THREE LIONS TOLD TO EMULATE CLASS OF ’66

St. Petersburg, July 9: After more goals came from set-pieces in this World Cup’s group stage than any other, dead-ball strategy has continued to have a huge impact in the knockout phase, with five of the 11 goals scored in the quarter-finals coming from free kicks or corners.

Raphael Varane headed France on their way to a 20 win over Uruguay from a free kick while Fernandinho deflected a cross from a corner into his own net to put his Brazil side behind in their eventual 2-1 defeat by Belgium.

England continued their prolific use of set-plays to break the deadlock in their 2-0 win over Sweden when Harry Maguire headed home from a corner. Denis Cheryshev’s wonder strike in Russia’s 2-2 draw against Croatia was the only opening goal in the quarters not to come from a set play, although Croatia’s Domagoj Vida later struck

from a corner in extra time and Mario Fernandes headed in a free kick to force a shootout in which Croatia triumphed.

Fernandes’s header was the 66th set-piece goal scored at the 2018 World Cup out of 157 in total.

Overall, 42 percent of Moscow, July 9: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has identified Raheem Sterling as England’s danger man in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Sterling was a key part of the Manchester City side that won the Premier League last season but he has Repino, July 9: England manager Gareth Southgate says winning the World Cup would make his players even bigger heroes than the 1966 generation because of the impact of social media and the globalisation of football. “I’ve met quite a few of those players and we know exactly how they’re held and perhaps, in the modern era, that would be even crazier,” Southgate said.

“Social media and everything else, the global thing is so much bigger.”

While the England players are tucked away in a sleepy training base in the remote town of Repino, 45 goals in the World Cup have come from set plays or penalties, beating the previous record of 36 percent from the 1998 World Cup and smashing the portion of goals from these situations in 2014 (27 percent), 2010 (24 percent), 2002 (29 percent) and 1994 (33 percent).

This trend has powered the rise of teams that traditionally do not do well in World Cups.

England, meanwhile, reached the semi-finals for the first time in 28 years with the help of eight goals from setpieces, been less effective in England’s charge to the last four for the first time since 1990. Despite some disappointing early performances, England coach Gareth Southgate has kept faith with the 23-year-old and his speed was a constant threat to Sweden’s defence in England’s 2-0 quarter-final win on Saturday. “I think Raheem Sterling is an important player because he is fast and dangerous alongside Harry Kane,” Dalic said. “I wouldn’t say kilometres (28 miles) northwest of Saint Petersburg, football fever is sweeping the nation back home.

Southgate admitted he had used the high esteem in which the 1966 team — featuring Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore — are still held as an inspiration for his players. “We’ve talked, touched briefly, certainly, on the team which won. How they’re still held and revered,” he added.

“At the beginning we were working together with the lads and trying to sell them the vision of what we’re looking to achieve.” — AFP more than any other side in the tournament, including three penalties.

They also won a shootout for the first time in four World Cup attempts by knocking out Colombia in the last 16.

Gareth Southgate’s side’s potency from setpieces was certainly on the minds of Croatia after they were forced into penalties by Russia.

“We watched the game today and saw how good they are from dead-ball situations,” captain Luka Modric said. — Reuters there are any glaring weaknesses (in England’s team) since they are in the semifinals, that says it all. “They play very direct football, dangerous, fast, and they are really good at setpieces, and dangerous at corner kicks.” Dalic blamed Croatia's opponents for smothering the creative talents of Modric and said he expected a more open match in Luzhniki Stadium. “Our last three games were different because we played a defensive approach,”he said. — AFP