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The Three Lions brought a love of the national team back to England in the summer, as Gareth Southgate’s men carried the impossible dream to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia.
Yet despite their seismic shift in expectations, England were not amazing. On average, the one-time World Cup winners were creating just 3.5 shots on target per 90 minutes in open play – relying heavily on set-pieces.
Across the tournament, Southgate’s side netted six goals from corners or free-kicks, while converting a further three from the penalty spot. No side scored more from dead balls and England set the highest total since 1966. In fact, only three of the squad’s 12 goals came from open play and one of those was a massive deflection.
Despite this, the feel-good wave flocked the English shores and with it stuck a new appreciation for set-pieces. Well, at least amongst coaches and managers.
Back in August, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appointed a coach hired specifically to organise the Reds’ throw-ins. Some saw it as a bizarre appointment, but the idea had solid foundations.
Extra training time at Melwood under Thomas Gronnemark was targeted at reducing the errors the Anfield outfit had created with their set-plays, with Klopp directly approaching the former Schalke coach to bring his ‘Long Throw Academy’ to Merseyside.
Primarily, the Dane focused his efforts on the first team full-backs, Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno, while James Milner, Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum also stepped in.
By mid-October, the German’s side had already proved the appointment worthwhile having scored six times from dead ball situations, taking the continent’s growing trend of specialised coaches and running with it.
In the Summer, Klopp had estimated his team took or defended around 50 throw-ins per game so could see the benefit in a little extra attention to something that had fazed out of the game.
When Stoke were promoted to the Premier League back in 2008, Tony Pulis brought with the Potters a monstrous long throw that wreaked havoc on top-flight defences who were perplexed by Rory Delap’s antics.
It was not a sudden creation the Welshman had conjured up but an idea the former defender orchestrated with precision.
More often than not, when Stoke would get a throw-in inside the opposition’s half, the former Republic of Ireland midfielder would strut over to the touchline, grab a towel and waste as much time as possible while the towering centre-backs waddled into the box. Making a throw-in more than just a chance to get the ball back into play but also a weaponised occasion.
Like England in Russia, Stoke were more dangerous with a ball in their hands rather than at their feet. Southgate, the then-Middlesbrough head coach, even noted how he would bring youth players into first-team training to prepare his side but no one could get as much length on the ball as Delap.
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Pulis remained Stoke manager until 2013, but by then the long throw had been fazed out and the event returned to just putting the ball back in play. The occasion was lost.
England, however, proved 2018 would be the year the sleeping lion of set-pieces should return.
Against Croatia in a must-win Nations League fixture, which could either have seen the hosts top the group or relegated, a dismal display at Wembley saw the Three Lions return to basics.
A long throw from Liverpool centre-back Gomez launched the ball into the box and created chaos as players missed headers and volleys, before Harry Kane’s prod presented Jesse Lingard with a tap-in to equalise.
Seven minutes later and England were ahead, again thanks to a deep set-piece, as Ben Chilwell’s free-kick bounced through the area for the Spurs striker to jab home and ignite euphoric celebrations in the stands.
A change of heart with the national team and Liverpool came coupled with a fresh face at the helm of the Gunners as Unai Emery was handed the reins at Arsenal.
The former PSG manager’s arrival came with a new perspective on set-pieces at the perfect time for the London club, who ended Arsene Wenger’s reign by scoring the joint-most goals from corners.
Emery’s difference in the dug-out added a Spanish touch to their dead ball situations, most noticeably against Cardiff City at the start of September when Aaron Ramsey narrowly missed finding the net.
Since the 47-year-old arrived at the club, with long-time assistant Juan Carlos Carcedo, Arsenal’s corners have seen an indication come from the bench to instruct how to overcome the opposition’s set-up.
The dead ball situation at Cardiff saw the Gunner’s replicate Spain’s routine from the World Cup, with Sokratis Papastathopoulos acting as a blocker for the Welshman to run onto Alexandre Lacazette’s flick.
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Hiring a throw-in specialist and instructing certain corner styles have played a key part in Liverpool and Arsenal’s fantastic starts to the season.
Continuing to develop how teams tackle set-pieces will once again prove a key way to score and shut out the opposition.
