Changes and transformations in soccer over the decades: an analysis based on the technical elements of the game

Authors

  • Heitor Luiz Furtado Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brasil.
  • Juan Wippel Universidade Regional de Blumenau - FURB, Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brasil.
  • Júnior Düngersleber Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brasil.
  • Leonardo Düngersleber Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brasil.

Keywords:

Performance analysis, Technical elements, Football

Abstract

Scientific productions that look at football from the perspective of the elements that make up the game, be they technical, tactical, physical or psychological, have grown in recent years.  The aim of this study is to analyze the FIFA World Cup finals in men's football between 1958 and 2018. Thus, technical information such as passes, shots, crosses, sidesteps, fouls and corners were catalogued. The work was carried out by observing the matches available electronically on the website https://footballia.net/competitions/world-cup, as well as on FIFA's official YouTube channel, followed by cataloging them in a spreadsheet. The results show some patterns of change over the years, such as an increase in the absolute number of passes during matches. On the other hand, there has been a reduction in the number of shots and goals. It can be concluded that over the decades football has undergone technical changes, resulting in an increasingly intense game, a strengthening of defensive phases and a reduction in shots and goals. Further studies are suggested to better understand the sport from its different manifestations.

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Published

2025-05-25

How to Cite

Furtado, H. L., Wippel, J. ., Düngersleber, J. ., & Düngersleber, L. . (2025). Changes and transformations in soccer over the decades: an analysis based on the technical elements of the game. RBFF - Brazilian Journal of Futsal and Football, 17(67), 21–31. Retrieved from https://www.rbff.com.br/index.php/rbff/article/view/1486

Issue

Section

Scientific Articles - Original

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