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Cited by 285Sports Performance and TrainingSport Psychology and PerformancePhysical education and sports games research

Evolution of World Cup Soccer Final Games 1966-2010: Game Structure, Speed and Play Patterns

Wallace, Jarryd Luke, Norton, Kevin Ian·2014·Journal of science and medicine in sport
DOI 10.1016/j.jsams.2013.03.016
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Abstract

Objectives There are relatively few performance analysis studies on field sports investigating how they evolve from a structural or tactical viewpoint. Field sports like soccer involve complex, non-linear dynamical systems yet consistent patterns of play are recognisable over time and among different sports. This study on soccer trends helps build a framework of potential causative mechanisms for these patterns.Design Retrospective correlational study.Methods Broadcast footage of World Cup finals between 1966 and 2010 was used to assess patterns of play and stop periods, type and duration of game stoppages, ball speed, player density (congestion) and passing rates. This involved computer-based ball tracking and other notational analyses. These results were analysed using linear regression to track changes across time.Results Almost every variable assessed changed significantly over time. Play duration decreased while stoppage duration increased, both affecting the work: recovery ratios. Ball (game) speed increased by 15% over the 44-year period. Play structure changed towards a higher player density with a 35% greater passing rate.Conclusions Increases in soccer ball speed and player density show similarities with other field sports and suggest common evolutionary pressures may be driving play structures. The increased intensity of play is paralleled by longer stoppage breaks which allow greater player recovery and subsequently more intense play. Defensive strategies dominate over time as demonstrated by increased player density and congestion. The long-term pattern formations demonstrate successful coordinated states within team structures are predictable and may have universal causative mechanisms.

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  • The physical demands of elite soccer players have been increasing in recent decades in amount of training/competitions, intensity of effort, and shorter recovery periods.

    “Moreover, the physical demands of elite soccer players have been increasing in recent decades, not only in the amount of training and/or competitions, but also in the intensity of effort during matches, and a shorter recovery period between competitions or training sessions [14,112,113].”

    From Body Composition of Male Professional Soccer Players Using Different Measurement Methods: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2023) · cites this paper as [14]

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Authors
Wallace, J. L., & Norton, K. I.
Affiliations
University of South Australia (AU)
Corresponding author
Norton, Kevin Ian
ORCID
Norton, Kevin Ian
Venue
Journal of science and medicine in sport
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-03
Volume
17
Issue
2
Pages
223-228
ISSN
1440-2440 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jsams.2013.03.016
OpenAlex
W2128896202
Cited by
285
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 3
FWCI
8.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of science and medicine in sport (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Physical education and sports games research
Keywords
soccer, game structure, game speed, play patterns, pass rates, defense strategy, evolution of play, field sports, nonlinear dynamical systems
MeSH terms
Humans, Retrospective Studies, Soccer, Spatial Behavior, Task Performance and Analysis, Video Recording, Linear Models, Internationality, Athletic Performance

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