- Shimon Hafez
- BBC Sport – Doha
Cristiano Ronaldo during the Portuguese national anthem before the match against Ghana on November 24, 2022
FIFA described Cristiano Ronaldo as a “genius in every sense of the word”, thanks to the way he won a penalty kick for Portugal in their win over Ghana at the World Cup in Qatar.
The 37-year-old scored from a penalty kick, becoming the first player to score in five different editions of the FIFA World Cup.
Portugal won 3-2, but awarding a penalty kick to Portugal angered Ghana coach Otto Addo, who said it was “not a penalty”.
At a press conference in Doha, Sunday Oliseh, a member of FIFA’s World Cup Technical Study Group, said the scorers were “getting smarter”.
The group’s squad, led by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, studies every match and provides analysis that includes performance and trend data.
After 20 matches in this tournament, nine penalties have been awarded as of Friday, on course to reach the previous record of 24 set in the group stage in Russia four years ago.
The kicks of Poland’s Robert Lewandowski and Canadian Alphonso Davies were blocked, while the remaining seven were scored.
That includes Ronaldo, who was fouled by Southampton defender Mohamed Salisu. Former England defender Matt Upson, speaking to the BBC, described it as a “deliberate fall”.
Addo, Ghana’s coach, was furious after the defeat and told BN Sports: “The referee gave a penalty kick that wasn’t a penalty kick, everyone saw that. Why? Because it’s Ronaldo or something?”
He added, “The ruling was not in our favour.”
But Oliseh, the former Nigerian international, who played in the 1998 World Cup, feels Ronaldo was clever in his move to win the penalty that allowed him to score his 118th international goal.
“Maybe the scorers are getting smarter?” he said.
He added, “Ronaldo’s penalty kick, people can say what they want about him, but his intelligence is waiting for that second, to touch the ball, extend his leg to look connected to the ball. This is genius in every sense of the word.”
He continued, “Let’s praise the attackers because they have become more intelligent. The VAR is also a major reason why this happens (more penalty kicks are given). Referees can watch it three or four times.”
image copyright Archyde.com
Cristiano celebrates his penalty goal against Ghana
“You will becomeThe difference is braver
There have been four goalless matches in their first 16 matches, a new record 25% percentage for first round group matches.
There was a fifth goalless game on Friday, as England played the United States.
The record-breaking 0-0 World Cup draw is seven, which has happened in four different editions of the tournament, but Qatar 2022 has already come close to that mark, with only 20 of the 64 games scheduled to be completed before Saturday’s fixtures.
At the last World Cup in Russia, there was only one goalless draw between Denmark and France in group matches.
“The teams didn’t want to take too many risks,” Oliseh said.
And his team mate, Alberto Zaccheroni, who won Serie A with Milan and the Asian Cup while coach of Japan, added: “It is clear that many teams adopt a cautious approach.”
“But as the tournament progresses, we will see the teams become a bit braver.”
image copyright EPA
The stadium screen announces the referee’s return to video assistive technology to see the possibility of a possible penalty kick during the Group F match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup between Belgium and Canada. November 23 / Nisreen Al-Thani 2022.
players they feel comfortable with “Thea ball new
A total of 49 goals have been scored in the 20 matches played up to the end of Friday 25 November.
The first round – 16 matches – did not witness a single goal scored from outside the penalty area. Two long-distance goals have been scored in the four matches played so far in the second round of matches, far fewer than at this stage in the previous two tournaments.
Iran’s Rouzbeh Çeşme broke that trend on Friday with a powerful strike against Wales, while later in the day Dutch striker Cody Gakpo scored a 1-1 equalizer with Ecuador.
FIFA described the “journey” ball developed for the World Cup as “running faster than any ball” in the history of the tournament.
The World Soccer official also said that the ball “offers the highest levels of accuracy and reliability on the field of play”.
Fifa Group member Fred Mondragón, Colombia goalkeeper at the 1998 World Cup, told BBC Sport: “Technology has improved the game – it helps the ball, the boots, the gloves, the data. Everything is used for the betterment of the game.”
“When you have a good shot, any kind of ball is fast and dangerous. I’ve talked to friends from all over the world and they all feel comfortable with this ball.”
He continued, “We goalkeepers always talk about the fast-moving ball, but everything works in favor of the game.”