Former Super Eagles coach and a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group for the 2022 World Cup, Sunday Oliseh, has pointed out three key talking points from the matches played at the World Cup.
Speaking at a briefing in Doha, the former Eagles midfielder, alongside members of the TSG, Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni and former Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón, gave an in-depth analysis of the first 16 matches played at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.
In their analysis, Oliseh, Zaccheroni, and Mondragón pointed out the use of long balls to avoid high pressure, more goals scored from crosses, and counter-pressing with multiple players.
The former Juventus star spoke extensively on long balls and goals scored from counter-play.
“We’ve seen teams that press high, but also other teams that accept pressure, with defensive tactics that allow them to counter it.”
The TSG observed that in the first 16 matches in Qatar, 14 crosses led to goals, while 56 crosses led to attempts on goal. In comparison, after the same number of matches in the 2018 World Cup, only three crosses led to goals, with 35 crosses resulting in a shot on target.
Making reference to Enner Valencia’s goal for Ecuador against Qatar in the opener, Sunday Oliseh said, “This is a great example of it. He plays the ball back in, and the cross is going to be whipped in…he whips it in towards the second post. In my opinion, he does that to avoid the congested middle and as a result, they got that goal.”
The TSG, which is led by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, looks at each match and provides analysis including performance data and trends.
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