UEFA UNDER 21s CHAMPIONSHIP

SWEDEN 2009
CHRIS SULLEY
PAUL BOANAS, KIMBERLEY STAFFORD

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

HOST NATION:

GOTEBORG
HALMSTAD
HELSINGBORG
MALMO
Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

8 TEAMS COMPETING:

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

BACKGROUND:

Playoffs
England beat Wales 5-4.
Germany beat France 2-1.
Italy beat Israel 3-1.
Spain beat Switzerland 4-3.
Sweden qualified as hosts.

1. Belarus 21 yrs and 8 mths

2. Finland 21 yrs and 8 mths

Players DoB 1986so actually u23

tournament.

3. Spain 21 yrs and 7 mths

4. Italy 21 yrs and 5 mths
5. Germany 21 yrs and 4 mths
6. Sweden - 21 yrs and 4 mths
7. England 20 yrs and 11 mths
8. Serbia 20 yrs and 11 mths
Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

PURPOSE:

To study the teams looking for trends

and traits in the four domains of technical,
tactical, physical and psychological

Delivering Performance Insights

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

England 4-1-4-1 to 4-1-2-3

2

14

18
1

12
17
10
19
7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 20
16 22 5
Private
& Confidential
Delivering
Insights
1213
141516171819
20 21 22 23
8 3 13 15
21 23Performance
11

Finland 4-4-1-1 to 4-1-2-3

7

4
8
9

11
6

16

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Private
& Confidential
1213
141516171819
20 21 22 23

20

18 12

22

19

Delivering
13 15
21 23Performance
14 10 17Insights

Germany 4-4-2 and 4-3-3

10

20

5
1

11

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Private
& Confidential
1213
141516171819
20 21 22 23

21

12 23 16

22 17 18

Delivering
3 13 15
7 14 Performance
19 Insights

Spain 4-5-1 to 4-3-3

22

12

11

5
18

19

1
16

8
3

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Private
& Confidential
1213
141516171819
20 21 22 23

20 4

7 6

17

Delivering
Insights
13 15
21 23Performance
14 9

Italy 4-3-3 to attack 4-1-2-3

20
2
8
3
9

21
15
11

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6
Private
& Confidential
1213
141516171819
20 21 22 23

7 1217 16
13

22 5 19

Delivering
Insights
14 23Performance
18

Belarus 4-4-2
7

10

21

18
1

11

15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 20
14
Private
& Confidential
1213
141516171819
20 21 22 23
8 3 13

16

22

19

Delivering
12 23Performance
17 Insights

Serbia 4-diamond-2
14
3

11

15
4

7
16

10
17
5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 20 12 19
22 9 2
Private
& Confidential
1213
141516171819
20 21 22 23
8
13 Delivering
21 23Performance
18 Insights

Sweden 4-4-2 to 4-2-4

18

13

3
1

19

20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6
1714 16 22
Private
& Confidential
Delivering
1213
141516171819
20 21 22 23
8 10
15
21 23Performance
11 12 Insights

TECHNICAL
TRENDS:

Most teams were comfortable in possession

Euro U21s 341 passes, 81%.
Euro 2008 - 320 passes, 84%.
FAPL 2009 298 passes, 81%.
Most teams had a Central Defender(s) who
was able to come out of defence with the
ball.
Most teams had a Quarter Back central
midfielder with good range of passing
[Sparv Finland, Cigarini - Italy].
Most teams had a dribbler.

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

TACTICAL
TRENDS:

Private & Confidential

All the teams played with a back four.

One or 2 defensive central midfield
players.
Teams defend deep generally.
Attacking fullbacks.
Wide players came off the line to join in
central areas.
One central striker.
Counter attack from different areas.
Attacking Set play i.e. Long throw.
Defending set plays teams mixed up zonal
and man for man marking.

Delivering Performance Insights

PHYSICAL
TRENDS:

Most teams had at least four outfield

players over 6.
Most teams had pace in wide areas.
Tempo of most games was slow, slow,
quick, quick, slow (fox trot).
Most teams maintained a good level of
fitness throughout the whole game.

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

PSYCHOLOGICAL TRENDS:
The starting 10 outfield players warmed
up together and the subs warmed up as
another group.
Most teams had a team huddle just before
kick off.
Most teams were looking to counter
attack.
Cultural traits impact on game play
mentality.
Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

KEY
PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS:

Average age of squads?

Is possession in itself a KPI?
Pace in the team especially in wide
areas.
First team domestic experience?
England far more and at a higher level
What have the players been doing prior
to tournament? Ie England as opposed
to Sweden?
England and German domestic seasons ended
23/24 May
Italy, Spain and Serbia 30/31 May
Belarus, Finland and Sweden play summer
seasons

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

GOAL TIMES:

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

HOW GOALS WERE

SCORED:
Set plays 15 goals [39% of total]
FK shots = 3
FK crosses = 3
Penalties = 3
Corners = 6 [4 in-swinging and 2 out-swinging]
Open play 23 goals [61% of total]
Cross = 3
Pass = 17
Other [e.g. O.G.] = 3

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

PER GAME STATISTICS [BOTH TEAMS

COMBINED]:
Goals per game
Euro U21s 2.5 goals.
FAPL 2009 3 goals.

Tackles per game

Euro U21s 63 tackles.
FAPL 2009 61 tackles.

Shots per game

Euro U21s 25 shots.
FAPL 2009 29 shots.

Blocks per game

Euro U21s 35 blocks.
FAPL 2009 31 blocks.

Crosses per game

Euro U21s 23 crosses.
FAPL 2009 29 crosses.

Fouls per game

Euro U21s 31 fouls.
FAPL 2009 26 fouls.

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

CONCLUSIONS:
Nothing we have not seen beforeand
the cultural influences on the way
teams play is apparent
Possession is not always a good
indicator for winning games
Set plays still play a significant role in
deciding games.

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights

To read more visit

www.prozonesports.com/news
for further insightsplease email
insight@prozonesports.com
chris.sulley@btinternet.com

Private & Confidential

Delivering Performance Insights