| Factors influencing match performance in top-class soccer players |
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Data collected during a season from 20 professional soccer players of a successful team taking part in a major European National League, and reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-final, showed that: 1) Physical performance during a match is related to the activity completed by the opponent team. The players run further total distance and carry out more high-intensity running when playing against higher quality opponents; 2) First half activity influences physical performance in the second half.
The higher the amount of physical work (total distance and high-intensity running) carried out in the first half, the less is the high-intensity activity completed during the second half; 3) Players interaction with the ball is related to their playing position. Forwards covered greater (~64%) high-intensity running with the ball in comparison to full-backs and midfielders (~40%). Recommendations: Fitness training of elite soccer players should focus on improving the players´ ability to repeatedly perform high-intensity work and to recover rapidly from the intense periods in a game. The training should be prescribed individually based on the players’ tactical role in the team and their fitness capacities. Information on the opponent can be used tactically on team and individual level. Rampinini E, Coutts AJ, Castagna C, Sassi R, Impellizzeri FM. Variation in top level soccer match performance. Int J Sports Med. 2007 Dec;28(12):1018-24.
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