First Round Analysis: "There Won't Be a World Cup" Motto Became the "Most Goals Scored in a World Cup Since 1958"

06/27/2014 - 09h13

The World Cup of summer and winter, heat and cold, moisture and dryness would punish Europeans. Nevertheless, the best games of the first round involved the national teams from the old continent.

Italy 2-1 England, Spain 1-5 Holland, Switzerland 2-5 France. The average of goals, superior to five in these three games, contributed to make this World Cup the one with most goals scored in the tournament's history since 1958.

The daily goal average will be checked until July 13 and compared with previous editions. The goal scoring record belongs to 1954, with an average of 5 a match. It will not be broken. In modern times, The World Cup with more goals scored per match was 1982: 2.80 per game. 2014 average is higher.

A joke among journalists says that popular TV channels should create a doll to yell whenever a goal is scored and use the image of President Dilma saying: "The World Cup of World Cups!".

However, it is impossible to explain the motto change from "there won't be a World Cup" to be the "contest full of goals and great matches".

There are only hypothesis. Some may say the shock suffered at the South Africa World Cup, with the second-worst average of goals of all time, motivated the coaches to decide for offensive football strategies. But that is not convincing.

In 2009, Barcelona won the Champions League passing the ball, pressing on the opponent and firing goals.

Highlighting the defense was already old-fashioned in 2010, even if Inter Milan led by José Mourinho has used the strategy in the Champions League semi-finals against Barcelona.

In modern football all the players participate in the offensive and defensive moves and the goal is the only aim. It is how the Champions League works and it is what you see in the World Cup.

The ball is running more. In 2006, 30% of the goals resulted from free kicks, penalties or corners. In 2010, the set pieces dropped 26%. In Brazil, they were only 23% of the goals.

The pressure marking style is more popular because the players are running more. The Chilean Diaz, ran 12 kilometres during the victory over Spain. The highest fitness level allows the player to cover bigger areas; therefore the chances of retaking the ball are higher. Thus, 8.5% of the goals resulted from the pressure marking - Brazil's national team scored three using this strategy.

In the first round, 57% of the teams that had longer ball possession did not win the match. Spain and Italy, the tiki-taka queens, were terminated. It is worthy taking advantage of the spaces, as do the Colombia and the Netherlands.

The Dutch only had longer ball possession than Australia. Colombia had the least ball possession in their three victory matches.

The difference between the 2014 and 2010 styles is the 0ºC temperature of Ellis Park that resulted: Brazil 2-1 North Korea and the Salvador sun: Spain 1-5 Holland.

The slogan "Smile, you are in Bahia" shows what you have seen during the first round.

"Gringos" are happy and so are we.

With a lot of adjustments and a bit of competence, the Brazilian Championship could inherit a little of this World Cup and become the permanent contest that Antonio Prata asked for.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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