EA FC 27 Destined for Glory Team 2: Full Squad, Base Card Upgrades & Best Players

Haaland earns his place through 96 finishing, 95 attacking positioning and 94 strength. Add 93 sprint speed, Quick Step+ and a 4-star weak foot, and his profile suits an attack that feeds its striker early and lets him run beyond the centre-backs. He is especially appealing when you need someone to finish moves rather than create them.

His limitations matter just as much: 70 agility, 73 balance and 3-star skills make him a less convincing choice for intricate dribbling in a crowded box. The initial boost over his gold card is also small, with shooting unchanged. He belongs among Team 2’s best finishers, but gold-card owners should compare the full items and price difference before upgrading.

Upamecano’s strongest combination is Intercept+, 92 interceptions and 91 defensive awareness. His 86 sprint speed and 88 strength also give him useful tools for recovering ground and contesting possession. That makes him our centre-back pick for a defence that needs both passing-lane coverage and physical presence.

His 67 passing face stat is misleading: 81 short passing and 80 long passing are much more relevant to moving the ball out of defence, with Pinged Pass adding another useful option. The concern is turning under pressure. With 68 agility and 67 balance, he is better suited to winning the ball and releasing it promptly than carrying it through a press.

Cucurella’s upgrade addresses a clear weakness in his gold card: pace rises from 75 to 83. Jockey+, 90 defensive awareness and 90 standing tackling give him a strong profile for containing wide attackers, while 91 stamina supports a full-back who needs to work up and down the flank.

He can also help keep possession moving, with 84 short passing and 82 crossing offering useful outlets after a recovery. His 71 strength and 3-star weak foot are the main compromises, particularly against powerful forwards or when forced onto his right foot. He is our choice for a left-back whose first job is defending, with enough passing to support the attack.

Caicedo gets the nod for an attack built around ball carrying. Technical+, 94 agility and 94 dribbling give her more to offer than straight-line speed alone. Her 97 sprint speed provides a threat in space, while 4-star skills and a 4-star weak foot give her options when cutting inside or combining around the box.

The shooting improvement is useful too: the face stat rises from 75 to 80, with 85 finishing on the DFG item. However, 78 reactions, 80 composure and 74 stamina keep her from being a complete attacking package. Use her to create openings from the left rather than expecting her to match Haaland’s finishing or sustain constant pressing for the whole match.

McKennie makes the five because he fills several midfield needs at once. 87 short passing, 86 long passing and a 4-star weak foot support quick circulation, while 85 standing tackling and 87 aggression give him a useful defensive contribution. Relentless+ and 92 stamina are particularly relevant for a midfielder asked to cover both boxes.

His 94 jumping and 91 heading accuracy also provide an aerial option that smaller creators often lack. The trade-off is attacking finesse: 78 agility, 3-star skills and 76 finishing favour a supporting role over that of a primary creator or scorer. Pairing him with a specialist playmaker makes more sense than asking him to run the entire attack.

At around 25,000 Coins on console, Kiwior is the easiest recommendation for a limited budget. His 87 defensive awareness and 87 standing tackling provide a solid defensive foundation, while 91 short passing and 88 long passing make him useful when playing out from the back. Those passing attributes are a better reason to consider him than his 86 overall rating alone.

There are compromises: 73 acceleration, 68 agility and 60 balance make him less appealing for a very high defensive line or frequent turns under pressure. His Porto and Poland links also need to fit your squad. Still, as a left-footed centre-back who can defend and distribute, he offers a useful package for relatively few Coins.

Maza’s appeal at approximately 34,250 Coins on console is the combination of 4-star skills, a 4-star weak foot, 90 agility and 92 dribbling. His 89 short passing and 88 vision, supported by Tiki Taka and Incisive Pass, suit a CAM who receives between the lines and keeps combinations moving.

He is a considerably cheaper creative option than DFG Nico Paz, whose checked console price was approximately 189,000 Coins. The saving comes with a clear trade-off: Maza has 73 finishing and 70 long shots, so he is better used to supply your forwards than as the main scoring threat behind them. Pick him when your attack needs better circulation without consuming most of the budget.

Gosens costs more than the other two picks, but approximately 92,000 Coins on console buys a full-back with unusually useful attacking attributes. 86 finishing, 88 short passing and 91 stamina make him worth considering when your left-back regularly overlaps or arrives in the box. Whipped Pass adds another reason to use him out wide.

Compared with Cucurella’s checked 229,000-Coin console price, Gosens offers the same 83 pace for substantially less. However, Cucurella has Jockey+ and higher defensive awareness; Gosens’ 81 defensive awareness and 3-star weak foot are compromises to consider. Gosens makes the most sense when you want attacking support from left-back and can provide cover for his forward runs.