GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Goals have been coming at a historic pace in the early going of the World Cup and a combination of technology, rules changes and tournament expansion have helped fuel the scoring frenzy.
Goals tally at the tournament is much higher than at the same stage of last World Cup Through the first 40 matches, teams scored 121 goals, representing a substantial increase compared with the same period four years earlier.
Players and coaches have blamed the official match ball for helping to increase scoring.
FIFA said the ball had deeper seams for better flight stability. “The ball moves fast and does different things in the air,” several players and coaches have said, making it harder for goalkeepers to react.
"The ball was very, very fast," said Austria coach Ralf Rangnick.
“This ball is as fast as a cannon ball,” said Rangnick. "If you hit the ball in the right area it's very difficult to save.
Tournament organisers have also introduced longer periods of added time because of hydration breaks, a measure aimed at protecting players in challenging weather conditions. The additional minutes have created more opportunities for teams to score.
The bigger goal total could also be down to the larger 48-team format brought in at this World Cup. The bigger field has increased the quality gap between some teams, leading to more mismatched games and more scoring chances.
"Modern football is increasingly suited to attacking players," said Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo. He said the standard of refereeing and the added protection for attacking flair have made it easier for that to flourish.
“They didn’t have this protection 20 or 30 years ago when rough play was a lot more common,” said Lorenzo. “Now any team that knows how to defend, plays counter-attacks and tries to play can do well.
A faster pace of ball, lengthier matches, shifting standards of officiating and a larger tournament field have all played their part in one of the most prolific scoring starts in World Cup history.
For the fans the result has been a tournament full of attacking football and goals from many of the biggest stars in the sport.
