ANALYSIS OF PASSING SEQUENCES, SHOTS AND GOALS IN THE SOCCER WORLD CUP 2010, WITH SPECFIC INTEREST ON PENALTY ENTRIES.

Abstract

Soccer is very much a results centred sport nowadays, this leading coaches to use sports science in order to gain information regarding enhancing performance. The purpose of this study was to indentify the differences between successful and unsuccessful teams with specific interest to penalty entries, during the FIFA World Cup 2010. All games that involved the two finalists (n=14) and those four teams that ended the tournament group stages with the least amount of points (n=12) were analysed using the video analysis package Sportscode. Reliability tests, with the use of Kappa, were then carried out to test the trustworthiness of the package and its use within the study. Alongside descriptive statistics, non-parametric Mann Whitney U Test’s were used to identify any significant differences (p<0.05) between the two groups of team. Similarities were seen in the ratio of possessions to entries for both groups, however once entries occurred, the ratio of successful entries to unsuccessful entries showed significant differences (P<0.05) between the two groups. Many other characteristics regarding penalty entries showed contrasting results, from the number of passes made before entry, where the ball entered from, as well as how the ball entered, with unsuccessful teams entering aerially 20% more in comparison to the successful teams. Many findings can be used by coaches to impact upon style of play, however the quality of player at the coaches’ disposal must be considered, along with mentally and tactically preparing a team to provide their team with the greatest chance of victory.