Why Do Teams Still Take Short Corners?
Corners are one of the most dangerous set-piece situations in modern football. Yet, despite the data overwhelmingly favoring direct deliveries, teams continue to take short corners. According to the latest statistics, in the top five leagues, only 2% of shots resulting from corners come from short corners. If direct corners are far more effective, why do teams still attempt the short variation?
The Dominance of Direct Corners
When looking at the rankings, we can see that Strasbourg is the most efficient team in converting corners into goals, they outperform all other teams in terms of goal-ending corners. Close behind them are SC Freiburg, Athletic Club, and Parma Calcio, all of whom have very similar efficiency in making corners count.
On the other hand, when it comes to consistently creating shooting opportunities from corners, Union Berlin stands out as the clear leader. They generate a shot from 56% of their corners, which is significantly higher than any other team. To put that into perspective, second-placed Mallorca "only" manages to create a shot in 47.27% of their corner situations, followed closely by Como and Roma.
The numbers clearly indicate that direct corners are the preferred and most effective method. The team with the highest percentage of goal-ending corners is Strasbourg, with 5 out of 6 of their goals from corners coming from long deliveries. Meanwhile, Union Berlin, the team with the highest rate of shot-ending corners, creates an astounding 94.29% of their opportunities from direct corners. This means that nearly every chance they generate from corners comes from a traditional delivery rather than a short routine.
These rankings reinforce the idea that most teams generate their best chances from corners by delivering the ball directly into the penalty area. However, as we will see, a few clubs still prefer a different approach.
Outliers: The Teams That Thrive on Short Corners
Despite the dominance of direct corners, a few teams still rely on short corner routines to create chances. Only five teams in the top leagues generate 10% or more of their corner-based chances from short corners:
- Parma Calcio (32.69%)
- Barcelona (12.07%)
- Como (12.07%)
- Bayern Munich (10.17%)
- Mainz (10%)
Parma stands out as an extreme case, creating nearly one-third of their corner chances through short plays. This suggests a deliberate tactical approach where they prioritize maintaining possession, manipulating defensive structures, or working the ball into a better crossing position.
Why Do Some Teams Prefer Short Corners?
Despite their lower efficiency in generating immediate chances, short corners remain useful for several tactical reasons:
- Creating Better Angles – Short corners allow for a better crossing angle, potentially finding a free runner at the back post.
- Dragging Defenders Out of Position – By playing short, the defending team is forced to step out of their defensive block, creating space in the box.
- Maintaining Possession – Instead of risking a turnover from a direct delivery, some teams use short corners to retain control and probe for a higher-quality opportunity.
- Catch opponents defenders off guard – disrupting defensive setups and²>³² forcing defenders to adjust on the fly, potentially creating gaps or mismatches.
Conclusion: Are Short Corners Worth It?
While short corners have their tactical benefits, the data strongly suggests that direct corners remain the most effective way to create goal-scoring chances. With only a handful of teams successfully using short corners as a consistent weapon, it raises the question: should more teams abandon the short corner approach?
For now, teams like Parma Calcio and Barcelona continue to experiment with it, but the overwhelming trend across elite football suggests that most teams should prioritize direct deliveries if they want to maximize their chances of scoring.
At MyGamePlan, we continue to uncover tactical insights to help teams optimize their set-piece strategies. With detailed metrics and performance tracking, clubs can analyze their corner routines, identify the most effective delivery methods, and maximize their chances of converting set-pieces into goals.
