RW in Copero: the run down the right flank
The RW (right winger) is the mirror image of the left winger, but with a personality of its own. It commands the right flank, links up with the right back (RB) and finishes its plays with the dominant foot, which changes how crossing and shooting decisions are read. The role suits players who like to finish with the right foot and punish the opposing full back with cuts inside.
Unlike the left winger (LW), who has a more associative profile and depends on long dribbles, the RW tends to be defined by counter-attacks and driven crosses at medium height. Its 88 pace lets it get in behind the full back in transition, and its 88 dribbling gives it options in static one-on-ones. The result is a position that lives off the back-and-forth, off the break, off the fast decision after winning the ball back.
When to pick RW (and when to avoid it)
The right winger is the natural pick for a player who wants an attacking career with a clear finishing edge. If the LW teaches dribbling and crossing, the RW teaches cutting inside and shooting. Each match has three or four moments where the winger makes the difference: the counter-attack at pace, the driven cross to the ST, the cut inside with a curled finish, the wall-pass with the RB pushing on.
The role also suits players who see football as a game of transitions. In the 4-3-3, the RW occupies the right flank next to the RB and ahead of the right-sided central midfielder. That right-hand chain is responsible for the team’s attacking game in recovery situations: when the team wins the ball in its own half, the first option is always the RW’s run into space.
There is a player profile the RW suits poorly: the one who prefers to stick to the touchline and combine with the full back in the final third. For that profile, the attacking midfielder (CAM) or the central midfielder (CM) are better fits. The RW needs space ahead to run; without space, it fades.
Attributes and what each one measures
Pace (88): the figure is slightly lower than the LW’s (90) but equally decisive. With 88 pace, the right winger wins the race in behind the full back on most long transitions, can drive from the flank in three strides and beats the opposing full back in one-on-ones at speed. It’s the attribute that branches the most decisions: every run into space opens or closes a driven cross into the box.
Shooting (80): the big difference compared to the LW. With 80 shooting, the RW is slightly more of a finisher and can resolve from inside the box more often than its left-side mirror. It’s the figure that defines the “cut inside and shoot” profile: many of the RW’s goals come from diagonals inside after taking on the full back and curling a shot into the far corner.
Passing (75): the same figure as the LW. It lets you assist the ST with near-post and back-post crosses, slide balls into the path of the CAM arriving from the inside channel, and combine with the RB overlapping down the line. A RW with high passing multiplies his crosses; one with low passing lives off dribbling and shooting.
Dribbling (88): identical to the LW, which confirms that the one-on-one is the role’s signature. It lets the winger take on the full back with confidence, escape pressure when the team plays long, and keep possession in the final third. It’s the attribute that defines the playing style: with 88 dribbling, the simulator rewards cuts inside; with lower figures, those cuts are punished with turnovers.
Defending (42): the weakest figure in the role, although slightly above the LW’s (40). It reflects the same tactical reality: the RW does not track back. When the team loses the ball, the winger stays in the opposition half, and the flank is covered by the RB and the central midfielder. The 42 in defending is not a millstone: it simply signals that the simulator does not expect the winger to participate in the defensive phase.
Physical (67): two points above the LW. It holds up better across 90 minutes in demanding matches, which slightly reduces the risk of muscle injuries in back-to-back fixtures. It is still a tight figure: rotating the player in dead-rubber matches from season 10-12 onwards is wise.
Ideal formation
The best formation with a pure RW is the 4-3-3 with wide wingers. In this structure, the RW lines up on the right, the LW on the left, and the ST as the central reference. The central midfielder (CM) and the defensive midfielder (CDM) cover the middle, while the full backs (LB and RB) are free to push on down the outside. It’s a formation that produces constant attacking football, with the RW as the main counter-attacking outlet.
The second recommended formation is the 4-4-2 with twin wingers. Here the RW and LW operate behind two strikers, forming a four-man attacking line. It’s a more direct formation, built for teams with a clear offensive identity and for matches where the counter-attack is the main weapon. It demands a central midfielder with strong physical presence to cover the middle without a third man.
Both formations work across all three game modes. In Express mode the 4-4-2 with twin wingers is the most stable choice because it cuts down intermediate decisions; in Intense mode the 4-3-3 lets the RW branch his game more, because the RB is a permanent partner.
RW across game modes
In Normal mode, the RW lives its best version. One decision per season lets the player read every offer, injury and tactical change calmly, and understand how they affect the winger. The ideal mode to learn when to cross, when to cut inside and when to lay off to the RB.
In Intense mode, three decisions per season demand more reading. The RW has to decide in every match block whether to go down the outside, double up with the RB on the inside, or drop into midfield to receive. This is where great right winger careers happen, but also where a rushed cross decision hurts the most.
In Express mode, one decision every three seasons makes the RW feel more like a summary than a director of play. Still useful for seeing how a full career ends in under two minutes and for testing quick combinations of transfers and formations.
Common mistakes when playing RW
- Always crossing to the near post. The most common mistake of the rookie RW is lumping the ball into the mixer. With 75 passing and 80 shooting, the winger has finer options: the driven cross at medium height looking for the ST’s run, the tense cross to the back post, the slide-rule pass to the CAM. Varying the cross multiplies chances.
- Ignoring the RB. The winger and the right back are a pair. When the RB pushes on, the RW can double up on the inside; when the RB sits, the RW has to hold the flank. Ignoring the RB is giving up half the attacking game down the right.
- Always cutting inside. The RW has 88 dribbling and 80 shooting, which invites cutting inside to shoot. But overdoing it exposes the ball to the centre back and reduces crossing options. A RW who cuts three times and crosses twice a match is more dangerous than one who always cuts inside.
- Neglecting condition. The 67 in physical is tight. From season 10-12 onwards, rotate the winger in dead-rubber matches to avoid muscle injuries that can last six weeks or more.
RW and career longevity
The right winger is a position that ages reasonably well, although it leans more on pace (88) than the LW does. When the attribute starts dropping around season 14-16, the impact is maintained thanks to dribbling (88) and shooting (80). A well-managed RW can reach season 18-19 as a starter at a mid-table club or as a high-quality squad player at a big one.
The trick is to diversify secondary attributes and to accept the generational handover with grace. A RW who ages focusing only on dribbling ends up slow and loses the burst. A RW who keeps shooting and passing to the end can shift from starting winger to attacking midfielder or second striker in his late seasons, which extends the career to natural retirement and opens new branching decisions.
For anyone looking for an attacking, demanding position with a strong counter-attacking presence, the RW is the natural answer.