Best individual defensive stats of each World Cup

JamesBH11 · Apr 29, 2013

Puck, you did a great job to combine all the stats for all players ...

However, do you see any correlation to what most people commonly talked of certain players at a particular WC?

PuckVanHeel · Apr 30, 2013

JamesBH11 said: ↑

Puck, you did a great job to combine all the stats for all players ...

However, do you see any correlation to what most people commonly talked of certain players at a particular WC?
Click to expand...

James,

I feel I'm right now not yet in a position to say something about it.

I'll try to answer this question, or say that I can't answer it, when I've finished this series...

PuckVanHeel · Apr 30, 2013

1994 World Cup

Tackles won % (min 10 tackles)
1. Matthäus (GER) 92.3%
2. Abelardo (ESP) 90.5%
3. Aldair (BRA) 82.4%
4. Yankov (BUL) 81.5%
5. Marcio Santos (BRA) 76.9%
6. Ivanov (BUL) 75.0%
7. Costacurta (ITA) 73.3%
8. Belodedici (ROU) 71.4%
9. P. Andersson (SWE) 70.0%
9. Björklund (SWE) 70.0%
11. Maldini (ITA) 69.2%
12. Prodan (ROU) 66.7%
13. Houbtchev (BUL) 60.0%

Tackles won per 90 minutes (min 10 tackles attempted)
1. Abelardo (ESP) 3.80
2. Yankov (BUL) 3.67
3. Ivanov (BUL) 3.29
4. Matthäus (GER) 2.85
5. Maldini (ITA) 2.35
6. Aldair (BRA) 2.15
7. Belodedici (ROU) 1.88
7. Prodan (ROU) 1.88
9. Costacurta (ITA) 1.74
10. Marcio Santos (BRA) 1.36
11. Björklund (SWE) 1.27
12. Houbtchev (BUL) 1.23
13. P. Andersson (SWE) 0.95

Clearances per 90 minutes (min 15 clearances)
1. P. Andersson (SWE) 5.59
2. Maldini (ITA) 4.96
3. Aldair (BRA) 4.61
4. Costacurta (ITA) 4.42
5. Björklund (SWE) 4.34
6. Prodan (ROU) 4.13
7. Matthäus (GER) 4.04
8. Belodedici (ROU) 3.57
9. Marcio Santos (BRA) 3.41
10. Yankov (BUL) 3.33
11. Houbtchev (BUL) 3.27
12. Abelardo (ESP) 3.20
13. Ivanov (BUL) 2.74

Blocks per 90 minutes
1. P. Andersson (SWE) 1.09
2. Costacurta (ITA) 0.95
2. Houbtchev (BUL) 0.95
4. Prodan (ROU) 0.94
5. Ivanov (BUL) 0.91
6. Marcio Santos (BRA) 0.82
7. Matthäus (GER) 0.71
8. Belodedici (ROU) 0.56
9. Björklund (SWE) 0.36
10. Yankov (BUL) 0.33
11. Maldini (ITA) 0.26
12. Aldair (BRA) 0.15
13. Abelardo (ESP) 0.00

Interceptions per 90 minutes
1. Ivanov (BUL) 4.56
2. Maldini (ITA) 3.78
3. Marcio Santos (BRA) 3.14
4. Aldair (BRA) 2.92
5. P. Andersson (SWE) 2.86
6. Prodan (ROU) 2.81
7. Björklund (SWE) 2.71
8. Costacurta (ITA) 2.68
9. Yankov (BUL) 2.50
10. Matthäus (GER) 2.14
11. Abelardo (ESP) 2.00
12. Belodedici (ROU) 1.88
13. Houbtchev (BUL) 1.64

Cumulative position (chances created per 90 minutes in parentheses – minimum 5 chances):

Aldair (BRA) 3 + 6 + 3 + 12 + 4 = 28
Ivanov (BUL) 6 + 3 + 13 + 5 + 1 = 28
P. Andersson (SWE) 9 + 13 + 1 + 1 + 5 = 29
Matthäus (GER) 1 + 4 + 7 + 7 + 10 = 29 (1.66)
Costacurta (ITA) 7 + 9 + 4 + 2 + 8 = 30
Maldini (ITA) 11 + 5 + 2 + 11 + 2 = 31 (0.65)
Marcio Santos (BRA) 5 + 10 + 9 + 6 + 3 = 33
Prodan (ROU) 12 + 7 + 6 + 4 + 6 = 35
Yankov (BUL) 4 + 2 + 10 + 10 + 9 = 35 (0.83)
Abelardo (ESP) 2 + 1 + 12 + 13 + 11 = 39
Björklund (SWE) 9 + 11 + 5 + 9 + 7 = 41
Belodedici (ROU) 8 + 7 + 8 + 8 + 12 = 43
Houbtchev (BUL) 13 + 12 + 11 + 2 + 13 = 51

s7kru · Apr 30, 2013

Matthäus sure was one of the best defenders back then.

