A NETWORK ANALYSIS OF THE 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP CHAMPION TEAM PLAY

This paper analyzes the network of passes among the players of the Spanish team during the last FIFA World Cup 2010,where they emerged as the champion,with the objective of explaining the results obtained from the behavior at the complex network level.The team is considered a network with players as nodes and passes as(directed) edges.A temporal analysis of the resulting passes network is also done,looking at the number of passes,length of the chain of passes,and to network measures such as player centrality and clustering coefficient.Results of the last three matches(the decisive ones) indicate that the clustering coefficient of the pass network remains high,indicating the elaborate style of the Spanish team.The effectiveness of the opposing team in negating the Spanish game is reflected in the change of several network measures over time,most importantly in drops of the clustering coefficient and passing length/speed,as well as in their being able in removing the most talented players from the central positions of the network.Spain's ability to restore their combinative game and move the focus of the game to offensive positions and talented players is shown to tilt the balance in favor of the Spanish team.

COMPLEX SYSTEMS IN SPORTS:INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE

1 Complex Systems in Sports Sport is one of the most important activities of humanity.Its relevance goes beyond the physical/psychological benefits that their practicing provides(an aspect that justifies in itself its importance in our current society).In fact,be it as actually playing some sport or just watching some games,it provides a huge means for socialization and education.Needless to say,the economical viewpoint is also enormously relevant:events such as the Olympic Games。