Background In modern professional soccer, the ability to recover from official match-play and intense training is often considered a determining factor in subsequent performance. Objective To investigate the influence of playing multiple games with a short recovery time between matches on physical activity, technical performance and injury rates. Methods The variation of physical (overall distance, light-intensity, low-intensity, moderate-intensity and high-intensity running) and technical performance (successful passes, balls lost, number of touches per possession and duels won) of 16 international players was examined during three different congested periods of matches (six games in 18 days) from the French League and Cup (n=12), and the UEFA Champions' League (n=6) during the 2011-2012 season and compared with that reported in matches outside these periods. Data were collected using a computerised match analysis system (Amisco). Injury rate, time loss injuries, as well as the mechanism, circumstances and severity of the injury were also analysed. Results No differences were found across the six successive games in the congested period, and between no congested and the three congested periods for all the physical and technical activities. The total incidence of injury (matches and training) across the prolonged congested periods did not differ significantly to that reported in the non-congested periods. However, the injury rate during match-play was significantly higher during the congested period compared with the noncongested period ( p<0.001). The injury rate during training time was significantly lower during the congested period compared with the non-congested periods ( p<0.001). The mean lay-off duration for injuries was shorter during the congested periods compared with the non-congested periods (9.5±8.8 days vs 17.5±29.6 days, respectively p=0.012, effect sizes=0.5). Conclusions Although physical activity, technical performance and injury incidence were unaffected during a prolonged period of fixture congestion, injury rates during training and match-play and the lay-off duration were different to that reported in matches outside this period.

Identifying match statistics that strongly contribute to winning in football matches is a very important step towards a more predictive and prescriptive performance analysis. The current study aimed to determine relationships between 24 match statistics and the match outcome (win, loss and draw) in all games and close games of the group stage of FIFA World Cup (2014, Brazil) by employing the generalised linear model. The cumulative logistic regression was run in the model taking the value of each match statistic as independent variable to predict the logarithm of the odds of winning. Relationships were assessed as effects of a two-standard-deviation increase in the value of each variable on the change in the probability of a team winning a match. Non-clinical magnitude-based inferences were employed and were evaluated by using the smallest worthwhile change. Results showed that for all the games, nine match statistics had clearly positive effects on the probability of winning (Shot, Shot on Target, Shot from Counter Attack, Shot from Inside Area, Ball Possession, Short Pass, Average Pass Streak, Aerial Advantage and Tackle), four had clearly negative effects (Shot Blocked, Cross, Dribble and Red Card), other 12 statistics had either trivial or unclear effects. While for the close games, the effects of Aerial Advantage and Yellow Card turned to trivial and clearly negative, respectively. Information from the tactical modelling can provide a more thorough and objective match understanding to coaches and performance analysts for evaluating post-match performances and for scouting upcoming oppositions.

In soccer, the ability to retain possession of the ball for prolonged periods of time has been suggested to be linked to success.

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The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of playing tactics, opponent interaction and situational variables on achieving score-box possessions in professional soccer. The sample was constituted by 908 possessions obtained by a team from the Spanish soccer league in 12 matches played during the 2009-2010 season. Multidimensional qualitative data obtained from 12 ordered categorical variables were used. Sampled matches were registered by the AMISCO PRO system. Data were analysed using chi-square analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Of 908 possessions, 303 (33.4%) produced score-box possessions, 477 (52.5%) achieved progression and 128 (14.1%) failed to reach any sort of progression. Multiple logistic regression showed that, for the main variable "team possession type", direct attacks and counterattacks were three times more effective than elaborate attacks for producing a score-box possession (P < 0.05). Team possession originating from the middle zones and playing against less than six defending players (P < 0.001) registered a higher success than those started in the defensive zone with a balanced defence. When the team was drawing or winning, the probability of reaching the score-box decreased by 43 and 53 percent, respectively, compared with the losing situation (P < 0.05). Accounting for opponent interactions and situational variables is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of offensive playing tactics on producing score-box possessions.

seasons were analyzed. The game-related statistics gathered were: total shots, shots on goal, effectiveness, passes, successful passes, crosses, offsides committed and received, corners, ball possession, crosses against, fouls committed and received, corners against, yellow and red cards, venue, and quality of opposition. Data were analyzed performing a one-way ANOVA and a discriminant analysis. The results showed that winning teams had significantly higher average values that were for the following game statistics: total shots (p<0.01), shots on goal (p<0.01), effectiveness (p<0.01), passes (p<0.05), successful passes (p<0.05), and ball possession (p<0.05). Losing teams had significantly higher values in the variable yellow cards (p<0.01), and red cards (p<0.01). Discriminant analysis allowed to conclude the following: the variables that discriminate between winning, drawing and losing teams were the shots on goal, crosses, ball possession, venue and quality of opposition. Coaches and players should be aware of these different profiles in order to increase knowledge about game cognitive and motor solicitation and, therefore, to design and evaluate practices and competitions for soccer peak performance teams in a collective way.

Substitutes cover greater high-intensity-running distance; this was particularly evident in attackers, but pass-completion rates did not differ for any position. This information could be beneficial to coaches regarding optimizing the match running performances of their players, but much more work needs to be undertaken to investigate the overall impact of substitutes (physical, technical indicators, and contribution to key moments of matches).

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the playing level in soccer (i.e., amateur vs. professional players) and the physiological impact, perceptual responses, time-motion characteristics, and technical activities during various small-sided games (SSGs). Twenty international players (27.4 ± 1.5 years and 17.4 ± 0.8 km·h(-1) of vVO(2)max) and 20 amateur players of the fourth French division (26.3 ± 2.2 years and 17.0 ± 1.2 km·h(-1) of vVO(2)max) played 9 SSGs (i.e., 2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3, and 4 vs. 4) in which the number of ball touches authorized by possession varied (1 ball touch authorized = 1T, 2 ball touches authorized = 2T, and Free Play = FP). Heart rate (HR), blood lactate ([La]), subjective perception of effort (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]), physical performance, and technical performance of all players were analyzed during all SSGs. Across the various SSGs, amateurs completed a lower percent of successful passes (p < 0.01), recorded higher RPE and [La] values, lost a greater amount of ball possessions (p < 0.001), and covered less total distance with respect to sprinting and high-intensity running (HIR). The HR responses, however, were similar when expressed as %HRmax and %HRreserve. The comparison of the professional and amateur soccer players' activities during SSGs showed that the playing level influenced the physiological responses, physical and technical activities. Consequently, this study has shown that the main differences between elite and amateur players within SSGs concerned their capacity to perform high-intensity actions (HIR and sprints) and execute various technical abilities (in particular number of ball lost per possession and percentage of successful passes).