A Pattern of Efficiency of Actions in Soccer Based on Observations of the European Championships 2008 Finals

Background: The purpose of this work was to present a model which shows the efficiency of the actions in the game of soccer, based on observations of 7 final tournament matches during the European Championships in 2008. The successful teams were analyzed from the quarterfinals to the final match. Activity, effectiveness and reliability, during both offensive and defensive actions, were subject to this examination. Material/Methods: The material consisted of the audio-visual records gathered from 7 matches which had been played in the final tournament in the 2008 European Championships. The gathered data was put on the special observation sheet in accordance with the Panfil's design. Results: It has been ascertained that the most effective actions are those of possessing the ball and the actions of gaining the field, while the rate of scoring goals is similar to that which had been observed during finals in other top soccer tournaments. Additionally, in the defensive actions the best players manifest higher reliability in co-operation than in individual actions. Conclusions: In the top-level competitions, group/team actions prevailed over individual ones. The examined players manifested nearly the same efficiency in scoring like those who took part in the finals of the World and continental championships. The players regarded as champions made use of various individual actions against their opponents with a ball, depending on the implemented game tasks. The models which illustrate the efficiency of actions in soccer, at the top-level competition should be used for creating ideal models which will design the game of players of lower sport competence.