TECHNICAL
REPORT
WWW .NZFOOTBAL L.CO.NZ
TECHNICAL
REPORT
CONTEXT
New Zealand was selected to host the 2015 FIFA U20
Men’s World Cup. This is the second biggest FIFA football
event and this presented New Zealand Football with
a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to analyse a major
football tournament with the major nations and best young
talent from the world in attendance. New Zealand Football
assembled a Technical Study Group to observe all fixtures
and record relevant findings.
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FIFA U20 WORLD CUP TECHNICAL REVIEW
The Technical Study Group (TSG) was formed primarily
to investigate and gather invaluable data. However the
FIFA U20 World Cup also allowed the circumstances to
provide our Technical Staff and proactive coaches with an
opportunity to take an active role during the tournament.
The aim was to utilize the experience, support the
development of the coaching workforce and engender
a culture of engagement. The process allowed the
participants to:
•
•
•
•
•
Analyse Football
Correlate Data
Submit Reports
Gain Tournament analysis experience
Experience World Standards (International Football)
It was hoped that the information obtained would help
inform football development programmes in New Zealand,
ensuring that they are relevant to the modern game. Trends
identified could reinforce and/or alter the playing style of
New Zealand Football and also our approach to developing
players and coaches.
New Zealand Football would like to acknowledge the
work of Alan Walker, Football Development Manager with
Mainland Football in co-ordinating this project, as well
as all other Member Federation staff and coaches who
contributed to the success of the research.
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THE REASON
THE DATA
If the game at the highest level is changing, player
development programmes (aimed at producing future
players) need to also change accordingly. The key is not
to be reactive but be able to predict what the game will
look like in the future. Changes could occur across all four
of New Zealand Football’s “Phases of Development”, to
ensure that players produced have acquired the attributes
to play the game at the highest level.
The study was focused on two particular areas:
1
How are where goals are scored
2
How and where goals are created
GOALS SCORED FROM NO
MORE THAN 23 YARDS OUT
(INCL. SET PLAYS)
Based on analysis of previous major tournaments, New
Zealand Football has identified trends from which it has
developed its current National Playing Style and Team Model.
91%
As shown in the diagrams, analysis from the most recent
Men’s FIFA World Cups shows that most goals are scored
within 23-yards of the goal in central areas.
130 GOALS
Analysing how teams score and prevent goals can help
determine how the game is developing. Goals are the
result of a team being successful in possession or
unsuccessful out of possession. If there are particular
methods and styles used that are resulting in more
goals being scored, it is key to recognise this to inform
football development programmes.
95%
165 GOALS
New Zealand Football sought to test this data, determine
if a similar picture emerged from the U20 World Cup and
look in further detail in to how goals are scored and created:
Therefore analysis focused on:
• The Goal Scoring Position
• The type of action leading to a goal
• Where the final action took place leading a goal
• The type of action preceding an effort on goal
• Where the action preceding the final action took place
When referring to an “action”, this means the type of
football movement that has been performed by a footballer
– i.e Header, Shot, Dribbling etc.
New Zealand Football hopes to gain a better insight into the
type of collective and individual actions required to create
and score goals to help refine the National Philosophy,
Playing Style and ensure our players can play ‘the game of
the future’.
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FIFA U20 WORLD CUP TECHNICAL REVIEW
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THE STAFF
The Technical Study Group (TSG) was formed using members
of New Zealand Football, the seven regional Football
Federations and proactive coaches identified in each region.
Led by the TSG Director, the staff involved were as below:
TSG ANALYSTS ASSIGNED TO EACH VENUE WERE:
TSG DIRECTOR:
•Wellington: Des Buckingham, James Webb,
Natalie Lawrence, Sam Blackburn, Tim Bush
• Alan Walker (Football Development Manager at
Mainland Football Federation)
TSG COORDINATOR AT EACH HOSTING VENUE:
• Brett Angell for matches at New Plymouth
• Des Buckingham for matches at Wellington
• Martin Bullock for matches at Auckland and Whangarei
• Ken Cresswell for matches at Hamilton
• Shane Carvell for matches at Dunedin
• Alan Walker for matches at Christchurch
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THE PROCESS
FIFA U20 WORLD CUP TECHNICAL REVIEW
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• New Plymouth: Brett Angell, Mick Curry,
Andrew Moore, Symon Buffoni, Scott Hales,
Matt Kilsby, Ian McGrath
•Hamilton: Ken Cresswell, Barry Gardiner, Peter Smith,
Scott Parsonage, Juan Propato, Alec Wilson, Joe Dixon, Allan Jones
•Auckland: Martin Bullock, Brenda Kerr, Andy Boyens,
Carl Edwards, Laura Baxter
•Whangarei: Martin Bullock, Dan Johnston, Mike Haddleton, Mark Lett, Chris Bell
Two TSG analysts attended each game of the FIFA U20 World
Cup and undertook in-game notational analysis, focusing on:
3
Analysis was communicated to the venue TSG coordinator,
then collated and submitted to the TSG director.
