Tips to win more duels
Technique helps, but penalties are decided by reading your opponent. Combine the tips below and you'll score more and concede less.
For the shooter
1. Aim a little inside the post
The corners are the hardest spots for the keeper, but aiming right next to the post is risky: the wobbling crosshair and any power mistake can send the ball off the post or wide. Leave half a meter of margin.
2. Power matters more than the corner
A strong shot in the green zone reduces the keeper's reach. A weak shot gives them time to get there even if they dive a little off. Practice the rhythm of the bar against the computer until you stop in the green without thinking.
3. Wait for the crosshair to cross the target
The crosshair follows a repeating pattern. Keep your finger still on your chosen spot, watch one or two loops and release when it crosses the target. Rushing is the shooter's worst enemy.
4. Mix it up, but not too much
Always shooting to the same corner is a gift to the keeper, and the computer notices it on medium and hard. On the other hand, switching sides every time also becomes predictable. Mix it up: sometimes repeat, sometimes switch, and every now and then go high through the middle.
For the keeper
5. Watch your opponent's patterns
The scoreboard shows the history of the kicks. Think about where your opponent shot before. Many players have a favorite side, especially under pressure in the last kicks.
6. Height matters too
You choose a spot, not just a side. Low shots and top corners call for different dives. If your opponent tends to overdo the power, the ball tends to rise: picking a higher spot can pay off.
7. Your whole body counts
The ball doesn't have to hit your gloves: if it touches your arms, torso or legs, it's also a save. When you dive to a corner, your body covers the path between the center and that corner.
8. Staying in the middle is an option
When the shooter is used to seeing the keeper dive, a shot down the middle feels safe. Staying still every now and then punishes anyone trying a chip.
In sudden death
In sudden death, one mistake ends the match. As the shooter, play it safe: aim with more margin and nail the power. As the keeper, remember that your opponent is nervous too and tends to go back to the corner they trust most.