Set plays at the World Cup
The world cup has seen a high percentage of goals scored from set-pieces. England have a corner-kick routine that is unstoppable.
A concept using the basketball ‘stack’ at the top of the box, it is a routine known as out-of-bounds play designed to free-up a player to receive the inbound pass. The same principle is being used by England from corner-kicks where they target one of their big men to, hopefully, get a free header on goal.
Opposition teams know about it and what to expect but are unable to do anything about it. It was a little disconcerting in the Colombia game where the England players were being intimidated and allowing the opposition to disrupt their set play. At half time, the team re-grouped and came up with the idea of the ‘love train’ to eradicate Colombian interference in their set piece.
The defence cannot really do much about it, except foul. Harry Kane was once again wrestled to the floor, as was the case against Tunisia and Panama. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Despite the long delay before the penalty kick could be taken, Kane duly obliged in the 57thminute. This was an ill-disciplined match with Colombia making their intentions clear from the off. Yerry Mina, Colombia’s 6’5” centre back levelled the score with a powerfully headed goal, also from a corner, after 92 minutes taking this game to extra time and penalties.
We know what happened then!
How the Love Train works.
By physically holding on to the teammate in front of you, or at least getting ‘touch-tight’ with your own teammate, it prevents an opposition player getting in between the stack of offensive players. Although in the case of Colombia, one player was able to do just that. However, in his enthusiasm to mark Harry Kane, the man-handling that ensued resulted in the penalty kick being awarded.
The players at the front of the love train break forward and effectively create a screen for the fourth player who finds himself in space. Harry Maguire was the player freed up to score against Sweden. John Stones has been the beneficiary in group games and Harry Kane is also coming off this stack and ready to feed off any rebounds or mis-directed headers as was the case for Harry Kane’s injury time winner against Tunisia.
The goal that England scored against Sweden was their first corner kick of the game. It was a corner kick that was needlessly conceded by Sweden and it appeared that Emil Forsberg was given the job of marking Maguire. The seven-inch height advantage of the England talisman made his task all the more difficult.
Corners or free –kicks have led to seven goals for England in this tournament and player selection is an integral part of this process. In open play I have thought that Danny Rose is preferable at left wing-back but, on reflection, the quality of the set-piece ball from Ashley Young can be a game-changer. His technique of using the top of his foot to hit a hard, flat delivery was key to Maguire’s opening goal against Sweden.
England’s wing-backs have been pivotal to the team’s progress so far. Kieran Trippier also has a pin-point delivery technique from the other side when taking corner kicks. The quality of his crosses in open play is also of the highest calibre. If these players can hit the spot with a drilled cross in the corner-kick set plays, England can be fairly sure of a free header using their love-train routine.
As regards Croatia, they have now played two games of 120 minutes in six days as well as two draining penalty shoot-outs. England are a young team and as the tournament reaches these latter stages fitness and energy levels are going to play an even bigger part.
Jordan Henderson, who turned 28 last month, “has covered 45.1km in his 385 minutes of football at this tournament, behind only Jesse Lingard an eye-catching 46.14 km in 362 minutes and John Stones 45.94 km in 435 minutes”. Dominic Fifield – Guardian.
The running ability of our midfield players is likely to play a significant part in quelling the play-making skills of Modric and Rakitic who lift Croatia’s play to a different level.
For all the so-called lack of experience, the youthfulness of this England squad and its grounded temperament with no high-voltage egos to disrupt proceedings, the togetherness of the players could well prove decisive in the forthcoming week. This has undoubtedly been Gareth Southgate’s stamp on this England team.
Come on England!
No offence intended 