FIFA International
News for World Cup 2018
The FIFA men’s World cup is around
the corner and Russia will host the 2018 tournament. That isn’t news to most
who follow the beautiful game. What is news is that FIFA approved rule changes
that will be in effect this summer. VAR, Video Assistant Referee, which is the
most controversial of the new rules, is one of them. There are a few managers
and sports pundits who despise the introduction of VAR into the game, stating
that it will ruin the game for the fans by slowing down the continuity and
speed of the game. Depending who one might ask of whether VAR is a good or bad
idea, or whether one likes it or not will definitely vary, but no matter how
one feels about it VAR will be in use this summer.
The other two rules that most
likely went under the radar due to the emphasis on VAR on most soccer shows is
the introduction of teams having a fourth substitute available if the game goes
into extra time. The second rule is the ability to transfer data to the
technical area for coaching purposes. I will go out on a limb and state that
the latter rule is more of a formality because I am certain coaching staff were
already receiving information.
However, the rule that I think will
shape the world cup is the fourth available substitute. This will allow for
coaches to plan for a tactical shift in extra time by putting in a fresh new
player. Whether the coach decides to put in a more attacking minded or
defensive minded player, the fans will benefit almost as much as the two teams
playing in extra time. The fans will be able to see the thought process of
their national team’s coach based on the player they put in and which player
they take out and potentially eliminating the occasional dreadful 30 minutes
of play where both teams are depleted and exhausted waiting for the final
whistle to finish the match via a penalty shootout.
Now the coach doesn’t have to
decide whether to save their last substitute for extra time or put in the 3rd
and final substitute in during regular time to win it before the match even
goes into extra time. This will allow the coaches to implement their plan and
allocate all 3 substitutes during the 90 minutes of the match. This new rule
will not eliminate the games between an international power house versus a
national side content on making the tournament more exciting, but it is a rule
that should have been adopted sooner as I see it only benefits the game in a
positive manner.
Of the three rules that will be in
effect this summer in Russia, VAR will most likely take the headlines and be in
the majority of the talking points, but I can see the additional substitute in
extra time being a decisive factor as the tournament reaches the knockout
stages.
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