Thanks for the stats.

PuckVanHeel · Apr 30, 2013

1998 World Cup

Tackles won % (min 10 tackles)
1. Baiano (BRA) 92.9%
2. Simic (CRO) 92.3%
3. Desailly (FRA) 88.2%
4. Chamot (ARG) 86.7%
5. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 85.7%
6. Cannavaro (ITA) 84.2%
7. Lizerazu (FRA) 83.3%
8. Stam (NED) 82.4%
9. Thuram (FRA) 76.0%
10. Maldini (ITA) 74.1%
11. Kohler (GER) 72.7%
11. Stimac (CRO) 72.7%
13. Numan (NED) 71.4%
13. Stanic (CRO) 71.4%
15. F. de Boer (NED) 70.0%
16. Heintze (DEN) 66.7%
17. Bilic (CRO) 65.0%
17. Soldo (CRO) 65.0%
19. Wörns (GER) 64.7%
20. Aldair (BRA) 63.6%
21. Costacurta (ITA) 53.8%

Tackles won per 90 minutes
1. Heintze (DEN) 4.68
2. Maldini (ITA) 3.75
3. Chamot (ARG) 3.70
4. Lizerazu (FRA) 3.03
5. Cannavaro (ITA) 3.00
6. Thuram (FRA) 2.88
7. Numan (NED) 2.72
8. Wörns (GER) 2.48
9. Stanic (CRO) 2.18
10. Soldo (CRO) 2.17
11. Simic (CRO) 2.07
12. Desailly (FRA) 2.04
13. Kohler (GER) 2.00
14. F. de Boer (NED) 1.91
14. Stam (NED) 1.91
16. Bilic (CRO) 1.86
17. Baiano (BRA) 1.77
18. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 1.64
19. Stimac (CRO) 1.39
20. Costacurta (ITA) 1.31
21. Aldair (BRA) 1.13

Clearances per 90 minutes (min 15 clearances)
1. Cannavaro (ITA) 9.19
2. Stimac (CRO) 8.88
3. Costacurta (ITA) 7.50
4. Stam (NED) 6.95
5. Baiano (BRA) 6.82
6. Desailly (FRA) 6.80
7. Simic (CRO) 6.37
8. Lizerazu (FRA) 6.36
9. Aldair (BRA) 6.13
10. Kohler (GER) 6.00
11. Maldini (ITA) 5.81
12. Soldo (CRO) 5.67
13. Wörns (GER) 5.18
14. F. de Boer (NED) 5.05
15. Bilic (CRO) 5.00
16. Heintze (DEN) 4.98
17. Chamot (ARG) 4.27
18. Thuram (FRA) 3.94
19. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 2.86
20. Numan (NED) 2.72
21. Stanic (CRO) 2.47

Blocks per 90 minutes
1. Stimac (CRO) 1.04
2. Cannavaro (ITA) 0.94
3. Simic (CRO) 0.86
4. Soldo (CRO) 0.83
5. Desailly (FRA) 0.82
6. Costacurta (ITA) 0.75
7. Wörns (GER) 0.68
8. Heintze (DEN) 0.58
9. Chamot (ARG) 0.57
10. Aldair (BRA) 0.48
11. Stanic (CRO) 0.44
12. Baiano (BRA) 0.27
12. F. de Boer (NED) 0.27
12. Stam (NED) 0.27
15. Numan (NED) 0.18
16. Lizerazu (FRA) 0.15
16. Thuram (FRA) 0.15
18. Bilic (CRO) 0.14
19. Kohler (GER) 0.00
19. Maldini (ITA) 0.00
19. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 0.00

Interceptions per 90 minutes
1. Desailly (FRA) 5.17
2. Stanic (CRO) 3.77
3. Lizerazu (FRA) 3.64
4. Numan (NED) 3.62
5. Heintze (DEN) 3.51
6. Cannavaro (ITA) 3.38
7. Soldo (CRO) 3.33
8. Aldair (BRA) 2.90
9. Thuram (FRA) 2.88
10. Maldini (ITA) 2.63
11. Kohler (GER) 2.50
12. Wörns (GER) 2.48
13. Baiano (BRA) 2.45
14. Chamot (ARG) 2.28
15. Simic (CRO) 1.72
16. F. de Boer (NED) 1.64
16. Stam (NED) 1.64
18. Bilic (CRO) 1.57
18. Stimac (CRO) 1.57
20. Costacurta (ITA) 1.50
20. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 1.50

