Every football manager has a packed playbook of tactics and approaches to lead their team to victory – but Head Ball 2 is a whole other ball game. It’s a fast-paced, big heads, single boot back-and-forth affair that requires a cool and calm approach to take home the gold. To help you get a leg up on your competitors, try our tips and tricks to ensure you won’t lose your head trying to win.

The first drop of the ball sets the tone for the game; a well-placed strike can quickly help you get on the board and force your opponent into a heavy defensive strategy. Try to get straight in there with a strategic straight kick, it’s a great way to start the game and get a shot at goal, while giving you a chance to move backwards to prepare to defend.

Jumping is a great defence tool, however you don’t want to be jumping around too much as it can lead to your opponent sliding the ball under your feet. A steady and patient approach to jumping is more likely to lead to a stronger attack, as well as a more controlled defence position that will be tougher to break through. You can also use your jump to stomp the ball as opposed to using the common header for a lower shot that may prove tricky to save.

OK, you’re down by three goals and you’re starting to feel the heat. But it ain’t over yet! You can quickly level the score in this fast-moving game, but you’ll need to adjust your strategy. Think about how your opponent is playing and try using some of your power-ups to truly get ahead.

You have powers to thwart your opponent, including freezing them or enlarging their goals, which can be advantageous if used right. Try freezing your opponent early on after the ball drop – if you wait just a bit, you’ll get more time out of it and it will be more effective as it wears off quite quickly. Enlarging the goal posts before you head the ball to the other side isn’t a very useful approach, so timing is key when using power-ups!

There’s a daily giveaway event for returning players with the chance to win items including the Skill Pack, Rare Pack, Legendary Pack, Legendary Character Pack and Mega Pack, which will boost your performance and also give you an advantage over your rivals. A quick login is a surefire way to upgrade your players, gain new abilities and, most importantly, ensure you’re always getting a little something extra to secure victory.