Stats From World Cup 2002
Any national soccer team manager or coach hoping
to lift the 2006 FIFA World Cup trophy in Germany should study
the goal scoring statistics of the teams that took part in the
17th edition of the competition held in South Korea and Japan in
2002.
- Thirty-two teams played a total of 64
matches scoring 161 goals.
- An average of 2.52 goals per match were
scored.
- There were more goals per match in the
preliminary phase (2.71) compared to the knock out phase
(1.88).
- 76.4% of the goals originated from the
foot, while 23.6% were scored via headers.
- 85.5% of the goals scored originated in
the penalty area while 14.3% came from outside the penalty
box.
- 79.5% of goals were scored on a first
touch basis, while dribbling and two/three touches led to
5.6% and 14.9% of the goals, respectively.
- Free play yielded 71.4% of the goals.
- Strikers scored 60.3% of the total goals.
- Scoring peaked between the 76th and the
90th minutes of matches.
Now you know.
Hold the strikers back until the last quarter of an hour - then
push them into the box.
Simple really.
Source: African Journal for Physical,
Health Education, Recreation and Dance. |
