A Copa do Mundo sinalizou o fim do caos nos escanteios?

There has been a clear difference in approach in the refereeing of corners at the World Cup, with less of the wrestling and holding that seemed endemic in the Premier League last season. BBC Sport has been told there was a feeling at the top levels of refereeing that corner kicks had turned into a "fight scene" and this was "not real football." FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina sent simple messages before the World Cup: to coaches, there would be a focus on blocking and holding, and to referees, be prepared to be strict with zero tolerance of off-the-ball moves designed to stop an opponent getting to the ball. The VAR intervention to disallow Germany's goal against Paraguay, where Waldemar Anton was adjudged to have blocked the goalkeeper, was described as the perfect example of what Collina had been drilling into his officials. Spain also had a goal disallowed in similar fashion. Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger noted the consistency but said "it's the extreme opposite" of what viewers see in the Premier League each week, adding that "any contact is in favour of the keeper." The stats suggest the change has impacted the value of corners. In the Premier League last season, goals from corners came at an average of 0.49 per match, while at the World Cup the figure is 0.34, on a par with other top-five European leagues. However, it is still higher than the 0.20 in Qatar four years ago.