Analysis of Goals Scored that Discriminated Between Winning and Losing Teams in EURO 2012

Abstract

The objective of current study was to investigate the differences of winning and losing teams in terms of goal scoring and other selected performance indicators. A total number of 31 matches from UEFA-EURO 2012 were analyzed, and 5 matches were excluded from analysis due to matches end up drawn. There are five group of variables that was selected as performance indicators which include the possession (how possession gained and where possession gained), touches, types of shot used and also the directions of the shots in scoring goal. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test with significant value was set at p\0.05. The intercept (Z = -2.859, p\0.05), corner (Z = -2.126, p\0.05), poor passing (Z = -2.126, p\0.05), poor control (Z = -3.000, p\0.05) and the goalkeeper distribution (Z = -2.236, p\0.05) resulted in significant difference in how the possession was gained and the possession was significantly gained at first quarter (Z = -2.449, p\0.05), second quarter (Z = -2.309, p\0.05), third quarter (Z = -2.804, p\0.05), and fourth quarter (Z = -2.739, p\0.05). The winning teams preferred to use 2 touches or less, and they preferred to use driven shot, and inside shot in scoring goal (p\0.05). Regarding the directions of the shot, more goals were scored at lower sections of the goals, either left or right. It can be concluded that the winning teams have significant higher performance indicators in goal scoring compared to losing teams.