Cumulative position:
Cannavaro (ITA) 6 + 5 + 1 + 2 + 6 = 20
Desailly (FRA) 3 + 12 + 6 + 5 + 1 = 27
Lizerazu (FRA) 7 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 3 = 38 [1.36]
Simic (CRO) 2 + 11 + 7 + 3 + 15 = 38
Heintze (DEN) 16 + 1 + 16 + 8 + 5 = 46
Chamot (ARG) 4 + 3 + 17 + 9 + 14 = 47
Baiano (BRA) 1 + 17 + 5 + 12 + 13 = 48
Soldo (CRO) 17 + 10 + 12 + 4 + 7 = 50
Stimac (CRO) 11 + 19 + 2 + 1 + 18 = 51
Maldini (ITA) 10 + 2 + 11 + 19 + 10 = 52
Stam (NED) 8 + 14 + 4 + 12 + 16 = 54
Stanic (CRO) 13 + 9 + 21 + 11 + 2 = 56
Thuram (FRA) 9 + 6 + 18 + 16 + 9 = 58 [1.06]
Numan (NED) 13 + 7 + 20 + 15 + 4 = 59
Wörns (GER) 19 + 8 + 13 + 7 + 12 = 59
Kohler (GER) 11 + 13 + 10 + 19 + 11 = 64
Aldair (BRA) 20 + 21 + 9 + 10 + 8 = 68
Costacurta (ITA) 21 + 20 + 3 + 6 + 20 = 70
F. de Boer (NED) 15 + 14 + 14 + 12 + 16 = 71 [1.09]
Roberto Carlos (BRA) 5 + 18 + 19 + 19 + 20 = 81 [0.82]
Bilic (CRO) 17 + 16 + 15 + 18 + 18 = 84

babaorum · Apr 30, 2013

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

1994 World Cup

Tackles won % (min 10 tackles)
1. Matthäus (GER) 92.3%
2. Abelardo (ESP) 90.5%
3. Aldair (BRA) 82.4%
4. Yankov (BUL) 81.5%
5. Marcio Santos (BRA) 76.9%
6. Ivanov (BUL) 75.0%
7. Costacurta (ITA) 73.3%
8. Belodedici (ROU) 71.4%
9. P. Andersson (SWE) 70.0%
9. Björklund (SWE) 70.0%
11. Maldini (ITA) 69.2%
12. Prodan (ROU) 66.7%
13. Houbtchev (BUL) 60.0%

Tackles won per 90 minutes (min 10 tackles attempted)
1. Abelardo (ESP) 3.80
2. Yankov (BUL) 3.67
3. Ivanov (BUL) 3.29
4. Matthäus (GER) 2.85
5. Maldini (ITA) 2.35
6. Aldair (BRA) 2.15
7. Belodedici (ROU) 1.88
7. Prodan (ROU) 1.88
9. Costacurta (ITA) 1.74
10. Marcio Santos (BRA) 1.36
11. Björklund (SWE) 1.27
12. Houbtchev (BUL) 1.23
13. P. Andersson (SWE) 0.95

Clearances per 90 minutes (min 15 clearances)
1. P. Andersson (SWE) 5.59
2. Maldini (ITA) 4.96
3. Aldair (BRA) 4.61
4. Costacurta (ITA) 4.42
5. Björklund (SWE) 4.34
6. Prodan (ROU) 4.13
7. Matthäus (GER) 4.04
8. Belodedici (ROU) 3.57
9. Marcio Santos (BRA) 3.41
10. Yankov (BUL) 3.33
11. Houbtchev (BUL) 3.27
12. Abelardo (ESP) 3.20
13. Ivanov (BUL) 2.74

Blocks per 90 minutes
1. P. Andersson (SWE) 1.09
2. Costacurta (ITA) 0.95
2. Houbtchev (BUL) 0.95
4. Prodan (ROU) 0.94
5. Ivanov (BUL) 0.91
6. Marcio Santos (BRA) 0.82
7. Matthäus (GER) 0.71
8. Belodedici (ROU) 0.56
9. Björklund (SWE) 0.36
10. Yankov (BUL) 0.33
11. Maldini (ITA) 0.26
12. Aldair (BRA) 0.15
13. Abelardo (ESP) 0.00

