In a rousing display by the United States, full of sharp rotations, mazy dribbles and high-tempo attacking, it was the game’s most unassuming figure who claimed a personal slice of World Cup history.Centre-back Chris Richards completed all 84 of his passes in the 4-1 win against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday, the most by any player without misplacing one in a World Cup match since records began in 1966.Setting this record is quietly becoming one of the World Cup’s traditions.Richards overtook England centre-back John Stones, who completed 71 undisturbed passes against France in a 2022 quarter-final. Stones himself had eclipsed the figure of Brazil’s Miranda, another central defender, in a group match against Costa Rica in the 2018 finals (59 passes), meaning that the bar has been raised in three successive tournaments.But is perfect passing accuracy even a badge of honour? It depends on who you ask.For some, it reflects a player’s composure and control in possession. For others, it can hint at an overly cautious, unadventurous style.France and Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki is firmly in the latter camp. “Playing a perfect match, with 99 per cent of passes completed, is all well and good, but playing one with five or six flashes of genius will always be better,” he told French paper L’Equipe earlier this year.Richards’ pass map against Paraguay, below, dominated by sideways circulation, is unlikely to receive Cherki’s nod of approval. The 26-year-old, who also plays his club football in the Premier League with London side Crystal Palace, hit just 17.9 per cent of his passes forward, and attempted only one long ball.But the space and time afforded to him to deliver those simple passes said plenty about the contrasting approaches of the two sides at SoFi Stadium.