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FIFA ponders changes

FIFA ponders changes

09/09/2010 10:32:00 AM

FIFA President Sepp Blatter wants to make football more attractive after being disappointed with defensive tactics at this year's World Cup.

Blatter said the game's tactics continue to evolve from those employed in years gone by, but he admits some of the displays in the competition's group stages were not the most enjoyable to watch.

"I really did see some great things," Blatter told FIFA's website.

"Football has become such a strategic game, with teams moving as a unit. It can be an impressive sight; gone are the days of simple tactics where you attacked then defended."

"But in the first few matches of the group stage in South Africa, we witnessed some teams that went out to avoid defeat, that were playing for a draw from the outset."

"This is a topic that I would like to discuss at upcoming Football and Technical Committee meetings. We have to try to find a way to encourage free-flowing football in tournaments like the World Cup, with teams playing to win."

One possibility Blatter raised was that of abolishing extra-time, which he said too often involved an overly defensive approach, and instead going straight to penalties at the end of 90 minutes.

"We plan to take the opportunity to look at the concept of extra-time as well. Often we see teams set themselves up even more defensively in extra-time, in an attempt to avoid conceding a goal at all costs," he said.

"To prevent this, we could go directly to a penalty shootout at full-time, or reintroduce the golden goal rule. We'll see what emerges from the Committee meetings."

Blatter said he hopes a new World champion will emerge from a region other than Europe or South America, but conceded Spain's victory had been deserved.

"South Korea came very close for Asia in 2002, while this time around, a couple of centimetres were the difference between Ghana making the semi-final and being eliminated," he said.

"That said, Spain's success was well-deserved; in my opinion, they along with Argentina produced the highest quality of play. On top of that, they're both young teams, just like the German side that finished third, and Ghana. That's a good sign."

 
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