4. France continues to score from set-pieces:
How many times haven’t we seen teams score from set pieces in this world cup? This world cup has brought back the long forgotten strategy of winning via set-piece efficiency.
Umtiti’s was another, rising to glance Antoine Griezmann’s in-swinger past Thibaut Courtois, yet another tick in the column for hard work on the training pitch.
Perhaps that goes against our natural instinct that football’s enjoyment should come from its moments of inspiration and innovation, like a volley which unravels from the corner of your eye or a pass which dissects a perfectly assembled defence. Perhaps this tournament has proved that goals, any goals, and the drama and the narrative they write can be more entertaining and absorbing than the sheer one-off pleasure of a wonder strike.