Analysing Europe’s free-kick takers: the good, the bad and the brilliance of James Ward-Prowse
3 years ago

Analysing Europe’s free-kick takers: the good, the bad and the brilliance of James Ward-Prowse

New York Times  

My favourite would probably have to be Roberto Carlos, against France in 1997. It feels as though fans’ expectations are often quite high when you see a player line up a direct free kick but, across Europe’s top five leagues, the average conversion rate of a direct free kick has been just six per cent since 2016-17. In fact, there is an overall downward trend in the volume of direct free kicks taken across the top five European leagues in recent seasons — although, interestingly, less so in the Premier League. However you want to explain it, the volume of direct free kicks attempted per game is lower across each league when comparing this season — albeit it’s not yet complete — to 2016-17. He’s so good at it that maybe you miss his quality as a player as well.” Ward-Prowse will surely not argue with Guardiola, with an astonishing 53 per cent of his free kicks hitting the target since 2016-17 — well above the average of 32 per cent for a Premier League player in our sample period.

Europe Barcelona Goals Season Direct Cent Rate Free League Kane Messi Taken Guardiola Ronaldo Southampton This Season Kicks Taker His Quality Direct Free Kicks Free Kicks Our Sample Period  wardprowse  freekick  rate  league  cent  good  bad  analysing  goals  kicks  direct  taken  season  brilliance  europes  takers  free  james

History of this topic

Why there have been just SEVEN free kick goals in the Premier League this season, and what needs to be done to save this dying art from disappearing completely - THE SHARPE END
2 months, 1 week ago

Why there have been just SEVEN free kick goals in the Premier League this season, and what needs to be done to save this dying art from disappearing completely - THE SHARPE END

Daily Mail  

Reece James set the ball off on its arc, low beyond the far post, and then watched it bend back towards goal and sneak inside the bottom corner. A beautiful finish, a rescued for point for Chelsea against Bournemouth but, above all, a collector’s item, something rarely seen in the Premier League these days: a goal scored direct from a …

James Ward-Prowse’s brilliant free-kick technique: The biomechanics analysed
2 years ago

James Ward-Prowse’s brilliant free-kick technique: The biomechanics analysed

New York Times  

Not many players get within touching distance of Lionel Messi or David Beckham in their career. But James Ward-Prowse is just one goal away from Beckham’s Premier League direct free-kick record, following last month’s match-winner away to Chelsea. The most memorable of these was away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 2022, Ward-Prowse’s only free-kick goal from over 30 yards in …

Premier League: Ward-Prowse freekick goal gifts Southampton vital 1-0 win at goal-shy Chelsea
2 years, 1 month ago

Premier League: Ward-Prowse freekick goal gifts Southampton vital 1-0 win at goal-shy Chelsea

The Hindu  

A trademark James Ward-Prowse free-kick earned basement club Southampton a precious three points at Chelsea in a scrappy 1-0 Premier League win on Saturday and piled more pressure on home coach Graham Potter. Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta brought down Stuart Armstrong just outside the area in the 45th minute and Ward-Prowse curled a free kick over the wall into the …

Social media hails James Ward-Prowse as 'best free-kick taker in the WORLD' after Wolves screamer
3 years, 2 months ago

Social media hails James Ward-Prowse as 'best free-kick taker in the WORLD' after Wolves screamer

Daily Mail  

It's not often a footballer is hailed as the world's best after a 3-1 defeat, but the magic of James Ward-Prowse's latest set-piece stunner inspired such bold claims online. James Ward-Prowse hit a sensational free-kick but it wasn't enough to beat Wolves in a 3-1 loss The midfielder rocketed the strike into the top corner from 35 yards for a …

Southampton star James Ward-Prowse sets his sights on 2022 World Cup after Euro 2020 heartache
3 years, 3 months ago

Southampton star James Ward-Prowse sets his sights on 2022 World Cup after Euro 2020 heartache

Daily Mail  

James Ward-Prowse will head into 2022 with his sights set firmly on both the World Cup finals and David Beckham's Premier League free-kick record. James Ward-Prowse is targeting a place in the England squad for the 2022 World Cup The Southampton star is more determined to go to Qatar after missing out on Euro 2020 Ward-Prowse told the PA news …

Still looking for the first free kick goal in Euro 2020
3 years, 8 months ago

Still looking for the first free kick goal in Euro 2020

Hindustan Times  

This European Championship has seen a record 10 own goals, seven missed penalties in regulation time—which is the same as the 2018 World Cup which had more games—some outrageous goals like Patrik Schick’s long-range screamer, one from outside of his boot by Luka Modric, Paul Pogba’s strike from range and Lorenzo Insigne’s curler into the top corner. That is some …

Beckham bend or Ronaldo knuckleball? The evolution of Premier League free kicks
4 years, 11 months ago

Beckham bend or Ronaldo knuckleball? The evolution of Premier League free kicks

New York Times  

Does your team have a free-kick specialist? So let’s say three — if you’ve scored three free kicks in a season, you’re a free-kick master. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about this list is that, from the Premier League’s first six campaigns, 1992-93 to 1997-98, only one player scored three or more free kicks in a single campaign. That message …

How Diego Maradona helped crown Lionel Messi the free-kick king
5 years, 10 months ago

How Diego Maradona helped crown Lionel Messi the free-kick king

Daily Mail  

Lionel Messi's mastery of the art of the free-kick comes not just from his genius, but from hours of practice after training and the influence of Diego Maradona. Fernando Signorini was the fitness coach for Argentina at the 2010 World Cup and in his biography, Call to Rebellion, he sheds light on Maradona's part in Messi's development as the ultimate …

Berezutski's late equaliser makes sure England's Euro opener jinx continues
8 years, 9 months ago

Berezutski's late equaliser makes sure England's Euro opener jinx continues

Firstpost  

Russia captain Vasili Berezutski headed a last-gasp leveller against England on Saturday to steal a 1-1 draw in a European Championship match marred by a third day of fan violence. England seemed to be heading for victory when midfielder Eric Dier fired in a 20 metre free kick past Russia’s veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. We have to pick ourselves up …

Manchester United have signed a set-piece king in Memphis Depay... he is Europe's free-kick master with seven goals
9 years, 10 months ago

Manchester United have signed a set-piece king in Memphis Depay... he is Europe's free-kick master with seven goals

Daily Mail  

600 goals from free-kicks have been scored in history of Premier League Manchester United have signed a set-piece king in the form of Memphis Depay as the PSV star has scored the most free-kicks in Europe's top six leagues. The Red Devils new boy has scored two more goals than the second highest goalscorer - Bayer Leverkusen's Hakan Calhanoglu - …

Discover Related