Parking the bus or high pressing? Defensive tactical insights from the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup Gibson Moreira Praça, Pedro Henrique de Almeida Oliveira, Leandro Henrique Albuquerque Brandão, Cristóvão de Oliveira Abreu, André Gustavo Pereira de Andrade, et al. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part P Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 2026 This study aimed to analyze which defensive performance indicators differentiate winning and losing teams and to verify which of these variables better predict winning probabilities during the Men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup. Data from all 64 matches played during the competition were gathered from public sources. The variables comprised event-based and positional-based data. Data between winning and losing teams were compared using multivariate analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression was used to detect winning predictors. Results indicated that winning teams performed more forced turnovers ( p = 0.017) and spent less time in out-of-possession recovery ( p = 0.005) and transition ( p = 0.017). The regression analysis indicated that the forced turnovers (standardized beta = 0.446), the possession action per defensive action (standardized beta = 0.582), and the time spent in out-of-possession recovery actions (standardized beta = −0.279) significantly predict the goal difference achieved by the teams ( r = 0.499. Adjusted r2 = 0.225). However, the model’s power prediction was low, indicating that multiple defensive strategies can lead to winning outcomes. In conclusion, adopting an aggressive defensive style, aiming at forcing turnovers and seeking to regain the ball high on the pitch, was the most successful defensive strategy observed in the competition.
Novel tactical insights from Men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup: Which performance indicators explain the teams’ goal difference? Gibson Moreira Praça, Leandro Henrique Albuquerque Brandão, Cristóvão de Oliveira Abreu, Pedro Henrique de Almeida Oliveira, André Gustavo Pereira de Andrade Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part P Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 2025 This study examined positional and event-based tactical variables during the Men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup to detect differences between winning and losing teams and to verify which variables would better predict the goal difference between the teams. All 64 matches played during the competition were initially considered. Due to the purpose of the current article, draw matches were excluded from the sample. The data were compared between the match statuses using a MANOVA. A stepwise multiple linear regression was used to detect which variables predict the outcome of the matches. Results indicated differences between winning and losing in Line Breaks per Pass ( p = 0.011), Defensive Line Break per Pass ( p = 0.004), Final Third Phase Height ( p = 0.023), and Width ( p < 0.001). The best predictors of the goal difference were the Final Third Phase Width (standardized beta = −0.389), the Completed Line Breaks (standardized beta = 0.716), and the movements to receive in the progression phase in between (standardized beta = −0.491). It is concluded that positioning the team closer to the central corridor in the last third of the pitch and successfully breaking the defensive lines increases winning probability during the competition.
Internal Focus of Attention did Not Change Muscle Activation and the Rate of Perceived Exertion in Bench Press Exercise in Successive Training Sessions Pedro Henrique Francisco Nascimento, Camila Nepomuceno Caldeira, Rodrigo Cesar Ribeiro Diniz, André Gustavo Pereira de Andrade, Mauro Heleno Chagas, et al. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2025 This study analyzed the effect of internal focus of attention (IF) on electromyographic activity (EMG) and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in successive training sessions. Thirteen volunteers performed 4 sessions on the bench press with 3 sets of 8 repetitions and 90-s rest at 50% of one repetition maximum. The first session consisted of performing the protocol without IF and the following sessions with internal focus to the pectoralis major (PM). For the EMG signal analysis of the PM and triceps brachii (TB), ANOVA two-way with repeated measures was performed. The activation ratio (AR) PM/TB was analyzed using a ANOVA one-way with repeated measures, and for RPE, the Friedman non-parametric test was performed. No differences were found in the EMG of both muscles between sessions ( p = .695), indicating no cumulative increase in EMG and also no differences in the AR throughout the sessions ( p = .937). No effects were observed ( p = .743) on RPE throughout the sessions. The results demonstrated that the instruction to direct the focus did not result in changes in EMG activity or RPE. The subjects’ previous experience with IF in their training routines and the way the instructions were given could justify the absence of differences between the tested conditions.
