World Cup: Players must not be daunted by data collection insights, says Wenger

DOHA – Fifa’s new insights into player performances based on a variety of metrics will change the way the game is viewed, but players must not try to alter their style or hold themselves back as a result, Arsene Wenger said on Saturday.

The world governing body for football is sharing in-depth match data, graphics and videos from every World Cup match in Qatar with all participating teams as well as fans and media, through a new performance analysis service that can examine trends in the game.

With several analysts working to collect data on every player over 90 minutes, the service will have a “player dashboard” where anyone can analyse any player’s performance in detail.

Wenger, a former Arsenal manager who won three English Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and reached the Champions League final, said players should still take risks without thinking twice about how that might affect their metrics.

“We analyse what players do on and off the ball. For example, in the case of (Croatia’s) Luka Modric, if he doesn’t receive the ball enough in midfield, we analyse why,” said Wenger, Fifa’s chief of global football development since 2019.

“Was he man-marked or did he not receive the ball from centre-backs?

“It is a risk (where) players can become too conscious of the data.

“The science of the game must be used in a positive way to encourage players to take audacious risks.  If not, it could be detrimental to the quality of the game.”

The Frenchman, 73, predicted that the defensive line at this World Cup, which kicked off on Sunday, will be higher on average than it was in Russia in 2018 while pressing has become the biggest trend among teams.

“Pressing has become absolutely universal now. Teams all over the world press high up and counter-press very quickly to push the defensive line,” he said.

“Long balls behind the defensive lines will be interesting to analyse. Maybe the first dribble to get out of the press will also be important to analyse.”

Wenger said the opening games would set the tone, while teams who were forced into last-minute changes due to injuries – such as Argentina, who lost midfielder Giovani lo Celso in early November – could struggle.

“The first game is important. When you have no preparation, a team with no injuries – a fully balanced team – will have an advantage,” he said.

“Losing a player at the last minute will force you to change the structure of the team.”

On Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Wenger said Qatar 2022 is the “last chance for great players who have shown us all their talent in the last 10 or 15 years”.

He added: “They will come here and think ‘it’s now or never’...  They will all be thinking: ‘this is my chance’.”

Jurgen Klinsmann is also a member of the Technical Study Group led by Wenger and the former striker, who won the World Cup in 1990 with West Germany, said the tournament in Qatar could throw up some surprises.

“Underdogs like the Asian or African teams can spring surprises if they’re courageous,” Klinsmann said.

“You won’t go far if you have a defensive approach in this tournament.” REUTERS