Joe Hart shares his big worry about the World Cup ball after watching the France vs Iraq game.
During the weather delay in the France vs Iraq World Cup match, Joe Hart took the chance to share his thoughts about the ball being used this summer.
France was leading 1-0 at halftime thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s third goal of the tournament. But after the players went back to the locker rooms, FIFA announced a 15-minute delay because of lightning risks nearby.
Earlier that day, NBC10 Philadelphia warned of possible heavy rain, strong winds, and even a tornado between 3pm and 11pm local time. The biggest threat was expected later in the evening. The game started at 5pm local time.
The match began in clear weather, but heavy rain began during the first half. As halftime approached, it became clear a delay was needed.
While waiting, former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart watched Mbappe’s goal closely. It was a long-range shot that beat Iraq’s keeper Ahmed Basil. Hart defended Basil and explained why he thinks the design of the World Cup ball is causing problems for goalies.
Hart mentioned a similar discussion about the 2010 Jabulani ball. He said long shots are harder to stop with this ball. “For a goalkeeper, it’s about reading the ball’s movement,” Hart said on BBC One during the game. “You see the ball, get set, and dive. But now, the timing feels off compared to what goalkeepers are used to.”
He added, “Mbappe is one of the best players in the world, but he’ll expect the keeper to save that shot. It’s not right in the corner, and usually, shots that far inside the post don’t go in often.”
Hart said this issue isn’t just about Basil. He named top keepers like Edouard Mendy, Jordan Pickford, and Luca Zidane, who all seem to struggle timing their saves with this ball. “When the ball has little spin, it seems to get to them before they can react, making saves really tough.”
For example, Pickford got a hand to a long shot from Martin Baturina in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia but couldn’t stop it. Since Pickford is known for his quick reflexes, this moment stood out but makes more sense given what’s happening in this World Cup.
Similarly, Mendy managed to make contact with Mbappe’s long shot during Senegal’s 3-1 loss to France but couldn’t keep it out either.