Integrating notational and positional analysis to investigate tactical behavior in offensive and defensive phases of football matches Gibson Moreira Praça, Pedro Emílio Drumond Moreira, André Gustavo Pereira de Andrade, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Warlen Borges de Oliveira, et al. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part P Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 2025 Most literature has neglected the possible influence of game phase – offensive and defensive – on players’ and teams’ behaviors measured by positional data. Also, the combined effect of contextual variables – match period, match venue, and match outcome – and game phases has not been investigated yet. Therefore, this study aimed to integrate notational and positional analysis to investigate individual and collective tactical behavior in different game phases (offensive and defensive) in football matches under different contextual conditions. The sample comprised 18 matches played by 24 U-20 elite Brazilian athletes during the 2021 national championship. The authors designed a notational system to classify the start and the end of the offensive phase (and consequently, the defensive phase of the opposing team). The positional data was gathered through global positioning system devices and manually integrated with the notational analysis. Contextual variables comprised match period (first vs second halves), match venue (home vs away matches), and match outcome (win vs draw versus lose matches). Results showed significant differences between game phases, with a more spread tactical positioning observed in the offensive phase. Furthermore, interactions between contextual variables and the game phase were observed, although the game phase presented the highest impact on the dependent variables. We conclude that a more spread tactical positioning characterizes offensive behavior and that the impact of the game phase was higher than contextual variables on tactical behavior, which emphasizes the need for future studies to split positional data into attacking and defensive ones. Also, integrating notational and positional analysis are a viable alternative to enrich the data interpretation of football matches concerning the influence of game phases on players’ and teams’ behaviors.
Comment on: influence of the time-task constraint on ocular metrics of semi-elite soccer Gibson Moreira Praça, André Gustavo Pereira de Andrade Science and Medicine in Football, 2025 This letter offers a constructive review of the article 'Influence of the time-task constraint on ocular metrics of semi-elite soccer' by Luis-del Campo et al. (2023), focusing on methodological considerations and avenues for future research enhancement. The study investigates the impact of task constraints on eye-tracking metrics among semi-elite soccer players, aiming to gauge mental workload during training sessions. While the study presents valuable insights, there are opportunities for methodological refinement. Suggestions include emphasizing sample size determination, randomization of the experimental conditions, and employing robust statistical analyses to mitigate potential biases. Moreover, future studies could benefit from integrating external load measures alongside heart rate monitoring to comprehensively assess training task variations. Despite these considerations, the study underscores the promising application of eye-tracking techniques in evaluating mental workload during soccer training, paving the way for further exploration and refinement of methodologies to enhance player performance assessment and training optimization in the field.
The gold rush in para swimming: changes in the speed curve of a visually impaired world and paralympic champion–a case study Augusto C. Barbosa, Leonardo Tomasello Araújo, Leonardo Vecchi Leis, Thiago Fernando Lourenço, Renato Barroso, et al. Sports Biomechanics, 2025 This case study examined the association between 50 m freestyle and speed curve parameters of a world-class Paralympic swimmer and analysed the changes in speed curves and their frequency components across her performance levels. From 2018 to 2021, a visually impaired female swimmer (26.59 s in 50 m freestyle, S12 class) underwent 22 tests to obtain instantaneous speed synchronised with video recording. She regularly performed 50 m freestyle in competitions and time trials. The fast Fourier transformation method converted the speed signal into frequency domains and determined the relative contribution of the harmonics with two maxima and minima (H2, arms actions) and six maxima and minima (H6, legs actions). The functional paired t-test compared the speed curves at the beginning (PRE) and end (POST) of the analysed period. The 50 m freestyle time correlated with average speed (r = -0.50, p = 0.02). The contribution of H6 increased in the first year and remained large, whereas the contribution of H2 was lower throughout the whole period. POST was faster than PRE in five moments that coincide with the downward leg kick moments. These changes allowed her to stay longer at the upper part of the curve and improve performance over time.