•Goals
4
• Actions leading to a Goal or an effort on Goal
The TSG Director then tabulated the final data for NZF
Technical Director, Rob Sherman, to write findings and
produce the report.
Recordings were then confirmed by reviewing the match
video footage, ensuring that data taken was accurate.
Information obtained related to:
NZF would like to thank FIFA Local Organising Committee and
FIFA for supporting the study and accrediting all personnel to
undertake the role.
• Efforts on goal
2
•Goals
• Efforts on goal
• Actions leading to a Goal or an effort on Goal
•Dunedin: Shane Carvell, Dave Martin Chambers,
Hayley Stirling, Kevin Scoullar, Richard Kerr-Bell
•Christchurch: Paul Bateson, Korouch Monsef, Cvetan Ivanov, Mike de Bono, Gareth Turnbull, Xavier Morin
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FINDINGS OVERVIEW
GOALS
WHERE THE GOALS WERE SCORED
29%
81%
93%
GOALS SCORED IN THE
6 YARD AREA
GOALS SCORED IN THE
PENALTY AREA
GOALS SCORED WITHIN THE
PENALTY AREA WIDTH
UP TO 23 YARDS OUT
(including 6% penalties)
By looking at the data from the U20 World Cup in more
detail and scrutinizing the goals scored outside of the
penalty box we discover that 93% of goals were scored
with 23 yards of the Goal. This is consistent with the two
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FIFA U20 WORLD CUP TECHNICAL REVIEW
previous men’s tournaments in that most goals are scored in
the central area within 23-yards from goal. This emphasizes
how important it is to be able to get the ball and a player
into this 23-yard area in a position to score a goal.
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HOW WERE THE GOALS SCORED?
WHAT DID THE FINAL ACT LOOK LIKE?
Given the limited time and space available in a goal scoring
position it is understandable that a higher percentage of
goals are scored on one touch. Therefore it is essential a
player possesses a range of techniques, which allow them to
score on a one-touch finish. They must be able to time their
movement to arrive in a position ahead of an opponent, at
the same time as the ball, strike the ball cleanly (with head
or foot) and accurately hit the target.
It is evident that short to medium passes (<30m) are more
effective in creating goals. Therefore teams need to be able to
progress the ball in a controlled way into a passing range (30m
or less) to consistently create goal-scoring opportunities.
This also necessitates the ability of the ball carrier to play
accurate passes for players to run onto either through
incisive ‘killer’ balls, cuts backs or crosses. Players also
need to be able to position and anticipate rebounds and
deflections to capitalise on goal scoring opportunities that
simply come about from the chaos in the box.
71% of goals are scored low (at the bottom of the goal)
where the keeper has to re-adjust more and is less able to
use their hands to stop the ball.
that young players are developed who can use a range
of striking techniques (including heading) and improvise
to create a strike on goal. Coaches should provide many
opportunities for players to shoot at goal during practice.
It is therefore vital that players are able to keep the ball low
and conversely goalkeepers are able to use their body, feet
and hands to protect the Goal.
32% of goals were scored with the instep and 20% were
driven with the laces. However a range of techniques are
required to successfully hit the target, it is therefore vital
However teams must also be able to identify when to play
the longer ball that can effectively place a player in a scoring
position. In both cases, a forward looking and forward
running mentality is crucial.
The key is EFFECTIVE POSSESSION that takes advantage
of the situation the game presents.
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FIFA U20 WORLD CUP TECHNICAL REVIEW
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EFFORTS ON GOAL
LEAD UP
WHAT ABOUT EFFORTS ON GOAL?
HOW WERE EFFORTS ON GOAL CREATED?