Interceptions per 90 minutes
1. Ivanov (BUL) 4.56
2. Maldini (ITA) 3.78
3. Marcio Santos (BRA) 3.14
4. Aldair (BRA) 2.92
5. P. Andersson (SWE) 2.86
6. Prodan (ROU) 2.81
7. Björklund (SWE) 2.71
8. Costacurta (ITA) 2.68
9. Yankov (BUL) 2.50
10. Matthäus (GER) 2.14
11. Abelardo (ESP) 2.00
12. Belodedici (ROU) 1.88
13. Houbtchev (BUL) 1.64

Cumulative position (chances created per 90 minutes in parentheses – minimum 5 chances):

Aldair (BRA) 3 + 6 + 3 + 12 + 4 = 28
Ivanov (BUL) 6 + 3 + 13 + 5 + 1 = 28
P. Andersson (SWE) 9 + 13 + 1 + 1 + 5 = 29
Matthäus (GER) 1 + 4 + 7 + 7 + 10 = 29 (1.66)
Costacurta (ITA) 7 + 9 + 4 + 2 + 8 = 30
Maldini (ITA) 11 + 5 + 2 + 11 + 2 = 31 (0.65)
Marcio Santos (BRA) 5 + 10 + 9 + 6 + 3 = 33
Prodan (ROU) 12 + 7 + 6 + 4 + 6 = 35
Yankov (BUL) 4 + 2 + 10 + 10 + 9 = 35 (0.83)
Abelardo (ESP) 2 + 1 + 12 + 13 + 11 = 39
Björklund (SWE) 9 + 11 + 5 + 9 + 7 = 41
Belodedici (ROU) 8 + 7 + 8 + 8 + 12 = 43
Houbtchev (BUL) 13 + 12 + 11 + 2 + 13 = 51
Click to expand...

I seen Dunga nowhere. If I remember he had excellent stats as well, didn't he ?

babaorum · Apr 30, 2013

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

1998 World Cup

Tackles won % (min 10 tackles)
1. Baiano (BRA) 92.9%
2. Simic (CRO) 92.3%
3. Desailly (FRA) 88.2%
4. Chamot (ARG) 86.7%
5. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 85.7%
6. Cannavaro (ITA) 84.2%
7. Lizerazu (FRA) 83.3%
8. Stam (NED) 82.4%
9. Thuram (FRA) 76.0%
10. Maldini (ITA) 74.1%
11. Kohler (GER) 72.7%
11. Stimac (CRO) 72.7%
13. Numan (NED) 71.4%
13. Stanic (CRO) 71.4%
15. F. de Boer (NED) 70.0%
16. Heintze (DEN) 66.7%
17. Bilic (CRO) 65.0%
17. Soldo (CRO) 65.0%
19. Wörns (GER) 64.7%
20. Aldair (BRA) 63.6%
21. Costacurta (ITA) 53.8%

Tackles won per 90 minutes
1. Heintze (DEN) 4.68
2. Maldini (ITA) 3.75
3. Chamot (ARG) 3.70
4. Lizerazu (FRA) 3.03
5. Cannavaro (ITA) 3.00
6. Thuram (FRA) 2.88
7. Numan (NED) 2.72
8. Wörns (GER) 2.48
9. Stanic (CRO) 2.18
10. Soldo (CRO) 2.17
11. Simic (CRO) 2.07
12. Desailly (FRA) 2.04
13. Kohler (GER) 2.00
14. F. de Boer (NED) 1.91
14. Stam (NED) 1.91
16. Bilic (CRO) 1.86
17. Baiano (BRA) 1.77
18. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 1.64
19. Stimac (CRO) 1.39
20. Costacurta (ITA) 1.31
21. Aldair (BRA) 1.13

Clearances per 90 minutes (min 15 clearances)
1. Cannavaro (ITA) 9.19
2. Stimac (CRO) 8.88
3. Costacurta (ITA) 7.50
4. Stam (NED) 6.95
5. Baiano (BRA) 6.82
6. Desailly (FRA) 6.80
7. Simic (CRO) 6.37
8. Lizerazu (FRA) 6.36
9. Aldair (BRA) 6.13
10. Kohler (GER) 6.00
11. Maldini (ITA) 5.81
12. Soldo (CRO) 5.67
13. Wörns (GER) 5.18
14. F. de Boer (NED) 5.05
15. Bilic (CRO) 5.00
16. Heintze (DEN) 4.98
17. Chamot (ARG) 4.27
18. Thuram (FRA) 3.94
19. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 2.86
20. Numan (NED) 2.72
21. Stanic (CRO) 2.47

