The Balls In The World Cup Are Getting Faster, Says Uruguay Goalkeeper

At the Qatar World Cup 2022 competitions, goalkeepers have an increasingly difficult task as the balls travel more quickly, and the new model being used in Qatar is no exception, according to Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.

Al Rihla, which translates to "the journey" in Arabic, has been dubbed by FIFA as the tournament's fastest-moving ball, Al Jazeera reported.

“Year after year, it gets better for the strikers, and for us goalkeepers, it gets very tough,” Rochet told reporters ahead of the South Americans’ first match of the 2022 World Cup against South Korea on Thursday, Nov. 24.

“This is a very fast ball,” Rochet said. “We are in a process of adaptation.”

Rochet, 29, who plays for Nacional in his homeland, has established himself as Uruguay coach Diego Alonso's first-choice keeper, replacing Fernando Muslera, 36, a three-time World Cup veteran who is likely to be on the bench this time.

He was speaking to reporters after a training session.

“We have a very good group. There is no doubting the quality. A good atmosphere can be a good influence,” Rochet said.

“But when the time comes to work, we focus 100 percent on what we have to do,” he added.

Uruguay's team arrived in Qatar with a mix of youth and experience that has some commentators believing they are a team to watch at the World Cup.

Following the South Korea match, Uruguay will face Portugal and Ghana in Group H.

Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani will compete in their fourth World Cup as Uruguay attempts to win the trophy for the first time since 1950.

“You always dream and hope to reach as far as possible in the tournament, but we must go step-by-step,” Rochet said on Sunday, Nov. 20.

“It is a very difficult group where any team is capable to beat any rival, so we must just focus on the road ahead thinking now about South Korea, and that’s our only focus,” he said.

“Then, after Korea, we will start thinking of Portugal and that’s the way to take each match with confidence because I think we have a very good team,” he added.