Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings - Full coverage details

The way in which he won a penalty for Portugal was called a "total genius" by Fifa.

He became the first man to score at five different World Cup tournaments.

The awarding of the spot-kick incensed Otto Addo, who said it wasn't a penalty.

Sunday Oliseh, a member of the Technical Study Group, said strikers are getting smarter.

Performance data and trends can be found in the analysis provided by the TSG.

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Nine penalties have been awarded after 20 games in this tournament, which is on track to break the previous record of 24 that were given in the group stages in Russia four years ago.

The efforts of Robert Lewandowski of Poland and Alphonso Davies of Canada have been saved.

The player went down under a challenge from the Saints player. Matt Upson said it was a "dive".

Addo said that the referee gave a penalty which was not a penalty. What's the reason? Is it because it'sRonaldo?

The ref wasn't in our favor.

Oliseh, who played for Nigeria at the 1998 World Cup, feels thatRonaldo was clever in his move to win the penalty that allowed him to score.

"Perhaps the strikers are becoming smarter?" asked Oliseh.

People can say what they want about him, but the smartness to wait for that second, to touch the ball, continue his leg and then get the contact, is what makes him special. That is an amazing achievement.

The compliment should be given to strikers who get smarter. VAR is one of the reasons why this is happening. The referees can look at it multiple times.

'Teams will become braver'

In the first round of group games, 25% of the games were goalless.

England and the US played out a stalemate in their second game of the tournament.

At the World Cup, there have been seven draws, which is the most in the history of the tournament, but only 20 of the 64 games have been played.

There was only one goalless draw at the World Cup in Russia.

"Teams don't want to take too much of a risk."

Many teams are relying on a cautious approach.

Teams will become a bit braver as the tournament goes on.

Players 'feeling comfortable' with matchball

There were 49 goals scored by the end of Friday, 25 November.

There were no goals from outside the box in the first round. Two of the four games played so far have been scored from distance, which is less than in the past two tournaments.

On Friday, Iran's Roozbeh Cheshmi hit a rasping strike against Wales, while the Netherlands'Cody Gakpo scored a goal in a 2-2 draw with Ecuador.

The 'Al Rihla' match ball developed for the World Cup is described by Fifa as "travelling faster than any ball" in the tournament's history.

The ball provides the highest levels of accuracy and reliability, according to global football's governing.

The technology has improved the game, it is helping the ball, boots, gloves, data. The game needs to be improved.

Any kind of ball will be dangerous if you have good shooting. I have talked to friends from all over the world and they are all happy with this ball.

Goalkeepers talk about the fast moving ball, but it's for the good of the game.

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