Definitely use a defensive midfielder who doesn't take part in the attacks. He stays in front of the defence and puts the attacking players from the opposite team under pressure. Try to forse the opposing players to search up the wings, and then let your full back do the work. If he passes your full back, there are still your 2 centre backs. If the attacker plays the ball in the air, keep cool, anticipate and go for the header. If he passes your centre-back, use your other centre-back to set him under pressure, and make your keeper come out. Nearly impossible to score
It's all about defending in zone. Don't follow the attacker when he runs from the right to the left for exemple. Just stay cool. The player which is the nearest to the attacker sets him under pressure. If he comes close to goal area, go for it. Pressing X helps a lot. Just go straight to the attacker, and steal the bal. Timing is very important. Play agressive, and put the opposite team under pressure. Use the zone-press strategie!! Every player is put under pressure. Your attackers has to defend as well. Football is a team-sport.
Just don't make 'uncontroled' moves. Tackle correctly, and only when it's necessary. It's useless to give away cheap free-kicks when playing against England for exemple. Beckham is a serieus threat
. When playing against speady attackers, like Owen, make a quick decision. If he's one-on-one with a defender, tackle him, best the furthest away from the goal. Correctly or not, isn't important. Stop him.
Don't give him the chance to go one-on-one with the goalie. Brilliant strikers put the ball in the net most of the time, so... When stopping an attacker (in a flagrant way) far enough from the goal, you hardly ever get a red card. And that is what it's all about: don't get a man sent off.
I can defend really well I would say, and without making many fouls. I just play agressive, put the whole opposite team under pressure. Now playing the International League on the Extreme Level with Bulgaria, and only took 4 yellow and 2 red cards in 24 games. Defending, it's an art