Impact of preferred music on angular kinematics during running in recreational runners: a functional analysis A de Almeida Machado, AGP de Andrade, AP Silvatti Revista Brasileira de Educação Física e Esporte 40, e40241914-e40241914 , 2026 2026
Novel tactical insights from Men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup: Which performance indicators explain the teams’ goal difference? GM Praça, LHA Brandão, C de Oliveira Abreu, PHA Oliveira, ... Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of … , 2025 2025 Citations: 15
Comment on: influence of the time-task constraint on ocular metrics of semi-elite soccer GM Praça, AGP de Andrade Science and Medicine in Football 9 (3), 337-339 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Influencia da musica nas variaveis espaco-temporais da corrida. JCS Martins, A de Almeida Machado, AGP de Andrade, AP Silvatti Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior 19 (S2), 97-98 , 2025 2025
Integrating notational and positional analysis to investigate tactical behavior in offensive and defensive phases of football matches GM Praça, PED Moreira, AGP de Andrade, FM Clemente, WB de Oliveira, ... Proceedings of the institution of mechanical engineers, Part P: Journal of … , 2025 2025 Citations: 31
Time course of Quadriceps thickness changes over six months post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Unveiling critical impairments in vastii muscles C De la Fuente, R Silvestre, E Martinez-Valdes, R Yañez, F Abat, A Neira, ... Journal of Biomechanics 184, 112664 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Número actual F Martínez Universitas (León) 46, 19 , 2025 2025
Implantação de agroflorestas como ferramenta agroecológica da extensão rural no município de José Boiteux, Santa Catarina, Brasil DI Souza, M Melo, A Andrade, ME Lunelli, KY Vieira Cadernos de Agroecologia 19 (1) , 2024 2024
Thermopixelgraphy: a new method for analyzing the skin temperature of the lower limbs through infrared thermography A de Andrade Fernandes, JCB Marins, AGP de Andrade, ... Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 149 (22), 12737-12745 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
Impact of different training protocols on muscle synergism in maximal and submaximal strength tests in bench press exercise: Original article-e235589-Published 2024, Oct 1st DC Teixeira, AGP de Andrade, HC Martins-Costa, LT Lacerda, ... Revista Brasileira de Fisiologia do Exercício 23 (2), e235589-e235589 , 2024 2024
Strength Training with Same Ranges of Motion at Different Muscle Lengths does not Change Muscle Activation among Synergist Muscles FV Lima, MR Pereira, GF Pedrosa, RCR Diniz, MR Vilela, MH Chagas, ... Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal 14 (3) , 2024 2024
Quantifying within-matches tactical behaviors using position data and notational analysis in soccer: the effect of goal scoring G Moreira Praça, L Brandão, FA Moura, BLS Bedo, R Aquino, ... Kinesiology 56 (1), 53-60 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Electromyographic activity and perceived exertion during the performance of a training protocol with internal focus direction in the bench press exercise PHF Nascimento, MB Lanza, AGP Andrade, CN Caldeira, RCR Diniz, ... 2024
A new approach to quantify asymmetry in human movement AGP de Andrade, FP Carpes Journal of Biomechanics 170, 112158 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Effects of triceps surae exercise-induced delayed onset muscle soreness on control of body stability in different postures MA Dos Santos, AL Lemos, MS Machado, L de OC Lazaro, MM Paz, ... Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 76, 102882 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Simultaneous in-air and underwater 3D kinematic analysis of swimmers: Feasibility and reliability of action sport cameras GR Dalla Bernardina, AGP de Andrade, T Monnet, P Cerveri, AP Silvatti Journal of Biomechanics 168, 112078 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Local experience of laboratory activities in a BS physical therapy course: integrating sEMG and kinematics technology with active learning across six cohorts C De la Fuente, A Neira, ÁS Machado, M Delgado-Bravo, MR Kunzler, ... Frontiers in Neurology 15, 1377222 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Impact of puberty on the correlation between strength and speed levels in young futsal players SL Maranhão, M Uberaba J. Phys. Educ. Sport 24, 605-613 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Multidimensional analysis of players’ responses in basketball small-sided games: The impact of changing game rules SGT Bredt, DS Camargo, JO Torres, GM Praça, AGP de Andrade, ... International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching 18 (5), 1501-1512 , 2023 2023 Citations: 18
