DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Extra crosses creating extra targets. Profitable penalties with “complete genius” like Cristiano Ronaldo. Urgent opponents to shortly win again the ball.FIFA’s knowledgeable analysts picked their World Cup traits Saturday from the primary 16 video games after every crew performed as soon as.What the Technical Research Group noticed was extra and higher crosses bearing fruit with a giant improve within the variety of targets — 14 as an alternative of three — coming from extensive areas in comparison with the 2018 match on the similar stage.The 9 penalty kicks awarded within the first 16 video games put this World Cup on observe for a file 36 in the whole 64-game match. There have been 29 given by referees in 2018 after they first had video critiques.Intelligent gamers ought to get as a lot credit score as new expertise, based on Sunday Oliseh, a midfielder who performed at two World Cups for Nigeria and is finding out video games in Qatar for FIFA.“Possibly the strikers are getting smarter? If you happen to take a look at the penalty that Ronaldo bought,” he stated concerning the Portugal star seeming to tempt a Ghana defender right into a sort out that was judged a foul.“Individuals can say what they need about this man, however the smartness and the ingenious thought to only being affected person and watch for that cut up second to the touch the ball first earlier than you,” Oliseh stated, “and proceed my leg in order that your contact will hit my leg.”“That’s complete genius,” he added.Ghana coach Otto Addo may disagree. He described the penalty as “ a particular present from the referee.”Ronaldo bought off the turf to open the scoring in Portugal’s 3-2 win, one of many seven penalties transformed among the many 41 complete targets in 16 video games by way of Thursday.That’s a stable common at a World Cup — a fee of two.56 per recreation in comparison with the file of two.67 at a full, 64-game match.Serving to make up for the 4 scoreless attracts, the FIFA analysts highlighted, was the spectacular supply from extensive areas.The 14 targets stemming from crosses resulted from a greater provide in Qatar the place 56 crosses have led to objective makes an attempt in comparison with simply 35 in Russia 4 years in the past, FIFA’s evaluation stated.4 video games with out targets — when the primary 36 video games in 2018 failed to supply a 0-0 draw — will be defined by groups’ warning to keep away from shedding their first recreation.Oliseh stated the Portugal-Ghana recreation was drab till Ronaldo’s penalty “then it grew to become a funfair” with a rush of second-half targets.“Because the match progresses we’ll see groups turning into a bit braver,” stated Alberto Zaccheroni, the Italian coach who led Japan on the 2014 World Cup.Groups that dedicated to urgent opponents deep in their very own half had been rewarded with regaining possession in harmful areas and prevented chasing again towards their very own objective, Zaccheroni stated.FIFA knowledge confirmed England, Spain, Germany and Argentina had been best at “counter-pressing” techniques many gamers routinely use at their golf equipment.Coaches now having 5 substitutes meant their groups might preserve “bodily very taxing” vitality ranges excessive for the total recreation, Zaccheroni stated.___
World Cup analysts cite extra targets from crosses, penalties
