Which defensive tactical indicators are associated with victory in the semifinals and finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup?

Abstract Aim: The objective of this study was to verify whether the match winners in the semifinals and finals of the FIFA World Cup 2014 were those who presented the highest frequency of pressing and intense behaviors in the recovery of ball possession. Methods: The sample was composed of 533 defensive tactical sequences performed by the four finalist teams in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The independent t-test was used to compare tactical indicators between winning and losing teams and the chi-square test (X2) was applied to assess the association between the variables. Results: In the first (X2 = 48.47; P < 0.01) and second halves of regular matches (X2 = 64.10; P < 0.01), the evaluated teams recovered the ball in the defensive zone. However, during the first and second periods of extra time, the highest frequencies of ball recovery were found in the middle defensive zone (P < 0.01). Conclusion: It is concluded that the semi-finalist and finalist teams from the 2014 FIFA World Cup sought to recover the ball in the defensive zone, and pressing opponent movements when they were losing the matches.

Examining offensive tactical actions performed by youth soccer players with different competitive contexts / Examinando as ações táticas ofensivas realizadas por jovens futebolistas de diferentes contextos competitivos

ABSTRACT The study examined offensive tactical actions performed by U-15 soccer players with different competitive contexts. 34 matches played by three different contexts of U-15 soccer clubs were used; brazilian national (BN), brazilian regional (BR), and italian national (IN). Five categories where used to analyze the soccer offensive actions: "number of players involved" (NJ), "ball touches" (NT), "passes" (NP), "corridor changes" (NTC), and "duration of ball possession" (TRA); the results were coded using Match Vision Studio® software. The BN presented higher values in all five offensive categories (p < 0.05) when compared to the IN. Multinomial regression evidenced relative contributions of NJ and NP on the chances of results in the BN. The increase of one player involved in the offensive action decreases by 84% the chances of "total success" with respect to "unsuccessful" (p < 0.05). The performance of each additional pass increases 4.9 times the chance of the play ending in "total success" and 4.7 times (p < 0.05) in "partial success" when compared to the "unsuccessful" category. The NJ in the action and the NP have a direct influence on the outcome of the offensive actions of the BN.

RESUMO O estudo examinou ações táticas ofensivas realizadas por jogadores de futebol sub-15 em diferentes contextos competitivos. Foram analisados 34 jogos disputados por clubes sub-15 de três diferentes contextos competitivos, sendo estes: brasileiro nacional (BN), brasileiro regional (BR) e italiano nacional (IN). Cinco categorias foram utilizadas para analisar as ações futebolísticas ofensivas: "número de jogadores envolvidos" (NJ), "toques sobre a bola" (NT), "passes" (NP), "mudanças de corredor" (NTC) e "duração da posse de bola". "(TRA); os resultados foram codificados usando o software Match Vision Studio®. O BN apresentou valores maiores nas cinco categorias ofensivas (p <0,05) quando comparado ao IN. A regressão multinominal evidenciou contribuições relativas de NJ e NP nas chances de resultados no BN. O aumento de um jogador envolvido na ação ofensiva diminuiu em 84% as chances de "êxito total" em relação a "sem êxito" (p <0,05). O desempenho de cada passe adicional aumentou em 4,9 vezes a chance da jogada terminar em "êxito total" e 4,7 vezes (p <0,05) em "êxito parcial" quando comparado à categoria "sem êxito". O NJ na ação e o NP tiveram influência direta no resultado das ações ofensivas do BN.

Tactical efficacy and offensive game processes adopted by Italian and Brazilian youth soccer players

Abstract Aim: To analyze success and failure of offensive sequences and the adopted offensive method in under-15 (U-15) and under-17 (U-17) soccer players. Methods: The sample was composed of 218 offensive sequences performed by U-15 and U-17 players selected from 28 matches, being 18 matches of an Italian team and 10 matches of a Brazilian team. All offensive sequences which ended in finalization were selected for the analysis. Using observational methodology, an adapted ad hoc observational instrument was built with the variables "number of players involved", "ball touches", "passing", "duration", and "corridor changes". Next, offensive actions were classified into three offensive game methods: counter-attack, quick attack, and positional attack. Results: Results revealed that teams which use positional attack expend more time constructing an offensive play, involve extra players, and change the ball corridor more often during offensive actions when compared to counter-attack and quick attack (p<0.01). Moreover, offensive efficacy did not present an association with the offensive method employed (X2=0.47; p=0.78). Sequences that finished in success presented significantly higher values of the number of touches (p=0.02), passes (p=0.003), and duration (p=0.01) in comparison to failure. Conclusion: The findings suggest that all offensive methods adopted can be used to reach success during a game of U-15 and U-17 soccer players.