“I have to come to India as a result of I’ve by no means been there,” mentioned Arsene Wenger.
The query from HT was after a session of the FIFA Technical Examine group (TSG) the place Wenger and Juergen Klinsmann spoke of the traits within the first spherical after learning round 20,000 knowledge factors per match. “Your president met me lately and I’ve mentioned I might love to assist India develop soccer,” mentioned Wenger FIFA’s chief of International Soccer Growth right here on Sunday.
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The All India Soccer Federation (AIFF) has mentioned that Wenger may go to India to advise on youth improvement tasks. “It is not going to occur this yr as a result of we end right here on December 18 however perhaps within the first six months of the following yr,” he mentioned.
“You guys play an excessive amount of of cricket,” he mentioned with a smile earlier than being escorted out of the auditorium.
From the group stage video games, the TSG has discovered that groups used the wings extra and Wenger mentioned that the crew with the most effective large gamers have a higher likelihood to win the World Cup. “That features full backs. The centre has been higher protected than in Russia and that has compelled gamers to go large. Additionally it is why there have been much less balls performed behind the defence,” he mentioned.
The variety of targets from crosses has gone up by 83% from 2018, based on knowledge collated by TSG. Thirty per cent of the strikes have been from the left flank and 28% from the fitting. Crowding the centre additionally defined why makes an attempt on aim have come down, from 12.0 in Russia to 10.9 right here, mentioned Wenger.
“Groups have gotten two traces (defence and midfield) to play shut to one another and that has decreased house for gamers to drag the set off,” mentioned Klismann. The exception? “Lionel Messi’s aim in opposition to Mexico the place he discovered house from exterior the field,” mentioned Klinsmann.
“As a striker, I would like crosses from the top line because it makes it simpler to lose your marker. Gamers right here haven’t been shy of crossing the ball early so it helps if a ahead can learn the state of affairs and make the run,” he mentioned.
The targets per recreation metric is on 2.5, much like what it was in Russia the place after the group levels it was 2.54, based on knowledge shared by TSG. The targets in 90+ minutes too have come down from 21 in 2018 to 12 right here. “Utilizing 5 substitutes to guard defences higher could be a cause,” mentioned Wenger.
And since the center has been higher protected there have been fewer targets from exterior the field, mentioned Wenger. That was the cue for Klinsmann to once more converse of groups struggling as a result of they lacked a No. 9. “Germany had 67 makes an attempt on aim, the utmost, however have gone residence as a result of they may not end the probabilities they created. We haven’t had a No. 9 since Miroslav Klose. The False 9 all the time has an excuse that they aren’t real scorers,” he mentioned.
Poland and Australia certified to the spherical of 16 with 20 makes an attempt, the bottom, Argentina had 58 whereas France and Brazil had 52 every.
South American groups had the best variety of particular person take-ons, 3.6, UEFA has 2.1. “In Europe, there’s a pattern to show gamers to play one-two passes and that takes away the power to efficiently execute one-on-one tackles. In South America, given its custom of road soccer, children love taking over gamers,” mentioned Klinsmann.
Wenger mentioned “a photograph of the stat” that confirmed what number of gamers groups have used “must be taken to indicate their impression on the competitors.” Brazil have used 25, Portugal and France 24 however Croatia, who play Japan on Monday, have used solely 16.
And regardless of Croatia utilizing the fewest variety of gamers, they’ve run 116km per recreation; USA topped that knowledge chart with 123km. The quantity for Argentina is 105km and that “as a result of they play a excessive line,” mentioned Wenger. “Groups which have extra of the ball, run much less.”
What has additionally modified is the position of goalkeepers. From 443 in Russia, the variety of occasions a goalkeeper has supplied to obtain the ball has gone as much as 726. The goalkeeper has been a key component in distribution, mentioned Wenger. “In our time, the No. 10 can be adored as a result of he would create goal-scoring alternatives. Now, the goalkeeper performs with a defensive mid, who then performs to an attacking mid after which to a ahead. So you possibly can have three playmakers,” mentioned Klinsmann.