Effects of ball recovery on top-level soccer attacking patterns of play

In soccer, ball recovery is the purpose of the defensive phase and it is also the first stage of the attack. Identifying how and where the ball is regained in elite competitions, taking in consideration the competition stage, is central to an understanding of the attacking patterns and of the diachronic order of events, and such knowledge can be used to develop specific drills in training. This study aims to characterize ball recovery patterns while taking into account the pitch zone(s) and the competition stage, and to investigate the influence of each type of ball recovery on the subsequent patterns of attacking play in matches played by the World Cup 2010 semi-finalists. Observational methodology and lag sequential analysis were applied, with the use of SoccerEye observational instrument, SoccerEye recording software and SDIS-GSEQ analytic software. Twenty-four matches were recorded from public TV broadcasts, yielding 1,619 attacks. Direct ball recovery was the most common form, with a tackle and defensive behaviour followed by a pass in the central mid-defensive zone resulting in goal attempts. Interceptions occurred mainly in the central mid-offensive zone inducing unsuccessful attacking patterns of play, while interventions by goalkeepers were most likely to occur in the central defensive zone with no significant associations with any ending of attack behaviours. Patterns of attacking play depend on the form of ball recovery. The pitch space and the form of ball recovery are similar when we compare both stages of the World Cup 2010.在足球运动中，球权夺回（ball recovery）既是防守阶段的核心目标，亦是进攻发起的首要环节。结合赛事阶段因素，明确顶级赛事中球权夺回的时机与场地，是洞悉进攻战术模式与赛事事件历时演进逻辑的核心要点，此类研究结论可用于制定训练中的专项练习内容。本研究旨在结合赛场分区与赛事阶段，刻画球权夺回的战术模式，并探究2010年世界杯四强球队的赛事中，各类球权夺回行为对后续进攻战术走向的影响。本研究采用观察法与滞后序列分析法（lag sequential analysis），依托SoccerEye观察工具、SoccerEye录像分析软件以及SDIS-GSEQ序列分析软件开展研究。研究从公共电视转播中收录了24场赛事，共计得到1619次进攻回合。直接球权夺回是最常见的夺回形式：中后场防守区域内的抢断与防守动作后接传球，可直接形成射门尝试。断球行为主要发生在中前场进攻区域，且多会导致进攻战术失败；而守门员的救球干预则多出现于后场防守区域，且与各类进攻终结行为无显著关联。进攻战术模式与球权夺回的具体形式密切相关。相较于2010年世界杯的两个赛事阶段，赛场空间分布与球权夺回形式均呈现相似特征。