Soccer Strategy Question? Why short corners?

[Pitt79]

I'm watching a lot of the WWC and the Gold Cup, and I see an awful lot of short corners taken this year? I realize these or world class players, but what's the thinking? I feel like just putting the ball in the middle of the field around the SIX is really a better chance to score even on a lucky pinball rather than playing around the perimeter.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

There are some options I guess to consider. If done right a short corner can lead to a shot with a ok angle, provides a closer set piece and creates more moving pieces to throw defense off and too have to continue to mark, pulls another defender away from the box, also can limit a counter.

I like it for the movement and forcing defenses to react differently as a short corner can lead to losing a man and also offering a better chance for a header far post. Some teams don’t have great finishers via head on corners.

But there are a lot of teams that go long send into box from corner and big guys finish it. Some teams have specialists that can finish headers better than anyone.

Last night Australia took a near post corner and a player essentially dummied it, which went by the goalie for a goal from corner. A goal directly from corner is rare.

A goal from a short corner easier because of a new angle.

 

[Pitt79]

I guess I just like the prospect of putting it into the box close in and taking my chances, lots of times I see short corners get defended and they just end up pushing it around the perimeter and not really get any opportunity.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Part of it is game theory (although most coaches probably wouldn't know to call it that). If you do the same thing all the time you are easier to defend. Even if a short corner doesn't provide the same goal expectancy in the short run, in the long run forcing the defenders to cover different things can open up opportunities that you wouldn't otherwise get.