Effects of resistance training of upper limb and trunk muscles on soccer instep kick kinematics MA de Assis, TRT Santos, ST Fonseca, AGP de Andrade, PA Araújo, ... Journal of Applied Biomechanics 39 (4), 254-263 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Analysis of lower limb asymmetries by isokinetic and vertical jump tests in soccer players HJ Menzel, MH Chagas, LA Szmuchrowski, SRS Araujo, AGP de Andrade, ... The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 27 (5), 1370-1377 , 2013 2013 Citations: 382
More electricity in the air: Toward optimized electrical networks embedded in more-electrical aircraft X Roboam, B Sareni, A De Andrade IEEE industrial electronics magazine 6 (4), 6-17 , 2012 2012 Citations: 331
Understanding player load: Meanings and limitations SGT Bredt, MH Chagas, GH Peixoto, HJ Menzel, AGP de Andrade Journal of human kinetics 71, 5 , 2020 2020 Citations: 153
Influence of match status on players’ prominence and teams’ network properties during 2018 FIFA World Cup GM Praça, BB Lima, SGT Bredt, RBE Sousa, FM Clemente, AGP Andrade Frontiers in Psychology 10, 695 , 2019 2019 Citations: 68
Network analysis in small-sided and conditioned soccer games: the influence of additional players and playing position GM Praça, FM Clemente, AGP de Andrade, JCP Morales, PJ Greco Kinesiology 49 (2), 185-193 , 2017 2017 Citations: 68
Validação das propriedades psicométricas do RESTQ-Coach na versão brasileira VT Costa, CMA Gomes, AGP Andrade, DM Samulski Motriz: Revista de Educação Física 18 (2), 218-232 , 2012 2012 Citations: 67
Small-sided soccer games with larger relative areas result in higher physical and physiological responses: a systematic and meta-analytical review GM Praça, MH Chagas, SGT Bredt, AGP de Andrade Journal of human kinetics 81, 163 , 2022 2022 Citations: 55
Physical and physiological demands of basketball small-sided games: the influence of defensive and time pressures S Bredt, J Torres, L Diniz, GM Praça, A Andrade, J Morales, T Rosso, ... Biology of Sport 37 (2), 131-138 , 2020 2020 Citations: 55
Longer repetition duration increases muscle activation and blood lactate response in matched resistance training protocols HC Martins-Costa, RCR Diniz, FV Lima, SC Machado, RSV Almeida, ... Motriz: Revista de Educação Física 22 (1), 35-41 , 2016 2016 Citations: 54
Influence of additional players on collective tactical behavior in small-sided soccer games GM Praça, H Folgado, AGP Andrade, PJ Greco Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano 18 (1), 62-71 , 2016 2016 Citations: 53
Can motivation and overtraining predict burnout in professional soccer athletes in different periods of the season? LHS Fagundes, F Noce, MR Albuquerque, AGP de Andrade, ... International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 19 (2), 279-294 , 2021 2021 Citations: 51
Tactical behavior in soccer small-sided games: influence of tactical knowledge and numerical superiority GM Praça, CLA Costa, FF Costa, AGP Andrade Journal of Physical Education 27 , 2017 2017 Citations: 35
Reliability of physical, physiological and tactical measures in small-sided soccer Games with numerical equality and numerical superiority SGT Bredt, GM Praça, LS Figueiredo, LV Paula, PCR Silva, AGP Andrade, ... Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano 18, 602-610 , 2016 2016 Citations: 35
How reaching the pitch's final third is related to scoring opportunities in soccer? JPA Guimarães, M Rochael, AGP de Andrade, SGT Bredt, GM Praça Retos: nuevas tendencias en educación física, deporte y recreación, 171-176 , 2022 2022 Citations: 32
Integrating notational and positional analysis to investigate tactical behavior in offensive and defensive phases of football matches GM Praça, PED Moreira, AGP de Andrade, FM Clemente, WB de Oliveira, ... Proceedings of the institution of mechanical engineers, Part P: Journal of … , 2025 2025 Citations: 31
Brain temperature in spontaneously hypertensive rats during physical exercise in temperate and warm environments LR Drummond, AC Kunstetter, FF Vaz, HO Campos, AGP Andrade, ... PLoS One 11 (5), e0155919 , 2016 2016 Citations: 31
Multi-level integrated optimal design for power systems of more electric aircraft H Ounis, B Sareni, X Roboam, A De Andrade Mathematics and computers in simulation 130, 223-235 , 2016 2016 Citations: 28
Correlation between running asymmetry, mechanical efficiency, and performance during a 10 km run CC Melo, FP Carpes, TM Vieira, TT Mendes, LV de Paula, MH Chagas, ... Journal of Biomechanics 109, 109913 , 2020 2020 Citations: 27
Estudio longitudinal de la flexibilidad funcional en mayores físicamente activos M Matos-Duarte, V Martínez-de-Haro, I Sanz-Arribas, AGP Andrade, ... Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del … , 2017 2017 Citations: 27
TDCS of the primary motor cortex: Learning the absolute dimension of a complex motor task JO Parma, VLS Profeta, AGP Andrade, GM Lage, T Apolinário-Souza Journal of Motor Behavior 53 (4), 431-444 , 2021 2021 Citations: 26