4 seconds means victory or defeat… numbers that are difficult to imagine in the World Cup | sports

The report of the Technical Studies Group of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), following the end of the group stage competitions in the 2026 World Cup, revealed many technical and tactical indicators that distinguished the tournament after 72 matches, stressing that the current version witnessed a clear diversity in the methods of scoring goals, in addition to the emergence of substitute players who played decisive roles in the results of their teams, in addition to the noticeable development in the roles of goalkeepers within the system of building the game.

The report indicated that the tournament scored 215 goals during the group stage, of which 43 goals were scored by substitute players, a clear indication of the increasing influence of the elements participating during the matches, which also contributed to an increase in the average goals per match, in addition to an increase in the average goal difference between the victorious teams and their competitors.

The Senegal national team came at the forefront of the teams that benefited most from substitute players, after its players scored four goals after participating from the substitute bench, becoming the most scored by substitutes during the first round.

The report also highlighted the distinguished performance of German striker Deniz Undav, who became one of his country’s most prominent winning cards, after scoring three goals and making two goals after coming on as a substitute, contributing directly to Germany topping its group and qualifying for the knockout rounds.

France exceeds expected numbers

The study highlighted the significant development in the quality of finishing attacks, stressing that the numbers reflect high accuracy in exploiting available opportunities, as the French team topped the list of the most effective teams in front of goal.

The French team scored ten goals, although the average chances it created indicated the possibility of scoring only about five goals, which reflects the great efficiency of its players in exploiting opportunities and turning them into goals.

The former coach of the Swedish national team, Jone Dal Tomasson, said that football ultimately depends on achieving victories and scoring goals, stressing that what the tournament has witnessed so far reflects an exceptional quality in ending attacks, after many teams succeeded in scoring goals that exceed their expected rates.

He added that the technical quality of shooting, accuracy in execution, and good decision-making inside the penalty area were among the most prominent technical features in the tournament, expressing his admiration for the level presented by Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, along with Argentine Lionel Messi, who tops the list of top scorers in the tournament so far with six goals.

Counterpressure…the most prominent tactical weapon

The report indicated that counter-pressure has become one of the most prominent tactical methods that characterized the group stage competitions, as the American team presented a distinguished model in quickly recovering the ball immediately after losing it.

The report explained that the American team, led by its coach Mauricio Pochettino, relied on organized and high pressure as soon as possession was lost, an approach that contributed to its group being at the top of the table.

The study also showed that the teams of the United States, Ecuador, Canada and Germany were the most successful in applying this method.

The data also revealed that the winning teams recover the ball after losing it by approximately four seconds faster than the losing teams, which highlights the importance of reaction speed in resolving matches.

For his part, former Argentine player Pablo Zabaleta confirmed that some teams have a clear identity in the way they play, which is directly reflected in their style on the field.

He added that good organization and reliance on short passes give teams the ability to implement counter-pressure very quickly, explaining that these teams do not retreat to their defensive areas after losing the ball, but rather initiate direct pressure in advanced areas to regain it, which gives them greater opportunities to launch dangerous attacks near the opponent’s goal.

Goalkeepers change the rules of the game

The report monitored a major shift in the roles of goalkeepers during the current version, after they became an essential part of the game-building process, and their role was no longer limited to blocking or dispersing balls.

He explained that almost all goal kicks were taken by goalkeepers in the 2018 edition, before the percentage reached 91% in the 2022 edition, but it declined to only 52% during the 2026 World Cup, in a clear indication that teams rely more on returning the ball to the goalkeeper while building attacks from the back lines.

The report added that the number of passes played behind the defense lines has more than doubled compared to the previous version, reflecting the major shift towards organized construction and thoughtful possession.

Former Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler said, “The goalkeeper has now played a pivotal role within the team, and has become the brain from which the attack begins, after the defenders began to rely on him repeatedly to organize the game from the beginning.”

Vozinha attracts attention

Zuberbuhler praised the level presented by Cape Verde goalkeeper Fosinha during the match against Spain, which ended in a scoreless draw, after he received the award for best player in the match and contributed directly to his country’s qualification to the knockout round in his first participation in the history of the World Cup.

He concluded his speech by emphasizing that the plan adopted by the Cape Verdean national team was very clear, noting that Fosinha carried out his role with great perfection and contributed to his team’s success against one of the strongest teams in the tournament.