SWEEPER KEEPERS

The belief in goalkeepers expertly passing the ball with both feet – as advocated by Brendan Rodgers and Pep Guardiola – was a feature at this World Cup. “They are not only there to save the ball and catch the ball,” said Fifa goalkeeping adviser Pascal Zuberbuehler. “They make a lot of decisions from behind, and they know and feel when they have to make the game faster.” Zuberbuehler, Switzerland’s goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup, noted England’s Jordan Pickford made more than 50 passes – “a massive high quality from him”– in the semi-final match against Croatia.