Analysis of the Effectiveness of Long Distance Passes in 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of long distance passes performed during the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup. All 64 matches were analyzed, however, actions performed during overtime were not included in the sample. The study defined long pass as an action made by a player from the defensive midfield aiming at passing the ball to another teammate located on the offensive field. The action result assessment followed these criteria: shots on goal, ball possession maintenance, loss of ball possession and ball possession recovery. Total long distance passes were also considered in the analysis. Throughout the tournament, 4,512 long distance passes were attempted. The main findings were that 59% resulted on loss, 28% on maintenance and 12% on recovery of the ball possession, but only less than 1% resulted in shots on goal (F = 505.5; p<0.001; partial ƞ2 = 0.76). Teams with the highest number of long pass attempts loose ball possession more frequently. There were more long distance passes at the first and at the last 15 min of matches. UEFA and Concacaf teams executed, respectively, the lowest and the highest number of long passes. The major outcome of this study is that long distance passes have low effectiveness due to the high rate of loss of ball possession, rarely creating score opportunities. The more the teams executed long passes, the more the teams lose ball possession.

摘要 本研究旨在分析2014年巴西国际足联（FIFA）世界杯赛事中长传战术的实施效果。本研究对全部64场比赛进行了分析，但未将加时赛时段的攻防动作纳入样本。本研究将长传界定为：由防守中场球员发起，旨在将球传递至进攻半场队友的传球动作。传球动作的结果评定遵循以下四项标准：射正球门、维持球权、丢失球权与夺回球权，同时统计总长传尝试次数。本届赛事总计完成4512次长传尝试。主要研究结果显示：59%的长传以丢失球权告终，28%实现球权维持，12%完成球权夺回，仅不足1%的长传转化为射正球门（F = 505.5; p<0.001; 偏η² = 0.76）。进一步分析表明，长传尝试次数最多的球队，其球权丢失频率也更高。比赛的前15分钟与最后15分钟时段，长传的使用频次更高。欧洲足球协会联盟（UEFA）与中北美洲及加勒比海足球协会（Concacaf）所属球队的长传执行次数，分别为所有参赛协会中最少与最多。本研究的核心结论为：由于长传的球权丢失率较高且极少创造得分机会，因此长传战术的整体有效性偏低；球队执行长传的频次越高，其球权丢失的概率也越高。