Jurgen Klinsmann, a former World Cup champion, claimed the competition in Qatar had demonstrated the necessity for players who were willing to take , like Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
On Sunday, when reigning champions France take on Argentina at Lusail Stadium, the top scorers Mbappe and Messi—each with five goals—will face off.
The 1990 champion West German team under Klinsmann stressed the importance of having players who could breach defenses.
“You need to have players capable of going one against one, players who can get past defenders,” Klinsmann, a member of FIFA’s technical study group, said on Saturday.
“Be risky, be courageous, because the middle of the field is so well-organised.”
The number of goals scored from crosses has increased significantly (45), nearly doubling the total from the previous World Cup in Russia (24) as a result of teams swarming the center of the field.
Spain, who was eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the round of 16, was used by Klinsmann as an example of a squad that paid the price for lacking a cutting edge.
Over the course of 120 minutes against a resolute Morocco, Spain had just one shot on target despite controlling possession and attempting more than 1,000 passes.
“That style only works if you have efficiency in the box and score goals,” said Klinsmann.
Spain needed a decisive moment in Qatar, according to FIFA’s head of football development and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
“They have to develop in positions where they are not strong enough. But Spanish football will come back,” he said.
“The characteristics of modern football are everyone defends and attacks. The explosive side… running to get in behind the defensive line without the ball is very important,” he added.
Wenger praised the responses of the South Americans following a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening game, saying that both France and Argentina had successfully adapted to the rigors of the World Cup.
“Long balls have been used a lot to go over the defenders and pace has played an important part,” said Wenger.
“France and Argentina are two teams who learned quickly.
“It’s never easy to get to the final after losing the first game. The coach quickly found the right balance in the team in the second game.”
