Set pieces have become one of the most divisive elements in modern football, and England have some of the best practitioners in the business. With Thomas Tuchel’s side among the contenders in the World Cup odds, the question is whether their dead-ball threat could be the difference between glory and another near miss in North America.
The set–piece revolution in the Premier League
There is no doubt that set pieces have become one of the most divisive aspects of Premier League football since the introduction of VAR. Some love them, mostly Arsenal fans, others hate the fact that so many goals are now scored from dead-ball situations, with critics arguing it takes something away from the beauty of the game. But football is ever evolving, and this is a trend that looks set to linger.
Brentford promoted their set piece coach, Keith Andrews, to head coach when Thomas Frank departed for Tottenham, while Arsenal recently included a goal bonus in the contract of their own set piece coach, Nicolas Jover, amid rumours that he was attracting interest elsewhere. The lengths clubs are going to in order to protect and nurture this expertise tells you everything about how seriously the game is taking it.
The numbers back it up. Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber scored a winner against Chelsea, the third time a corner had been converted in a match that ended 2-1, meaning the Gunners matched the record for the most corner goals in a single Premier League season with 16.
It also means that nearly 30% of their goals in the top flight have now come from corners. In general, 18% of Premier League goals have been scored from corners this season, another new high, while 28% have come from set pieces overall, the highest figure since the 29% recorded in 2009/10.
Where England come in
So, where do England and the World Cup fit into all of this? Look no further than those three goals in the Chelsea vs Arsenal fixture. All three came from corners, and all three were taken by English players: Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka,and Reece James. It is a remarkable statistic, and their collective ability to turn every dead-ball situation into a genuine threat is both a danger to opponents and a potential advantage on the international stage.
For those making World Cup predictions ahead of the tournament, England’s set-piece threat is worth factoring in. Rice has become one of the best deliverers of a dead ball in Europe. Saka is a constant menace from the right areas. And the supply of technically gifted English players who can both take and attack set pieces is arguably deeper than it has been in a generation.
Not pretty, but does it matter?
There is nothing particularly attractive about winning football matches from scrappy corners and 1-0 victories. Tuchel may well have more expansive ambitions for this England side, and they certainly have the attacking quality to play a more open brand of football. But, if England were to win the World Cup through grinding results and clinical set-piece execution, much like Arsenal look set to do in the Premier League this season, it is hard to imagine too many supporters complaining.
Football has always found new ways to evolve, and the data suggests the set-piece era is not going anywhere. England, whether by design or coincidence, may be better placed than most to take advantage of that.