To determine how effective teams are we looked at how many times the ball and a player got into the goal-scoring position. If teams
managed to do this and an effort at goal was taken, the success, type and position of the effort was recorded. An “effort” is defined as
actions taken by a player to attempt to score a goal in live play, and do not include penalty kicks or own goals.
WHERE EFFORTS WERE CREATED
WHERE EFFORTS WERE CONVERTED
The diagrams below shows the percentage of efforts that were converted into goals. Data recorded informs us that teams were
twice as likely to score from inside the 23 yard box, as opposed to outside.
18%
EFFORTS CONVERTED
INSIDE THE 23 YARD ZONE
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FIFA U20 WORLD CUP TECHNICAL REVIEW
9%
EFFORTS CONVERTED
OUTSIDE THE 23 YARD ZONE
47%
EFFORTS CREATED
IN THE 23 YARD ZONE
67.4%
92%
EFFORTS CREATED
IN THE 23 YARD ZONE, WITHIN
THE FULL WIDTH OF THE PITCH
EFFORTS CREATED
IN THE FINAL 3RD
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CONCLUSION
Our findings reaffirms previous analysis and supports the
premise that getting the ball and a player into a goal scoring
position (the 23 yard zone) is a vital factor to winning
games. It also confirms that the best way of progressing
the ball and positioning players is best achieved through an
effective possession based style of play.
Many of the goal scoring opportunities were created by
players who are in a position to play passes of less than 30
metres to someone in a position to score. A high percentage
of these preceding actions (67.4%) are executed in the
full-width of the 23 yard zone. However it is evident that
progressing the ball in a controlled manner into the final
3rd is a fundamental of successful football
These findings also emphasize the need to try and prevent
the opponent from getting a player and the ball into the goal
scoring zone. The best way of doing this is to try and win the
ball as far away from this area as possible and in doing so to
be able to play a quick short pass into this key zone. Thus
the need to try and win the ball as close to the opponent’s
goal as possible and transition quickly is crucial.
The analysis of actions preceding a goal highlights the need
for players to have a full range of attacking and defending
skills. By definition a skilful player is one who can perceive
the situation then decide and execute the appropriate
action consistently. Therefore we need to develop players
with a full range striking the ball skills, with the ability to run
with the ball and combine with teammates to create goal
scoring opportunities.
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FIFA U20 WORLD CUP TECHNICAL REVIEW
TEAM MODEL
These TSG findings underpin our National Playing Style and
our Team Model:
PLAYING STYLE STATEMENT
“A proactive, effective, based style
of attacking play using controlled,
incisive possession along with
individual and combination play to
create and score goals.
Underpinned by a quick transition
mentality and defending through
aggressive collective, intelligent
pressing.
The point of difference is our
superior team culture and traditional
Kiwi strengths combined with astute
tactical cohesion.”
MAIN
MOMENT
ATTACKING
TRANSITION
TO DEFEND
Key
Principle
Controlled and
Incisive Possession
Press the ball
immediately
Combination Play
Prevent forward
passing
Individual Play
TRANSITION
TO ATTACK
DEFENDING
Win the ball back
as close to the
opponent’s goal as
possible
Quickly into
defending positions
Quick forward
passing and
movement
Deny time and space
Limit goal scoring
opportunities
Team Task
Fundamental Tasks to make the key principles happen
Player Task
General and Specific tasks given to players to help achieve the team task
ATTACKING
Player Actions
Quickly into
attacking positions
DEFENDING
Striking the Ball
Pressing
Receiving the Ball
Marking
Travelling with the Ball
Tackling
1v1s
Intercepting
Based on the objective data gathered during the U20 world
Cup and supported by previous analysis it is clear that the
NZF National Curriculum is highly relevant and articulates
a modern and futuristic approach to play and develop
football players for the game of tomorrow.
Players of tomorrow will need to possess acute game
awareness and the skills required to consistently make
decisions and execute football actions in limited time and
space. New Zealand Football’s staged development approach
utilizing the Skill Acquisition phase and Game Training Phase
is designed specifically to support players in this process.
NZF will continue to shape the direction and content of its
Coach Education and Player Development programs, based
on comprehensive research of world trends, to predict and
lead the direction of the development of the game.
Rob Sherman
Technical Director
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New Zealand Football would like to thank the following organisation for
their invaluable support of Football in New Zealand.
WWW.NZFOOTBALL.CO.NZ