| Author(s) | Date | Sample | Data Collection | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luhtanen, Belinskij, Häyrinen and Vänttinen | 2001 | 31 matches European Championship 1996 – 2000 | Video analysis | Interceptions and success rate interceptions and defensive actions have highest correlation with final ranking (1996). % Successful passes and % successful goals attempts (2000) |
| Armatas, Yiannakos, Zaggelidis, Skoufas, Papadopoulou and Fragkos | 2009 | 10 seasons second division in Greece | Secondary data | Top ranked less shot per goal, more goals, more shots in penalty area and more assists |
| Oberstone | 2009 | 380 matches in first division England 2007-2008 | Secondary data | Goals per match, number of shots, short passes, total passes, pass completion are higher for better teams; goals conceded per match and fouls are lower for better teams |
| Rampinini, Impellizzeri, Castagna, Coutts and Wisloff | 2009 | 416 matches in first division Italy 2004-2005 | Video analysis | Worse teams more total distance, high-intensity running (>14km/h) and very high intensity running (>19km/h); Top teams more total distance with ball and high intensity running with ball, more short passes, tackles, dribbles, shots and shots on goal |
| Lago-Ballesteros and Lago-Peñas | 2010 | 380 matches in first division Spain 2008-2009 | Secondary data | Top teams more goals, shots and shots on goal; worse teams need more shots per goal |
| Janković, Leontijević, Jelušić, Pašić and Mićović | 2011 | 228 matches in first division Serbia 2009-2010 | Video analysis | Successful attacks (end up with a shot) and pass rate higher for top teams; top teams kick the ball more often form 0-11m to the goal |
| Tenga and Sigmundstad | 2011 | 997 goals from 1922 matches in first division in Norway 2008-2010 | Video analysis | Worst teams less goals through counterattack, less possession with 0-4 passes, less possession for 12 seconds or more and less possession started in the midfield |
| Bekris, Mylonis, Sarakinos, Gissis, Gioldasis and Sotiropoulos | 2013 | 240 matches in first division Greece | Secondary data | Goals per match, shots, shots in penalty area, crosses and assists are higher for top teams; they conceded less shots, shots in penalty area and crosses |
| Vogelbein, Nopp and Hoekelmann | 2014 | 306 matches in first division Germany | Video analysis | Top teams have a faster recovering of ball possession after losing it (defensive reaction time) |