Blocks per 90 minutes
1. Stimac (CRO) 1.04
2. Cannavaro (ITA) 0.94
3. Simic (CRO) 0.86
4. Soldo (CRO) 0.83
5. Desailly (FRA) 0.82
6. Costacurta (ITA) 0.75
7. Wörns (GER) 0.68
8. Heintze (DEN) 0.58
9. Chamot (ARG) 0.57
10. Aldair (BRA) 0.48
11. Stanic (CRO) 0.44
12. Baiano (BRA) 0.27
12. F. de Boer (NED) 0.27
12. Stam (NED) 0.27
15. Numan (NED) 0.18
16. Lizerazu (FRA) 0.15
16. Thuram (FRA) 0.15
18. Bilic (CRO) 0.14
19. Kohler (GER) 0.00
19. Maldini (ITA) 0.00
19. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 0.00

Interceptions per 90 minutes
1. Desailly (FRA) 5.17
2. Stanic (CRO) 3.77
3. Lizerazu (FRA) 3.64
4. Numan (NED) 3.62
5. Heintze (DEN) 3.51
6. Cannavaro (ITA) 3.38
7. Soldo (CRO) 3.33
8. Aldair (BRA) 2.90
9. Thuram (FRA) 2.88
10. Maldini (ITA) 2.63
11. Kohler (GER) 2.50
12. Wörns (GER) 2.48
13. Baiano (BRA) 2.45
14. Chamot (ARG) 2.28
15. Simic (CRO) 1.72
16. F. de Boer (NED) 1.64
16. Stam (NED) 1.64
18. Bilic (CRO) 1.57
18. Stimac (CRO) 1.57
20. Costacurta (ITA) 1.50
20. Roberto Carlos (BRA) 1.50

Cumulative position:
Cannavaro (ITA) 6 + 5 + 1 + 2 + 6 = 20
Desailly (FRA) 3 + 12 + 6 + 5 + 1 = 27
Lizerazu (FRA) 7 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 3 = 38 [1.36]
Simic (CRO) 2 + 11 + 7 + 3 + 15 = 38
Heintze (DEN) 16 + 1 + 16 + 8 + 5 = 46
Chamot (ARG) 4 + 3 + 17 + 9 + 14 = 47
Baiano (BRA) 1 + 17 + 5 + 12 + 13 = 48
Soldo (CRO) 17 + 10 + 12 + 4 + 7 = 50
Stimac (CRO) 11 + 19 + 2 + 1 + 18 = 51
Maldini (ITA) 10 + 2 + 11 + 19 + 10 = 52
Stam (NED) 8 + 14 + 4 + 12 + 16 = 54
Stanic (CRO) 13 + 9 + 21 + 11 + 2 = 56
Thuram (FRA) 9 + 6 + 18 + 16 + 9 = 58 [1.06]
Numan (NED) 13 + 7 + 20 + 15 + 4 = 59
Wörns (GER) 19 + 8 + 13 + 7 + 12 = 59
Kohler (GER) 11 + 13 + 10 + 19 + 11 = 64
Aldair (BRA) 20 + 21 + 9 + 10 + 8 = 68
Costacurta (ITA) 21 + 20 + 3 + 6 + 20 = 70
F. de Boer (NED) 15 + 14 + 14 + 12 + 16 = 71 [1.09]
Roberto Carlos (BRA) 5 + 18 + 19 + 19 + 20 = 81 [0.82]
Bilic (CRO) 17 + 16 + 15 + 18 + 18 = 84
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Great effort, as usual . Why don't you include duels won stats however ? They can be considered as legitimate criterias as well to rank individual defensive performances IMHO. If you take them into account then a player like Laurent Blanc would appear very high, whereas his name doesn't appear anywhere in your ranking.

PuckVanHeel · Apr 30, 2013

babaorum said: ↑

I seen Dunga nowhere. If I remember he had excellent stats as well, didn't he ?
Click to expand...

Quick reply.

Dunga had less than 15 clearances. That is why he missed out. Generally, only few midfielders and almost no attackers met this criteria.

Blanc had less than 10 attempted tackles.

About duels won: as talked about earlier, I remember, it is a bit of a 'vague' and unclear concept (certainly next to other categories) and it is both an offensive and defensive criteria.

Opta doesn't categorize it among the defensive statistics section. Outdribbling an opponent is (in many occasions) also a duel won, so an offensive action. That are the two reasons. Hope you see the logic of this reasoning.

