We all know that football and gaming is a match made in virtual heaven. But not sure what the best deals are this year? Joe Minihane's got you covered
1. Xbox One S 500GB + FIFA 17, £249.99,
Those dreaded breaks in the crowded Christmas fixture list could easily be filled with a long winter walk or a game of Monopoly. Alternatively, snap up this bargain bundle, either as a present to yourself or the kids, and there won’t be a minute when you’ve not got football on the telly. You can even make Mourinho–vintage United look good.
2. Football Manager Mobile 2017 + Apple iPad mini 4, £6.99 and £379
As even hardcore FM fans will attest, 2017’s full-on version makes steering Leicester to Premier League glory in real life look like a breeze. But for budding managers and those who preferred the days of smashing out a season without setting up training drills, the mobile version is a better bet. Snap up an iPad mini, load it up with the game and you’ve got the perfect gift for wannabe Guardiolas everywhere.
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If you’re buying for hardcore gamers who won’t take kindly to you putting Microsoft products under the tree, then this alternative PS4 offer from John Lewis is just the ticket. It’s a bit of a bargain and offers football-obsessed gamers the chance to take on their pals online and quietly forget about the travails of the real-life relegation battles and last-minute losses that can pile up over the Christmas period.
4. Rocket League: Collectors’ Edition, PS4 and Xbox One, £14.99
FIFA and PES are the Barça and Real of football games, sure – but there are alternatives if you want to give younger gamers something less taxing than battling rivals online. Rocket League: Collectors’ Edition sees you take control of cars in a battle royale football match, with the chance to score worldies and make absurd saves. It’s unrealistic and utterly addictive.
PES’s annual battle with FIFA has seen the official franchise win out once more. But if you’ve got a PC gaming fanatic in the family, snapping up this cheap copy of Konami’s classic is a solid bet for the big day. It’s a surefire way to ensure the person on the receiving end spends Christmas and Boxing Day hunkered over their laptop trying to bring glory to the faithful of East Dorsetshire or Lancashire Claret.
6. New Star Soccer + Apple iPhone SE, Free and £379 (or free on contract)
Splashing out on a smartphone is the ultimate (if wallet-melting) way into your teenager’s Christmas affections. And while it’s doubtful they’re pushing towards the first team of their favoured Premier League side, loading up a new iPhone SE with New Star Soccer will at least give them the illusion of footballing success. The game has a new look and they can cultivate their celebrity lifestyle and enjoy the trappings of fame without having to brave the cold and go to training.
Euro 2016 will be four weeks you’ll want to forget if you’re an England fan. But if you’ve got Welsh pals who still weep at the thought of Bale & Co. taking Belgium to pieces in Lille, this is the ideal stocking filler. And unlike the real thing, you can take Wales all the way.
