Formation and attacking strategy between winning and losing team in EURO 2016 / Muhammad Amirul Adha Azahar

The purpose of the study was to investigate the differences of attacking strategy and formation used between winning and losing team in EURO 2016. Total of 37 matches were selected from 51 matches that excluding the draw matches. Attacking crossing, shot to the goal, area of goal shot inside penalty box, area of goal post shot and formation were six indicators chose to define the differences. Mann Whitney-U test was used to define the differences between winning and losing team with significant value was set up at p < 0.05. Successful crossing from the right (Z= -3.579, p < 0.05) and successful crossing from the left (Z = -3.771, p < 0.05) were highest ball crossed from the players. Successful shot inside penalty box (Z = -4.375, p < 0.05) was highest shot to the goal which not too near from goal keeper and not too far from goal post. Shot area to the goal A (Z = -2.318, p < 0.05), shot area B (Z = -4.607, p < 0.05), shot area E (Z = -3.009, p < 0.05), shot area F (Z = -1.999, p < 0.05) and shot area to the goal E was the highest shot from the players. Area goal post A (Z = - 3.862, p < 0.05), area goal post C (Z = -2.7 63, p < 0.05), area goal post D (Z = - 3.820, p < 0.05) and F (Z = -3.220, p < 0.05). The highest area of goal post shot was area F noted during tournament. There no significant different in formation used between winning and losing team in EURO 2016. The formation used by the team could lead the team ether win or lose. The present studied revealed that the outcome can be used to help the coach to generate the strategy and specific training drills that can contribute the success for the team in the matches.