I can attest to its effectiveness even before it was officially introduced.

In recent years, eFootball 2025 has brought a unique, invigorating perspective to the strategic aspects of football within KONAMI’s beloved series. One standout feature is the integration of Manager Tactics and Individual Instructions, which have been a delightful change for long-term players. This enhancement makes team construction in 2025 more engaging and empowers gamers to pick a squad based on their preferred playstyle, such as the Long Ball Counter. In this article, I’ll break down the Long Ball Counter playstyle and the team-building process for it within eFootball 2025.

Introducing the Long Ball Counter tactic

Long Ball Strategy is another approach to playing football that involves swift movement from defense to offense by exploiting counter-attacks. This tactic often involves long passes originating from the defense, including the goalkeeper, in an attempt to outmaneuver the opposing team’s defensive line and aim for a score.

For quite some time, since the PES 2019 era, I’ve noticed that many players have used a strategy that lacks purpose in its execution. This tactic was widely used before it became common, but the passes are often thrown without clear intention.

eFootball 2025: A complete guide to build a Long Ball Counter squad

The positive of this tactic is that it employs direct football. Get the ball, long pass, cross, boom. The transition from defense to attack is within seconds. The defense tactic is All-Out Defense with Conservative Pressing. This makes the defensive line sit back and defend while maintaining the defensive line. Once on the ball, the forwards will look for a run even when the ball is far back, with high support range.

Selecting players for a Long Ball Counter playstyle

Next up, let me break down the selection of the players for the Long Ball Counter.

Forwards

Main Attributes: Ball Control, Offensive Awareness, Finishing, Physical Contact

Players in the attacking position ought to have a keen sense of offensive understanding, as they need to anticipate the proper movements to make when their team controls the ball. This knowledge will enable them to time their runs appropriately and outmaneuver the defense for scoring chances. Speed is certainly significant, but sometimes physical prowess alone can suffice.

For Long Ball Counter attacks in eFootball 2025, always have Physical Strikers upfront to bully defenders since Physicality has been the current meta. They will be lethal in such conditions, and they can beat the defenders in a physical battle and be at an advantage. For this role, Goal Poachers are the best choice, but you can opt to have one Fox In The Box beside in a two CF setting.

Best Strikers for Long Ball Counter: Erling Haaland, Darwin Nunez, Marcus Thuram, Dusan Vlahovic

Winger or wide midfielders often don’t contribute significantly during the initial phases of play, but it’s important not to underestimate their abilities as they can still make forward runs. Having an additional attacking option always strengthens your team, and when paired with another supporting attacker, you create numerous opportunities for scoring goals.

Best Wingers for Long Ball Counter: Luis Diaz, Rafael Leao, Chiesa

Midfielders

Main Attributes: Low Pass, Ball Control, Balance, Stamina

In this setup, midfielders have some flexibility, but it’s generally recommended to field players with strong endurance since they’ll be crucial for controlling the game in the middle of the field. Additionally, attacking midfielders should make forward movements if your strategy allows for it.

Just as I suggested for the wingers, it’s crucial to create additional room and an extra player for assistance. For this purpose, I suggest adopting a Hole Player playstyle. To ensure he doesn’t tire quickly when moving backward, you can configure him as a Counter-Attack Target in Individual Instructions.

Best Attacking Midfielders for Long Ball Counter: Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Griezmann

It seems that Central Midfielders often focus more on providing solid defense support rather than making many dynamic movements.

Best Central Midfielders for Long Ball Counter: Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde

A defensive midfielder should excel in providing solid coverage and have a high level of energy. Their persistent pursuit of the ball often leads to successful recoveries, making a physically robust defender an ideal fit. While not essential, it’s beneficial if they can also handle a soccer ball well enough to pass accurately on occasion.

Best Defensive Midfielders for Long Ball Counter: Casemiro, Caicedo, Declan Rice

Defenders

Main Attributes: Defensive Awareness, Interception, Low Pass, Lofted Pass

In this situation, I recommend choosing team members who excel in both ball play and defense. These versatile players, often referred to as defending midfielders or ball-playing defenders, are crucial for our strategy. The reason being that our pressing style is conservative and prioritizes safety, so having a solid defensive line is essential to maintain the backline consistently.

Select the fullbacks that suit your preference, and aim for a balance between them if feasible. It’s beneficial to have defendingly reliable fullbacks on both sides, while delegating the creative roles to other players in your formation.

Best Fullbacks for Long Ball Counter: Kyle Walker, Andy Robertson, Dani Carvajal

Again, don’t stress too much over defense, but pay attention to your long ball passes instead, as they play a crucial role here. Maintain a solid defensive position, and when you gain control of the ball, utilize one skilled defender to make these long passes.

Best Centrebacks for Long Ball Counter: Upamecano, Antonio Rudiger, Van Dijk

Goalkeeper

Main Attributes: Low Pass, Lofted Pass, GK Parrying, GK Reflexes

As a fervent admirer, I’d say selecting the Goalkeeper (GK) isn’t a dilemma, for either playstyle suits my needs. Nevertheless, to excel in my preferred style, it’s crucial that the GK boasts not only top-notch goalkeeping abilities but also impressive parrying and passing stats. This way, I can swiftly initiate a counterattack once I secure possession.

Best Goalkeepers for Long Ball Counter: Ederson, Ramsdale

Formations

4-3-2-1

For Long Ball Counter strategies at Christmas time, the well-known 4-3-2-1 formation, often associated with holiday traditions, is an effective choice. The front trio provides excellent forward thrusts towards the goal, while simultaneously overwhelming the midfield. A combination of a Hole Player and either a Creative Playmaker or Classic Number 10 yields the best results when partnered with a Goal Poacher.

In the midfield, let’s maintain a strong, physical approach again. While you don’t need to exert excessive force or move too aggressively, these tactics aid in regaining control over balls that go astray on the pitch. It would be beneficial if our fullbacks in the defense are capable of making forward runs, as there should be ample space on the wings. With your preferred defenders and goalkeeper, we can form a solid backline.

5-2-3/5-1-3-1

A tactical setup featuring three defenders (3-back) that enables players to strategize in a 3-at-the-back system, while reducing the midfield presence to only two players. This adjustment facilitates a more concentrated defensive stance and allows for swift, long ball counterattacks. The attackers are deployed as a Goal Poacher, with one of the wingers possessing strong crossing abilities and skillful maneuvers.

In simpler terms, it’s important that midfielders possess high endurance levels, with at least two substitutes ready on the sidelines. Similarly, defenders should ideally have one or two players skilled in passing, while another is a physical powerhouse. It would also be beneficial to have a backup for these defensive players as well.

Conclusion

Teams can choose their members according to personal preferences. The objective is to build a harmonious unit capable of delivering victories against any opposition. It’s essential to remember that there’s no ideal team, as challenges may arise while trying to outmaneuver opponents and focus may wane. I propose that paying attention to individual playing styles can be crucial for success.

In eFootball 2025, Long Ball Counter teams are undeniably efficient at breaching the midfield and generating opportunities seemingly out of nowhere. Based on my personal observations in PES 2021, a significant number of players employed this tactic, despite it not being officially introduced back then.

Based on my personal observations, this rapid-motion offensive strategy seems ideal for those who prefer a swift and dynamic style of soccer. It primarily focuses on swiftly advancing the ball towards the opposing third. If you encounter any challenges with these strategies or team construction, I encourage you to consult this guide for assistance.

2024-11-12 15:12

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