For me, there is no question that Blanc was a nice complement to Desailly - and vice versa - and both covered the others his weaknesses very well. It is a partnership, and that is the limitation of those statistics. As well as various intangibles (for example, the one applying pressure while the other wins the tackle and boosts his percentage...)

PuckVanHeel · May 1, 2013

babaorum said: ↑

Thanks for that. Great effort, as usual . Why don't you include duels won stats however ? They can be considered as legitimate criterias as well to rank individual defensive performances IMHO. If you take them into account then a player like Laurent Blanc would appear very high, whereas his name doesn't appear anywhere in your ranking.
Click to expand...

Because you insist, this is the ladder of 'duels won' and 'duels won%' for 1998WC, among defenders

Duels won % (min 15 duels)
Blanc (FRA) 83.7%
Thuram (FRA) 75.0%
Sensini (ARG) 73.9%
Kohler (GER) 71.9%
Desailly (FRA) 69.7%
Reiziger (NED) 69.4%
Baiano (BRA) 67.6%
Stam (NED) 67.2%
Maldini (ITA) 66.3%
Bilic (CRO) 65.7%
Cannavaro (ITA) 65.0%
Nesta (ITA) 64.9%
Numan (NED) 64.7%
Heintze (DEN) 64.2%
Roberto Carlos (BRA) 63.6%
Aldair (BRA) 62.9%
Schjönberg (DEN) 62.8%
Lizerazu (FRA) 61.9%
Rieper (DEN) 61.5%
Costacurta (ITA) 61.1%
Wörns (GER) 60.4%
Colding (DEN) 60.0%
Ayala (ARG) 59.0%
F. de Boer (NED) 59.0%
Hogh (DEN) 56.7%
Jarni (CRO) 53.8%
Heinrich (GER) 51.7%
Chamot (ARG) 51.2%
Simic (CRO) 51.0%
Cafu (BRA) 50.0%
Zanetti (ARG) 45.8%
Helveg (DEN) 44.1%
Stimac (CRO) 43.8%
Tarnat (GER) 42.2%
Vivas (ARG) 31.5%

Duels won (min 15 duels)
Thuram (FRA) 57
Maldini (ITA) 55
Lizerazu (FRA) 52
Baiano (BRA) 48
Desailly (FRA) 46
Stam (NED) 45
Bilic (CRO) 44
Cannavaro (ITA) 39
Blanc (FRA) 36
F. de Boer (NED) 36
Cafu (BRA) 36
Jarni (CRO) 35
Roberto Carlos (BRA) 35
Heintze (DEN) 34
Numan (NED) 33
Heinrich (GER) 31
Wörns (GER) 29
Helveg (DEN) 26
Schjönberg (DEN) 27
Reiziger (NED) 25
Simic (CRO) 25
Colding (DEN) 24
Nesta (ITA) 24
Ayala (ARG) 23
Kohler (GER) 23
Aldair (BRA) 22
Chamot (ITA) 22
Costacurta (ITA) 22
Zanetti (ARG) 22
Stimac (CRO) 21
Tarnat (GER) 19
Hogh (DEN) 17
Sensini (ARG) 17
Vivas (ARG) 17
Rieper (DEN) 16

babaorum · May 1, 2013

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

Because you insist, this is the ladder of 'duels won' and 'duels won%' for 1998WC, among defenders

Duels won % (min 15 duels)
Blanc (FRA) 83.7%
Thuram (FRA) 75.0%
Sensini (ARG) 73.9%
Kohler (GER) 71.9%
Desailly (FRA) 69.7%
Reiziger (NED) 69.4%
Baiano (BRA) 67.6%
Stam (NED) 67.2%
Maldini (ITA) 66.3%
Bilic (CRO) 65.7%
Cannavaro (ITA) 65.0%
Nesta (ITA) 64.9%
Numan (NED) 64.7%
Heintze (DEN) 64.2%
Roberto Carlos (BRA) 63.6%
Aldair (BRA) 62.9%
Schjönberg (DEN) 62.8%
Lizerazu (FRA) 61.9%
Rieper (DEN) 61.5%
Costacurta (ITA) 61.1%
Wörns (GER) 60.4%
Colding (DEN) 60.0%
Ayala (ARG) 59.0%
F. de Boer (NED) 59.0%
Hogh (DEN) 56.7%
Jarni (CRO) 53.8%
Heinrich (GER) 51.7%
Chamot (ARG) 51.2%
Simic (CRO) 51.0%
Cafu (BRA) 50.0%
Zanetti (ARG) 45.8%
Helveg (DEN) 44.1%
Stimac (CRO) 43.8%
Tarnat (GER) 42.2%
Vivas (ARG) 31.5%

