Michalis Mitrotasios¹, Alliance Kubayi², Vasilis Armatas¹, Paul Larkin³

¹National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Athens, Greece
²Tshwane University of Technology, Department of Sport, Rehabilitation and Dental Sciences, Pretoria, South Africa
³Victoria University, Institute for Health and Sport, Melbourne, Australia

Analysis of Crossing Opportunities at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2022, 11(1), 43-52 | DOI: 10.26773/mjssm.220305

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate open-play crosses at the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament, with spe- cific reference to the mechanism and match status of the crosses. Descriptive statistics (i.e., frequency counts and percentages) and chi-square tests of association were used to analyse the data. The study observed a total of 949 crosses, resulting in 20 goals scored (2.1%). Descriptive statistics highlighted that offensive teams had more goal-scor- ing attempts when they used counter-attacks (18.6%) compared to organized (18.2%) and direct (10.9%) attacks. A greater number of goal-scoring attempts were observed when teams used out-swinging crosses (17.4%) as opposed to in-swinging (15%) and straight (13.5%) crosses. There was a significant (p < 0.05) association between the type of attack and match status. Winning teams preferred to adopt a counter-attacking style of play; losing teams used more direct attacking strategies, and drawing teams utilized more organized attacks. Losing teams took the highest number of crosses from Zones 1 (61.1%) and 2 (56.7%) compared to other zones. These findings provide practical implications for football coaches to tailor match tactics to replicate crossing scenarios at international competitions.

Keywords

cross outcome, match status, attacking, goal-scoring

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