eFootball™: How to Score Zero-Angle Free Kicks

To score a zero-angle free kick in eFootball™, select a set-piece taker with high Curl and Place Kicking attributes, aim slightly outside the far post, charge your shot power between 45% and 60%, and immediately hold the directional stick inward toward the net.

When a dead ball is awarded on the touchline near the corner arc, the game's defensive positioning anticipates a standard cross. The goalkeeper shifts toward the middle of the six-yard box to challenge lofted deliveries, leaving a narrow opening between the near post and the keeper's reach. Bypassing a crowded penalty box with an inward curling shot exploits this positioning and creates an immediate scoring opportunity.

Kicker Selection: Inverted Specialists

Curling the ball into the near post from the baseline requires an instep strike that bends toward the net. Always invert your kicker relative to the sideline so the natural spin draws the ball inward rather than slicing out of bounds.

• Right Touchline: Use a left-footed specialist with high Place Kicking and Curl, such as Lionel Messi. The left instep generates the tight inward bend required to tuck the ball inside the near upright.
• Left Touchline: Use a right-footed specialist with high Curl and agility, such as Neymar Jr. Right-footed curve swings cleanly inside the near post from the left boundary.
• Central vs. Boundary Specialists: Players defined by elite Kicking Power rather than Curl—such as Cristiano Ronaldo—struggle from zero-angle positions. While powerful kickers excel at dipping knuckleballs from central distances, their lower curve ratings often cause touchline shots to strike the post or drift out of play.

Step-by-Step Execution

Executing a zero-angle strike requires precise aiming and immediate directional input after setting the power gauge.

1. Realign the Aiming Guideline: Pan your aiming line slightly outside the far post rather than directly at the goal frame. Aiming directly between the posts pulls the ball into the goalkeeper's diving reach. Pointing wide creates the necessary clearance arc for the ball to bend back into the net.
2. Charge Power to 45%–60%: Tap and release the shoot button to fill the power gauge roughly halfway. Power below 40% will lack the speed to beat the keeper, while charging past 65% flattens the shot's flight path and sends it over the crossbar.
3. Hold Full Inward Curve: Immediately after releasing the shot button, push and hold the directional stick sharply toward the goal mouth. For a right-footed kicker on the left wing, pull the stick to the right; for a left-footed kicker on the right wing, pull to the left. Hold the input until the shooting animation finishes.

Counterplay and Match Application

Direct zero-angle free kicks carry tactical trade-offs that determine when to take the shot and when to cross:

• Goalkeeper Overcommitment: The ideal time to shoot is when an opponent habitually moves their goalkeeper toward the center of the box to cut off aerial crosses. A direct curling strike immediately punishes aggressive manual positioning.
• Manual Goalkeeper Movement: If an observant opponent selects their goalkeeper and takes two steps toward the near post before the kick, the shooting lane is closed. Deliver a cross into the box instead.
• Near-Post Defenders: If the defending team manually positions a tall defender directly against the first post, their clearance hitbox will likely block the curling ball.
• Possession Loss: Missed attempts or keeper catches concede possession immediately and can trigger an opponent counterattack. Reserve baseline shots for situations where the keeper's initial stance leaves the near post completely exposed.

To master the required power calibration and camera angles, open Free Training, select Set Pieces, and practice from the corner boundaries before attempting the kick in competitive matches.