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FIFA 22: Shapeshifters Team 1 Review – Defenders

After an enthralling seven-week promotion, Team of the Season concluded on Friday, which typically signals the end of most people’s desire to play this iteration of Ultimate Team. To keep their hardcore players engaged, EA released Shapeshifters: a new dimension of players to FUT 22, with a range of position changes that influence how you build your squad.

These exciting items may move ahead of Team of the Year and TOTS players, but what defenders are in the Shapeshifters promo, and how could you link them into your starting squad for the remainder of the year.

Defenders

Pierre Kalulu is a favourite among Football Manager players and will be exciting all FIFA players with his third promo card of the year: after picking up two Team of the Week items. The Frenchman continues EA’s love for a French centre-back in a promo with an incredible 94-rated card featuring 94 defending, 92 pace, and 90 physical. Additionally, his 84 dribbling and 83 passing, down to Kalulu shifting from a right-back, results in the AC Milan defender being in the elite category of centre-backs in FIFA 22. With a perfect link to Theo Hernandez’s TOTS card, dubbed the best left-back in the game, Kalulu can get onto maximum chemistry through many French defenders, goalkeepers, or Sandro Tonali’s TOTS card. The Frenchman has an upgrade to his skill moves as well to 4* from 2*. A brilliant card to start off the promo.

Someone who will link nicely to Kalulu is another French centre-back Nordi Mukiele, like the AC Milan defender who has shifted from a right-back. The RB Leipzig player was hugely popular in FIFA 21, picking up a first-ever Team of the Season card in the Community Team of the Season, but this card is a massive upgrade. With 93 pace, 92 defending, and 91 physical, the Frenchman will be highly desired, especially at a relatively low price compared to other centre-backs. Strongly linking to Evan Ndicka’s TOTS at centre-back, a perfect one to all of Christopher Nkunku’s items and several links to his national colleagues in goal, defence, and attack, it should be easy to get Mukiele into any team on FIFA 22. 

The final defender of the first Shapeshifters team is Hector Bellerin, who had a brilliant season on loan from Arsenal at Real Betis that saw them lift the Copa del Rey. The right-back has shifted to left-back and instantly rivals Marcos Acuna’s TOTS card as the best left-back from La Liga. With an upgraded weak foot from 2* to 4*, with his preferred foot shifting to left-footed from right-footed, the Spaniard is an incredible option with multiple links. The former Arsenal player has 97 pace, 92 dribbling, 91 passing, 88 defending, and 86 physical, making him a solid full-back. He has strong links to his teammates’ TOTS cards, Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales, and many Spanish cards released during the past few promos: TOTS Moments Ansu Fati, FUT Captains Sergio Busquets, and TOTS Pedri. Overall, another cheap card wanted by players using La Liga teams.

Summary

The defenders for the first Shapeshifters are brilliant, except they are similar to previous promos other than Bellerin. Two more French centre-backs when there are other areas of major league defences that lack elite-level options: like Premier League or La Liga at right-back. 

The players are still fantastic cards but lack variety: that players prefer at this stage of FIFA 22 Ultimate Team.

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