RESUMO O objetivo desta pesquisa foi verificar quais comportamentos táticos podem predizer a eficiência defensiva de jogadores de futebol de elite. A amostra foi composta por 533 sequências defensivas de seleções semifinalistas da Copa do Mundo FIFA 2014. Foi construído um instrumento ad-hoc com as variáveis: “zona de recuperação da bola”, “pressão defensiva”, “redução de profundidade”, “tempo defensivo gasto”, “número de corredores ocupados”, “número de faltas cometidas” e “número de faltas sofridas”. As sequências táticas foram analisadas com o software Match Vision Studio Premium. A regressão logística multinomial foi aplicada para predizer as chances de sucesso e fracasso de ações coletivas defensivas (P < 0,05). A recuperação da bola na zona defensiva do campo teve aumento de 19 vezes das chances de finalização de gol em comparação com a zona ofensiva média (OR = 19,39; P < 0,01). Por outro lado, reduzir a profundidade defensiva resultou em diminuição de 71% das chances de fazer um gol (OR = 0,29; P < 0,01). Além disso, cada falta cometida aumentou as chances de falha na fase defensiva (OR = 5,39; P < 0,01). Os times que recuperaram a bola longe dos próprios gols e coordenaram sua última linha defensiva para deixar os atacantes em posição de impedimento tiveram sucesso na recuperação da bola. Nível de Evidência IV; Série de casos.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research was to verify which tactical behaviors can predict defensive efficiency among elite football players. The sample was composed of 533 defensive sequences from national teams that were semifinalists in the FIFA World Cup 2014. An ad-hoc instrument was built with the variables: “ball recovery zone”, “defensive pressure”, “removing depth”, “defensive time spent”, “number of occupied corridors”, “number of fouls committed”, and “number of times fouled”. The tactical sequences were analyzed using Match Vision Studio Premium software. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to predict the chances of success and failure of collective defensive actions (P < 0.05). Recovering the ball in the defensive zone of the field had a 19-times better chance of goal completion compared to recovering the ball in the middle offensive zone (OR = 19.39; P < 0.01). On the other hand, removing defensive depth resulted in a decrease of 71% in the chances of completing a goal (OR = 0.29; P < 0.01). Moreover, every foul committed increased the chances of failure in the defensive phase (OR = 5.39; P < 0.01). Teams that recovered the ball far from their own goals and coordinated their last defensive line to leave attackers in an offside position had success in getting the ball back. Level of Evidence IV; Case series.

RESUMEN El objetivo de esta investigación fue verificar qué comportamientos tácticos pueden predecir la eficiencia defensiva entre los jugadores de fútbol de élite. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 533 secuencias defensivas de selecciones semifinalistas en la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2014. Se construyó un instrumento ad-hoc con las variables: “zona de recuperación del balón”, “presión defensiva”, “reducción de profundidad”, “tiempo defensivo empleado”, “número de pasillos ocupados”, “número de faltas cometidas” y “número de faltas sufridas”. Las secuencias tácticas se analizaron utilizando el software Match Vision Studio Premium. Se aplicó la regresión logística multinomial para predecir las posibilidades de éxito y fracaso de las acciones colectivas defensivas (P <0,05). La recuperación del balón en las zonas defensivas del campo representó un aumento de 19 veces las posibilidades de finalización del gol en comparación con la zona ofensiva media (OR = 19,39; P <0,01). Por otro lado, eliminar la profundidad defensiva resultó en una disminución del 71% de las posibilidades de marcar un gol (OR = 0,29; P <0,01). Además, cada falta cometida aumentaba las posibilidades de falla en la fase defensiva (OR = 5,39; P <0,01). Los equipos que recuperaron el balón lejos de sus propios arcos y coordinaron su última línea defensiva para dejar a los atacantes en posición de fuera de juego, tuvieron éxito en la recuperación del balón. Nivel de Evidencia IV; Serie de casos.

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.

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.

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.

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.