Passes Penetrativos em Futebol: identificação e análise do passe que rompe a linha defensiva adversária

Abstract

The aims of the present work were: (i) to develop an observational instrument for the analysis of the penetrative pass in soccer, understood as a pass in behind the last opponent's defensive line; (ii) characterise the types of penetrative passes and identify the behavioural, structural and interactional variables that induce them; and (iii) identify the actions that precede penetrative passes and their most predominant variables. Following the scanning of the 227 matches of the UEFA Euro 2016, 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, and 2018 FIFA World Cup, 134 offensive sequences ending with a shot on goal preceded by a penetrative pass met the required criteria, and thus were included and subsequently analysed. The first study included in this dissertation identifies the types of penetrative passes that generate more attacking success, as well as their behavioural, structural and interactional variables. The results indicated that short penetrative passes preceded by an individual action, long penetrative passes preceded by an individual action, and short penetrative passes preceded by a collective play were significantly more frequent when compared to the other types of penetrative passes. The central offensive and central ultra-offensive sectors were the ones in which more actions were performed. In general, the rapport of forces between the mid lines of both teams was predominant, and the context of no pressure was more frequent than the context of pressure. The second study sought to identify the actions that preceded the three types of penetrative pass mentioned above, as well as their related variables. Three types of actions occurred more frequently: reception / control of the ball (which preceded the short penetrative pass after an individual action, and the long penetrative pass after individual action); running with the ball (occurred before the short penetrative pass after an individual action) and, finally, the short pass (which preceded the short penetrative pass after collective action). The results of the analysed variables showed that the central corridors of the field concentrated the greatest number of actions, and also presented contexts with no pressure from opponents. We suggest that coaches consider penetrative passes as a key factor for achieving attacking efficacy, and use the contexts presented in this manuscript for designing training activities.