In  soccer  there  are  four  things  that will make you a better
player, practice, practice, practice and more practice. To this end we
have  assembled  a guide to getting the most out of the Gremlin Soccer
Series, without all that hard work.

     Get  in  the  right  frame  of  mind: Actua Soccer is not another
simple  arcade game. You cant just keep pressing the fire button until
the ball flies into the back of the net. You have to develop that most
elusive  of  attributes,  a footballer's brain. How else will you know
how  to  create spa ce, when to hold, when to release and when to give
their  winger  a  grass sandwich. To help you here are a few points to
bear in mind.

Defending:
     i.  Keep  the  opposition's shooting opportunities to an absolute
minimum. Live by the footballer's maxim "If in doubt, boot it out".
     ii.  Look  out  for rebounds from the Goal Keeper. Opposing teams
will always maintain an attack until the ball is in his hands.
     iii. Turn the 'offside' option on. This means that your defenders
will always stand a chance of blocking a shot.

Passing:
     i.  The  key  to  successful  passing is creating space. Don't be
tempted  to  pass when a player is right on top of you. Either release
the ball quickly, or twist and turn until you're clear.
     ii.  Aim  for  the  gaps, and look for players in space. Remember
that  you  don't  always have to be facing the player you want to pass
to. If your player has good vision he will pass to the man in the best
position.  If  your  team isn't one of the best you will have to think
for yourself.

Tackling:
     i.  Try  not to pull players out of position to make a tackle. If
you do you may be leaving an opposing player unmarked.
     ii.  Don't  lunge  at  every  player  feet first. Sliding tackles
should  be  used only when you're sure of coming away with the ball or
as a last resort.
     iii.  The  most  successful  approach  is  to  run into a player,
shouldering him off the ball.
     iv.  Be  aware of which referee is in charge of the game. One too
many tackles with a strict Ref. and it's time for an early bath.

Shooting:
     i.  One  touch  shots  are  very  difficult to perform from short
passes.  Therefore  only attempt them when you have the time to set it
up.
     ii.  Try  and  shoot  with  the one touch feature. Don't give the
goalkeeper time to get into position.
     iii.  Always  be  on the look out for rebounds from their keeper.
The best time to score is when the goalie's still on the floor.
     iv. Always put after touch on a shot if you can.
     v.  When  taking  a  penalty  select  the "wire" camera. Aim your
player at a corner of the goal and use the power shot to keep the ball
hard and low.
     vi.  Don't  panic!! The best players stay cool when the ball's in
the area.

Practice:
     i.  Select  'practice  mode'  in  order  to master your technique
without the other team bothering you.
     ii. You must practice the one touch passing and shooting moves.
     iii. If you're having all the possession, but aren't scoring many
goals. then this is the part of the game you need to work on.

Formation & Tactics:
     i.  Know  your  squad  and  the  strengths  and  weakness  of the
opposition. Plan your game accordingly. For example, if you're playing
weak team against Germany, play with a packed defence, stick to a long
ball  game  and  use forwards with good controlling skills rather than
those with good pace or flair.
     ii.  A lot of problems can be sorted out by getting the formation
right.  For  example, if you're losing out in Midfield, try adopting a
4-4-2  or 4-5-1 formation. Remember that the default formation may not
be the one which suits your style of play.