KLOPPENHEIMER

Soccer scientists of Liverpool and City are credited as developers of tactics that are helping to change the women's game at World Cup

- NEIL MOXLEY

PEP GUARDIOLA and Jurgen Klopp have been credited with changing the face of the Women’s World Cup. 

The two decorated Premier League chiefs were feted as FIFA’s technical group reported its findings from the group stage.

One of the most striking statistics to emerge from the debrief involved the rise in the number of ‘push-crosses’ – or passes into the penalty box from wide areas.

Teams are blocking midfield areas and the number of ‘overloads’ out wide – a hallmark of Guardiola’s teams – has been a notable addition.

When asked about Guardiola’s influence, double World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis said: “I said 10 years ago that the women’s game was trending after the men’s.