We all know soccer (or football) is generally a low-scoring sport. Sure, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo might pop in a few goals every once and a while, but scoring is usually very hard to come by. It's no different in FIFA 10, where tough goaltenders and tight team defense often makes it difficult to attack the box and set up shooters for a shot on target. You'll have to put in work if you want to put the ball in the back of the net, which requires a lot of planning before the game ever starts.

Every gamer can be beaten if you do your homework leading up to game time, and while it won't be easy, there are ways to significantly raise your odds of claiming glory. Again, it's in the details, and more specifically the focus should be on your plan and personnel.

The most important aspect of your plan to consider is the lineup of players that will start on the pitch. Look, EA is usually on the ball, but it's not unheard of to see less worthy players penciled in over elite talent. It's an easy fix and takes less than five minutes, but ensuring you have the best group of players on the field is no small difference. You'll be very happy when your FIFA 10 opponent slips up while you were on the ball. Of course, that is far from the only bit of planning you should do with regards to your starters.

As for your reserves, plan out strategy in advance of the contest. Figure out which starters are likely to be fatigued by the closing minutes and decide which players are best suited to take their spots. It's also important to consider situations when planning for substitutions, since every game is different and your needs will likely change depending on the score. If your squad is ahead in the second half, you should be ready with defensive-minded subs to lock down on your opponent. On the other hand, you should be ready with a striker in case of a late deficit. Figure out which players are the best fits for these roles and you won't need to scramble when the time comes to make a move.

Your formation is equally important when preparing for an online match of FIFA 10. As mentioned, your opponent will come into each game with a plan of attack and you should be ready to swing back with some tactics of your own. You may want to play a counter-attacking style of play that waits for an opening, or you might choose to try for ball control. Whatever your decision, you'll need to play a formation that gives you the best chance of success. Try different ideas in friendly matches, before taking your plan to the pitch. And of course, you'll need to be ready to change on the fly if your original intentions fall short. Still, by looking at your lineups and formations, and by approaching each match-up with a plan, your FIFA 10 team should be ready to win some Xbox and PS3 tournaments!