In which rounds were the most rotations of key players made, and how did this affect physical activity? Analysis of the eight best teams of the 2018 FIFA world cup Russia

Paweł Chmura; Michał Kołodziejczyk; Marcin Andrzejewski; Jan Chmura; Andrzej Rokita; Adrian Drożdżowski; Krzysztof Maćkała; Marek Konefał

doi:10.1186/s13102-024-00834-4

In which rounds were the most rotations of key players made, and how did this affect physical activity? Analysis of the eight best teams of the 2018 FIFA world cup Russia

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Feb 15;16(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00834-4.

Authors

Paweł Chmura¹, Michał Kołodziejczyk¹, Marcin Andrzejewski², Jan Chmura³, Andrzej Rokita¹, Adrian Drożdżowski⁴, Krzysztof Maćkała⁵, Marek Konefał³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Team Games, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences , I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51612, Wrocław, Poland.
² Department of Methodology of Recreation, Poznań University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61871, Poznań, Poland.
³ Department of Human Motor Skills, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences , I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51612, Wrocław, Poland.
⁴ Department of Team Games, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences , I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51612, Wrocław, Poland. adrian.dro@hotmail.com.
⁵ Department of Track and Field, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences , I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51612, Wrocław, Poland.

Abstract

Background: Team management, especially player selection, rotation, and availability, are critical issues when dealing with the high demands of modern training and gameplay. As such, research continuously seeks ways to improve these actions or implement new ideas to gain a competitive advantage through the rotation of players in the starting line-up. The current study aimed to examine the rounds of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in which the most rotations of key players were made and how this affected physical activity.

Methods: The sample consisted of 110 players from the top eight teams in the 2018 World Cup Russia who played entire matches for up to 90 min in seven consecutive games. All players were divided into key players (KPs, n = 58) and non-key players (NKPs, n = 52). The analysis used data collected by an advanced motion analysis system known as STATS^®, with physical activity variables analyzed, including total distance covered (TDC), distance covered with high intensity over 20 km/h (HIR), and the number of sprints undertaken. In statistical analysis, differences between categories and consecutive matches were calculated using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and if a significant effect size was found, a multiple comparisons p values test was performed.

Results: The best teams at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia used the most KP rotations with NKPs in the third match of the group stage. In addition, this was even more visible among more successful teams than less successful teams. The rotation strategy among the best eight teams allowed them to maintain the physical activity of KPs and NKPs in all rounds of the tournament.

Conclusions: Coaches and coaching staff should incorporate squad rotation that includes a large group of players in their team management to improve their success. Team management expertise in player rotation during matches played over congested schedules at top tournaments maintains high levels of physical activity indicators (TDC, HIR, and sprints).

Keywords: Key players; Match analysis; Match performance; Soccer; Squad rotation; Starting line-up.