The differential effect of the evolving game status in the passing sequences of Top-level European Football Teams

Abstract

OBJECTIVES In recent years there have been several studies seeking to understand how contextual variables such as game location, the level of the opponent and the evolving game status typically influence football teams' performances. Usually, investigations examine the effects of these situational variables on physical/conditioning, technical, tactical and mental performance in football (Taylor, Mellalieu, James & Shearer, 2008). The evolving game status (winning, losing or drawing) is one of the most relevant situational variables influencing performance in Association Football (Lago, 2009). Hughes and Reed (2005) reported that game status affected the frequency of shots, with less incidence of shots associated to losing status. On the other hand, other studies demonstrated that ball possession depends on the evolution of the score-line, with teams having greater possession when they are losing compared to when they are winning or drawing (Lago et al. 2007, 2009). However, some studies have highlighted the importance to consider and examine each team individually since their different identities may moderate the impact of the situational variables (Hughes & Reed, 2005; Collet, 2013). The purpose of this study was to examine the differential effect of the evolving game status in the passing sequences leading to a shot at goal, of four top-level European association football teams.