It can often be a tricky one! Let’s look a little into Riviere and one such occasion. The moment Riviere had picked up the ball, all eyes were on him.
Struggle 1: To Shoot or To Cross?
The very basics. The term `shoot` is applied to situations where a player kicks the ball toward the goal with the attempt to score. To cross the ball means either to bring it from the flank toward the goal in the hope of having it headed or shoved by a teammate into a shot. The cross is an attempt to aid someone in taking a shot. Sometimes it almost becomes impossible to distinguish whether a player was attempting to shoot or cross, especially if the ball takes a strange deflection!
Back to Riviere’s Action
Coming back to Riviere, what clues do we have to find out what the actual intention was? Consider the following:
* Where was Riviere on the pitch? Was he near the goal or out wide on the corner? Near, shooting could be his option; wide, he could have been crossing.
* How did Riviere strike the ball? Was there good power straight for the goal? Usually, shooting. Maybe some sort of curve toward a teammate? Usually, crossing.
* What were the Riviere’s teammates doing? Were they standing still, resisting, and rushing forth for a goal from a cross? Yes, then he was probably crossing.
Into the Riviere Play
Let’s assume Riviere was just outside the penalty box-even slightly bent. Attempting this kick would have made the ball just disappear without a trace.
The Essence of Riviere
As soon as one dived into details, one could never arrive at what Riviere intended. This should help you figure out if one is shooting or crossing! Thus, if the ball was seen going out of bounds, or maybe if a defender’s leg had blocked it, this actor would be seen as guilty of it. Was this a shot, or was it a cross?
