Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

ActionJack87 t1_iz8uxxr wrote

Some of the most influential players (Messi, Bellingham, Modric, De Jong, Gundogan, Pedri, Fernandes) tend to receive the ball whilst under less pressure. Other teams may want to consider marking them more tightly.

Mbappe and Depay receive the ball under the most pressure. Tadic, Musiala and Olmo next. All are technically skilful players, able to control the ball and think quickly about distribution or taking a player on one-on-one. Mbappe is a huge outlier though, as he is far above the others in this section; standing off him would invite even more trouble. This is what makes him the most dangerous player at this World Cup.

There are an interesting mix of players in the low ball reception/low pressure category. Some are older/slower players, like Giroud, Mitrovic, Ayew and Choupo-Moting. But there are also younger players with higher levels of movement like Richarlison, Gakpo and Sarr. What does that suggest? These players are heavily marked, which can create space for those more influential playmakers.

11

max_667 t1_iz9diti wrote

I would say that Modric tends to go back in his own half to get the ball where he is under less pressure than for example Mbappe that receives the ball in very offensive positions where there are more defenders and more pressure.

3

antantoon t1_iz9qdl1 wrote

Maybe it’s their ability to get into spaces away from opposition players

3