Duels won (min 15 duels)
Thuram (FRA) 57
Maldini (ITA) 55
Lizerazu (FRA) 52
Baiano (BRA) 48
Desailly (FRA) 46
Stam (NED) 45
Bilic (CRO) 44
Cannavaro (ITA) 39
Blanc (FRA) 36
F. de Boer (NED) 36
Cafu (BRA) 36
Jarni (CRO) 35
Roberto Carlos (BRA) 35
Heintze (DEN) 34
Numan (NED) 33
Heinrich (GER) 31
Wörns (GER) 29
Helveg (DEN) 26
Schjönberg (DEN) 27
Reiziger (NED) 25
Simic (CRO) 25
Colding (DEN) 24
Nesta (ITA) 24
Ayala (ARG) 23
Kohler (GER) 23
Aldair (BRA) 22
Chamot (ITA) 22
Costacurta (ITA) 22
Zanetti (ARG) 22
Stimac (CRO) 21
Tarnat (GER) 19
Hogh (DEN) 17
Sensini (ARG) 17
Vivas (ARG) 17
Rieper (DEN) 16
Click to expand...

Thanks mate. Of course duels won remain quite a vague concept that includes both offense and defense but in that particular case, the fact 3 out of the 5 players with the highest duels won % and 4 out of the 9 players with the highest number of duels won are French defenders is a good explanation of why the French backline was so good in that WC IMHO,

PuckVanHeel · May 1, 2013

babaorum said: ↑

Thanks mate. Of course duels won remain quite a vague concept that includes both offense and defense but in that particular case, the fact 3 out of the 5 players with the highest duels won % and 4 out of the 9 players with the highest number of duels won are French defenders is a good explanation of why the French backline was so good in that WC IMHO,
Click to expand...

If I'm finished with all editions I'll make such ladder for each World Cup, for the defenders of the last eight teams.

This is what Opta says about duels

Duels

A duel is an 50-50 contest between two players of opposing sides in the match. For every Duel Won there is a corresponding Duel Lost depending on the outcome of the Duel.

Aerial Challenge won - Aerial Challenge lost.

This is where two players challenge in the air against each other. The player that wins the ball is deemed to have won the duel. When more than two players are involved the player closest to the duel winner is given an Aerial Duel lost.

[...]

Foul won-Foul conceded.

The player winning the foul is deemed to have won the duel and the player committing the foul having lost the duel.
Click to expand...

http://www.optasportspro.com/es/acerca-de/blog-optapro/posts/2012/optapro's-event-definitions.aspx

But in their tool they did not put it under the defense category, which is the reason why I dropped it (and this categorization makes sense).

comme · May 3, 2013

Have Opta taken all this info down now? I've been struggling to find it.

JamesBH11 · May 3, 2013

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

If I'm finished with all editions I'll make such ladder for each World Cup, for the defenders of the last eight teams.

This is what Opta says about duels

http://www.optasportspro.com/es/acerca-de/blog-optapro/posts/2012/optapro's-event-definitions.aspx

But in their tool they did not put it under the defense category, which is the reason why I dropped it (and this categorization makes sense).
Click to expand...

Yeah I think they counted Duel (won/loss) and Fouls (drawn/conceded) for MF (more)

PuckVanHeel · May 4, 2013

2002 World Cup

Tackles won % (min 10 tackles)

1. Helguera (ESP) 94.4%
2. Sang-chul Yoo (KOR) 93.8%
3. Tae-young Kim (KOR) 93.3%
4. Hierro (ESP) 91.7%
5. Lucio (BRA) 90.0%
6. Bouba Diop (SEN) 87.5%
6. Sanneh (USA) 87.5%
8. Alpay (TUR) 86.7%
9. Frings (GER) 83.3%
9. Reyna (USA) 83.3%
11. Edmilson (BRA) 82.4%
12. Daf (SEN) 81.8%
12. Kim Nam-Il (KOR) 81.8%
14. Linke (GER) 81.0%
15. Gilberto Silva (BRA) 78.6%
15. Metzelder (GER) 78.6%
17. Cafu (BRA) 76.0%
18. Song Chong-Gug (KOR) 75.8%
19. Coly (SEN) 75.0%
19. Mills (ENG) 75.0%
21. Ashley Cole (ENG) 72.0%
22. Korkmaz (TUR) 71.4%
23. Hejduk (USA) 70.0%
24. Jin-Chul Choi (KOR) 69.2%
25. Akyel (TUR) 65.2%
26. Puyol (ESP) 57.9%

