The World Cup has so far been the tournament of the big star forwards, the FIFA Technical Study Group's expert panel said on Monday in an initial analysis of all group-stage matches.
The panel, which includes numerous former professionals such as Germany's Jürgen Klinsmann, Ghana's Otto Addo and former Brazil captain Gilberto Silva, presented examples at a press conference in Miami.
For instance, World Cup favourites France have so far scored twice as many goals (10) as the so-called xG value (5) for expected goals would statistically suggest, due to the quality of their attacking players Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.
"What we have seen so far is quality in finishing," said panel member and former Denmark striker Jon Dahl Tomasson.
"It is incredible how they are performing and outperforming the expected goals."
