Unexpected reason for World Cup goalkeeper errors revealed

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Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart believes that the adidas Trionda, the official ball for the 2026 World Cup, is to blame for some of the goalkeeping errors at this summer's tournament.

The World Cup has so far been a great spectacle with some high-scoring games. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are going head-to-head for the Golden Boot, with the Argentine currently on five goals after two matches, while the other two are on four.

Despite this, many of the minnows who were expected to be thrashed have actually given a very good account of themselves. There have also been some outstanding goalkeeper performances, with Curacao's Eloy Room, Cape Verde's Vozinha and Iran's Alireza Beiranvand springing to mind.

Yet the reason why some games have been really exciting affairs is that for every outstanding goalkeeper display, there have also been some howlers. There have been several instances of goalkeepers - even some of the best in the world - struggling with shots they should easily save.

Both Edouard Mendy and Mike Maignan conceded unfortunate goals in France's 3-1 win over Senegal, while England shot-stopper Jordan Pickford was unable to keep Martin Baturina's long-distance strike out in a 4-2 win over Croatia despite getting a hand to the ball.

Hart: World Cup ball to blame for goalkeeper errors

On Monday, France faced Iraq in a game that would ultimately be interrupted for two hours due to a severe thunderstorm in Philadelphia. Les Bleus captain Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box.

Goalkeeper Ahmed Basil got a touch to the ball but, like Pickford, could not keep the shot out. The score was still 1-0 when a torrential downpour began late in the first half. At half-time, the game was suspended and only resumed once the storm had passed, with France ultimately winning 3-0.

BBC pundit and former England goalkeeper Joe Hart used the extended break to explain his theory on why goalkeepers are struggling with seemingly straightforward saves at this tournament.

Speaking about the goal Basil conceded, Hart suggested that the ball, the adidas Trionda, was to blame, with its flight trajectory and speed not corresponding to what goalkeepers are used to from their day-to-day practice with different balls.

"It's the brain calculation of a goalkeeper," Hart said. "You see it, you get set, you get your movement in, you fly after the ball. But in this tournament, they're getting set and they're flying after it, and it's just not matching up with what they do daily.

"There's so little margin for error at this level. Mbappe's one of the best, if not the best, in the world. But I'm telling you that he will expect to save that. It's not right in the corner, and very rarely do we see goals going in, regularly, a metre and a half inside the post.

"This is not just on Ahmed. I'm naming Edouard Mendy, who's one of the top goalkeepers, Champions League winner. Pickford, England's number one. [Algeria's Luca] Zidane did it against Messi. They're just not timing that save.

"Lower down, you're seeing it, sharp. But as soon as that ball hasn't got spin on it, it seems to be on them before they can react. They're just not making that save once they do make contact."

The next Jabulani?

There haven't been any complaints from the players about the Trionda so far, but if Hart's theory is correct, it wouldn't be the first time FIFA and adidas messed up with a World Cup ball.

Back in 2010, the adidas Jabulani used at the World Cup in South Africa became infamous, and perhaps some would say iconic, for its unpredictability in mid-air.

The ball would swerve all over the place after being hit, creating a knuckleball effect that was a nightmare not just for goalkeepers but also outfield players.

Back then, Hart complained that "balls have been doing anything but staying in my gloves," though he did admit that playing with the Jabulani was "good fun."

England teammate David James was even more scathing with his assessment: "The ball is dreadful. It's horrible, but it's horrible for everyone."

Numerous other players and coaches also spoke out, with Messi saying: "The ball is very complicated for the goalkeepers and for us." His manager, the late Diego Maradona, added that "the ball doesn't fly straight."

Iker Casillas of eventual winners Spain also complained about the ball, as did Brazil shot-stopper Julio Cesar, Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon.

"It is very sad that a competition so important as the World Cup will be played with such a horrible ball," Casillas thundered, while Buffon called the Jabulani "absolutely inadequate."

The Trionda doesn't swerve like the Jabulani, but it seems to be causing similar problems.

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Tom Weber | Writer

Tom Weber is an experienced, multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer as part of his freelance work for FootballTransfers.

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