Croatians fear Sterling pace
St Petersburg
After more goals came from set-pieces in this World Cup’s group stage than any other, set-play strategy has continued to have a huge impact in the knockout phase, with five of the 11 goals scored in the quarterfinals coming from freekicks or corners.
Raphael Varane headed France on to their way to a 2-0 win against Uruguay from a freekick while Fernandinho deflected a cross from a corner into his own net to put his Brazil side behind in their eventual 2-1 defeat to 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 to not come from a set play, although Croatia’s Domagoj Vida later struck from a corner in extra time and Mario Fernandes headed in a freekick to force a shootout in which Croatia finally triumphed.
Overall, 39% of goals in the World Cup have come from set plays or penalties, powering the rise of teams that traditionally do not do well in World Cups.
Hosts Russia, the lowest ranked team in the tournament, scored five of their 11 goals from set-pieces on their path to the quarterfinals.
England, meanwhile, reached the semifinals for the first time in 28 years with the help of eight goals from set-pieces, 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.
England have been far more reliant on set-play strategy than fellow semifinalists Belgium and France, who have struck three goals each from them, while their next opponents Croatia have scored from only one set-piece and one penalty.
Gareth Southgate’s side’s potency from set-pieces was certainly on the minds of Croatia after they were forced into penalties by Russia after Fernandes’ header from a freekick.
“We watched the game today and saw how good they are from dead-ball situations,” said captain Luka Modric.
“We will have to improve on our set-piece defending between now and Wednesday.”
In a World Cup where set-pieces have played such a massive role from the group stage to the quarterfinals and with teams becoming ever more cautious as Sunday’s final approaches, that edge could prove the difference between England snapping 52 years of hurt or falling at the penultimate hurdle. – Reuters
– Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has identified Raheem Sterling (above) as England’s dangerman in the World Cup semifinal tomorrow.
Sterling was a key part of the Manchester City side that won the Premier League last season but he has 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 pace was a constant threat to Sweden’s defence in England’s 2-0 quarterfinal win on Saturday.
“I think Raheem Sterling is an important player because he is fast and dangerous alongside Harry Kane,” Dalic said on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t say 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 set-pieces, and dangerous at corner kicks.”
England survived a penalty shootout against Colombia in the last-16 whereas Croatia emerged through extra-time and spotkicks against Denmark before repeating the ordeal against Russia in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
After such tight matches, it is easy to forget that Croatia produced a feast of attacking play to destroy Lionel Messi’s Argentina 3-0 in the group phase.
Dalic blamed Croatia’s opponents for smothering the creative talents of Luka Modric and said he expected a more open match in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
“Our last three games were different – we played teams with a defensive mentality,” he said.
“But we are looking forward to a different style of game against England because they like to play attacking football.” –
Moscow