One of the in-game phenomena of the group stage of the World Cup were the Concentrations and specifically their effectiveness.
The match between South Korea and Ghana offered World Cup history in the light of the focus. South Korea crossed 35 times, 15 of which ended up for the team’s own player. A similar reading cannot be found in the history of the World Cup. The surprise team of the Games, South Korea, will meet Brazil in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Monday evening.
Football followers will surely remember the 2011-2012 season well, when Liverpool built their team heavily relying on concentration. Liverpool pursued Andy Carroll and partners from the opponent’s penalty area a total of 787 times during the season. The reading was significantly more than the other teams in the series. The end result was four passed goals, so this method was not effective.
Liverpool’s team was built on the basis of data analysis, the end result of which was that if you combine Carroll’s main game skills and Jordan Henderson mixed of Stewart Downing high-quality concentrations, the result would be.
So why didn’t this happen?
A lot depends on the quality of the centers and the starting point of the centers. Liverpool, for example, concentrated very early and often in situations where it was unprecedented for players from their own team to move into the scoring area.
Concentrations are still a very important part of football, but in this matter too situation-specific actions are emphasized. The change over the years has also been remarkable.
We are trying to open up the importance of concentration in the current World Cup based on the preliminary rounds.
How have the Centers changed compared to the 2018 World Cup?
When examining the graphic above, it can be seen that there have been relatively many more goals from crosses than in the Russian Games 2018, although their number has not significantly increased. On the other hand, the number of key assists and goal expectations have not increased in the same proportion, so the variance certainly plays its part as well and the pace may even out as the tournament progresses.
The most significant factor explaining the difference is the quality of the concentrations. The proportion of low concentrations has increased significantly. Low centers are generally easier to finish than high ones. Correspondingly, the growth of low concentrations means that the Concentrations have started closer to the goal, so that they have reached their own players.
It must also be stated that from time to time there has even been surprisingly groping boxing defense, which certainly plays a part in this development. As an example, defending the Australian box in the France match, where the French attackers had an incredibly easy job to finish.
Not all centers are directly looking for a finishing position, but their goal can be to get to an area from which a goal assist can be given or, accordingly, to challenge and force the players of the defending team into mistakes. The way the teams play and the match-specific plans obviously have a lot to do with how much and from which areas the team tries to seek concentration.
A break in the starting point of the concentrations
Centering is one aspect of football that has undergone a transformation over the past decade. Their importance is still big, but the best teams concentrate in a very different way than before. As stated earlier, like the shots, the locations of the centers have constantly moved closer to the goal.
– The graphic shows that the Centers that led to the goal in the tournament have mainly started from the sides of the box, so-called from the feed area or from the edges of the box. It is also worth noting that the Centers are finished almost without exception from the best goal-scoring area, Miika Nuutinen states.
When examining the starting points of the concentration, the types of concentration can be divided in different ways – they often reflect the way the team plays and creates a threat, but correspondingly, of course, also the opponent’s actions.
When examining a larger number of statistics, it can be stated that the most effective finishing takes place from a cross that starts from the pass area between the penalty area and the 5 meter area inside the box – either lower or deeper. For several years, for example, has operated effectively in these areas Bernardo Silva.
Crosses from the center lane outside the penalty area could just as well be called Kevin De Bruyne -passes, because it is difficult to find a better passer than him in these spaces.
Focuses from the side lane are not as effective compared to the previous one, but when used in a suitable place they also work. Trent Alexander-Arnold is, on the other hand, a specialist in early crosses, as his crosses in Liverpool start considerably early from the wing.
As stated, different concentrations have their place relative to the game situation. The current trend seems to be that more and more often teams try to concentrate as close to the goal as possible. Let’s also go through different concentration situations through clips:
– In order to concentrate from good areas, the ball must of course be moved there first. One typical method is the passing combinations of “side triangles”, such as this elegant wall from Argentina for the third, Nuutinen opens.
– Space for low concentrations can be found depending on the defenders’ actions between the line and the goalkeeper or from the rear slant. When the Saudi line is high, Argentina quite rightly tries to concentrate the so-called “to the tunnel”.
– Successful crosses are usually preceded by getting the opponent off balance by moving the ball. Here, for example, Argentina quickly changes the focus and creates a threat from the adjacent lane, Nuutinen opens.
– Of course, the number of items in the box is also important. Here Angel Di Maria when opening the foot, Argentina has managed to move into the box with several players and the movements are oriented according to orthodoxy from different spaces towards the goal.
– Not all goals are created directly with the first touch, that’s why the so-called framing of the goal is essential. For example here Julian Alvarez remains completely free and gets a big advantage Lionel Messi’s for a possible follow-up or return ball.
– From the cephalic hernia, it is often focused low to the rear slope or with a lift to the rear area. This situation in Poland is a good example of how important player cooperation is in filling the box. Now all three players remain in the rear, there are no options behind or in the “tunnel” and the Saudi Arabian line is able to pump towards the ball and block. If the first movement was directed towards the goal, it would be with Robert Lewandowski more room for a shot, Nuutinen illustrates.