This game is really, really, really flawed and for these reasons:

First, it's too easy at professional level (even with a crap team, Bari in my case !!) and too difficult at the world class level.

With previous games the 'middle' level played a much more difficult game but here that's not the case. I play an 8 min. game and the score is often 8 or 9 nil. Play the next level up and it the same score, but the other way round. That's poor, very poor, where's the balance.

Also the Goalie can't accurately throw the ball. As often as not he'll lob (or kick it for that matter) straight to the other side.

Also why can't I do headers. They happen automatically in midfield, but I can't do them in front of goal !!!! this is piss poor, especially as most of the opposition goals come from headers.

And again, why can't I set the formation with a 4 button gamepad...why should the number of buttons have anything to do with the in-game options. This is REALLY piss poor.

Don't get me wrong...it's still the best footie game going but they haven't play tested it properly. This seriously needs a patch.

4 words: Play the PSX Version

19 words: If you have a PSX dont play FIFA, why bother when you can play the best game ever ISSS98.

Before you complain any more, I have an answer for you. All the teams are set to all out attack by default. When you are in the pro level that means your team is attacking just as hard as the comp. Only you are the creative one. You win. Well in WC level the comp turns the intensity up a notch and they are also on all out attack you can't compete with a computer that sees the whole field and is using the spaces near perfectly. So turn down the team attack bias from 100% attack to 50/50 (middle) or 1 click short of 100% defend. Things change trust me. About the headers. I can tell you I am better at scoring headers than the comp. First I do a set piece once the runs start I pick a guy going for the far post. (usually blue on gamepad pro) as soon as I press that button I switch and hold green (shoot). When the ball is almost to my head I let go and choose a direction. I don't always score, but I am always up in the air (100%) I usually win the ball unless my guy is bad a heading (75%). Of that 75% all are on goal and 60% or so go in. THe rest.. well we just get another corner. So I say I score on about 50% of my corners.

Yeah, I discovered the same. Just cut that Attack/Defend scale in half and reset the teams before every match and the gameplay was much more competitive and realistic going from baseball scores (10-8, 7-6, 8-2) to 2-2 and 3-2. I might just keep this version, for a little longer anyway!...

Of course having to customize the cameras before each match sucks, why can't you save the camera settings?? DUH

PSX please...do me a favour !!

But thanks americansoccerstar and FIFAfreak for good advice. I still think there's a flaw in the balance of the game but thanks to your advice I can tweak it so it's more of an even match.

Thanks also for the advice on headers...it works a treat !!!

Why in hell would I want to do EA's job??? It was their responsibility to get the damn game right in the first place without my fiddling with the bloody thing. I'll tell you one thing--the game is already history because I returned it the same day and went right back to playing FIFA 99.