There has been a sharp increase in the number of headed goals at Euro 2012. Twenty-four matches in the group stage yielded 17 goals off the head, nearly a third of the 60 scored.
The numbers are unprecedented because the existing record for an entire Euro is 17, achieved at Portugal eight years ago.
Teams that lack skilful midfielders have used the wings to deadly effect. For instance, three of the five England goals scored in the group stage were headed efforts. Curiously, assists for all the three came from the boot of Steven Gerrard.
Central defender Joleon Lescott set the ball rolling with a towering header to put Roy Hodgson’s side ahead against France.
But the prize for the best should go to Andy Carroll’s extraordinary goal in England’s second match. The strapping forward’s stunning effort was perfect in all aspects: power, angle, timing, positioning and execution.
Carroll buried a Swedish defender with a prodigious jump before meeting a right-wing cross with all the power he could summon.
It was a classic England goal the likes of Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton and Alan Shearer would be proud of.
Teams such as Brazil and Spain that pride themselves on playing the game in the way it should be played may scoff at the tactic of relying on long balls to score. But heading is a critical weapon in the quiver of goal scorers.
Besides, whenever the going gets difficult through the middle, crosses whipped from the flanks and set pieces can come as a boon.
In the debate on the world’s greatest footballer in the world at the moment, some pundits put Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Lionel Messi, taking into account the Portuguese’s better heading ability.
Another team to put their height to stellar use at the Euros were Denmark. The Danes scored three of their four goals via headers.
Nicklas Bendtner, one of the best in the business, rattled Portugal with a brace. Who will forget Andriy Shevchenko’s superbly timed headers against Sweden?
Sheva’s fitness was far from ideal but he brought his experience and instinct to the table. He scored the first through his swift movement and judgment of the ball flight.
His second came from his positioning. Sheva, stationed at the near post, steered a left-wing corner in with a glancing header. It is easier said than done.
Former India player Syed Sabir Pasha said teams would pay a heavy price if they don’t hone their heading skills.
“In modern football, crosses from open play and set-pieces are major sources of goals. As a result of improved athleticism, defenders have become stronger and smarter.
Headers become lethal when the penalty area gets crowded. It is always difficult for the goalkeeper to judge the flight of a header,” he added.
Spain are the only team at Euro 2012 that shun the aerial route. “That’s because they have no tall forwards.
The technically gifted Spaniards always like to move the ball around on the ground because that is their strength. I feel lack of firepower in the air could prove to be their undoing against top teams,” Sabir said.