The Efficiency of Players of Action-Effective Football Teams in One against One Situations

<bold>Background:</bold> The aim of this study was to identify and compare the efficiency of action-effective football players in one against one situations (1×1).

<bold>Material/Methods:</bold> The game of winning teams' players was observed in four matches and two semi-final meetings of the European Championships tournament in 2004 and 2008. Visual recording was monitored using a freeze-frame function and data about the players' game were recorded on observation sheet by Szwarc. The activity, effectiveness and reliability of individual offensive and defensive actions were estimated.

<bold>Results:</bold> It was found that on average players of the best teams in Europe participated in 216 1×1 battles (from 184 to 273) in one game, with an average reliability of 52%.

<bold>Conclusions:</bold> Furthermore, it was proved that players-champions engaged equally often and with the same effectiveness in both individual defensive measures and offensive actions.