Arsenal are top of the Premier League thanks in part to their superiority from attacking set-pieces, but club legend Gilberto Silva is not convinced that will carry over into the World Cup.
Gilberto Silva will have his eyes on the World Cup (Image: Ishant Chauhan/Getty Images)
Gilberto Silva insists set-pieces “will not be the main weapon” at this summer’s World Cup.
Former Arsenal midfielder Silva will be a member of FIFA’s technical study group in preparation for the tournament, but believes the national team manager does not have enough time to practice taking corner kicks and free kicks effectively.
World Cup winner Silva has helped his former club dominate the Premier League title race this season, using set-pieces effectively, even if it may be off-putting for some fans.
Former Brazil star Silva said: “Arsenal have good centre-backs in Gabriel and Willian Saliba, but we don’t have much time to prepare the team for the tournament, so I don’t know if we’ll have the same result at the World Cup.”
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“Of course it can be a weapon and we can use it, but I don’t know if it will be the main thing. The game might be tense, and we might use transitions or other ways to break out. But I don’t think set-pieces will be the main thing in this World Cup.”
FIFA is expected to crack down on the corner grappling and wrestling that was a feature of the World Cup, and referees are likely to take extra precautions.
The Technical Research Group will provide insights into tactical trends available to players as well as first-time fans through the app.
Arsenal have had great success from corners this season (Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s head of global football development, will lead the group, which includes Silva, Otto Addo (Ghana), Tobin Heath (USA), Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany), Jane Ludlow (Wales), Michael O’Neill (Northern Ireland), John Dahl Tomasson (Denmark), Paulo Wanchope (Costa Rica) and Aaron Winter. (Netherlands) and Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina).
The panel will be led by FIFA Senior Soccer Expert Pascal Zuberbuehler and Soccer Performance Insights Leader Tom Gardner, supported by a team of football analysts, data engineers, data scientists and performance analysts based on-site in Miami and Dallas and off-site in Manchester, UK.
Silva also suggested that a cooling off break in either half is important for managers and coaches during the World Cup. He added: “I’m sure this is a special opportunity for the coaches. Previously they could only speak to the players at half-time, but now they have two more opportunities to speak to the players, so that could be important.”
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