Tackles won per 90 minutes

1. Daf (SEN) 5.19
2. Helguera (ESP) 4.19
3. Hejduk (USA) 3.76
4. Reyna (USA) 3.75
5. Ashley Cole (ENG) 3.72
6. Frings (GER) 3.57
7. Song Chong-Gug (KOR) 3.28
8. Gilberto Silva (BRA) 3.14
9. Lucio (BRA) 2.86
10. Sanneh (USA) 2.80
11. Cafu (BRA) 2.71
12. Bouba Diop (SEN) 2.69
13. Alpay (TUR) 2.60
14. Coly (SEN) 2.45
15. Linke (GER) 2.43
16. Mills (ENG) 2.40
17. Hierro (ESP) 2.36
17. Puyol (ESP) 2.36
19. Edmilson (BRA) 2.33
19. Sang-chul Yoo (KOR) 2.33
21. Tae-young Kim (KOR) 2.26
22. Kim Nam-Il (KOR) 2.19
23. Akyel (TUR) 2.13
24. Korkmaz (TUR) 1.73
25. Metzelder (GER) 1.65
26. Jin-Chul Choi (KOR) 1.44

Clearances per 90 minutes (min 15 clearances)

1. Hierro (ESP) 8.79
2. Lucio (BRA) 7.43
3. Linke (GER) 7.00
4. Jin-Chul Choi (KOR) 7.05
5. Alpay (TUR) 6.80
6. Korkmaz (TUR) 6.58
7. Tae-young Kim (KOR) 5.98
8. Helguera (ESP) 5.92
9. Hejduk (USA) 5.91
10. Puyol (ESP) 5.79
11. Coly (SEN) 5.10
12. Mills (ENG) 5.00
13. Ashley Cole (ENG) 4.97
14. Reyna (USA) 4.50
15. Kim Nam-Il (KOR) 4.14
16. Frings (GER) 4.00
17. Metzelder (GER) 3.90
18. Daf (SEN) 3.85
19. Akyel (TUR) 3.83
20. Edmilson (BRA) 3.50
21. Gilberto Silva (BRA) 3.14
22. Sanneh (USA) 3.00
23. Bouba Diop (SEN) 2.88
24. Sang-chul Yoo (KOR) 2.64
25. Cafu (BRA) 2.43
26. Song Chong-Gug (KOR) 2.10

Blocks per 90 minutes

1. Reyna (USA) 1.00
1. Sanneh (USA) 1.00
3. Edmilson (BRA) 0.83
4. Alpay (TUR) 0.80
5. Metzelder (GER) 0.75
6. Gilberto Silva (BRA) 0.71
6. Lucio (BRA) 0.71
8. Korkmaz (TUR) 0.69
9. Hierro (ESP) 0.64
9. Puyol (ESP) 0.64
11. Ashley Cole (ENG) 0.62
12. Bouba Diop (SEN) 0.58
13. Akyel (TUR) 0.57
14. Helguera (ESP) 0.49
15. Jin-Chul Choi (KOR) 0.48
16. Daf (SEN) 0.38
17. Linke (GER) 0.29
18. Hejduk (USA) 0.27
19. Coly (SEN) 0.20
20. Cafu (BRA) 0.14
21. Song Chong-Gug (KOR) 0.13
22. Frings (GER) 0.00
22. Mills (ENG) 0.00
22. Tae-young Kim (KOR) 0.00
22. Kim Nam-Il (KOR) 0.00
22. Sang-chul Yoo (KOR) 0.00

Interceptions per 90 minutes

1. Kim Nam-Il (KOR) 4.38
2. Reyna (USA) 3.50
3. Coly (SEN) 3.47
4. Puyol (ESP) 3.21
5. Gilberto Silva (BRA) 3.14
5. Linke (GER) 3.14
5. Lucio (BRA) 3.14
8. Tae-young Kim (KOR) 3.07
9. Metzelder (GER) 3.00
10. Akyel (TUR) 2.84
11. Sang-chul Yoo (KOR) 2.80
12. Frings (GER) 2.71
12. Helguera (ESP) 2.71
14. Alpay (TUR) 2.60
15. Daf (SEN) 2.50
16. Song Chong-Gug (KOR) 2.49
17. Mills (ENG) 2.40
18. Bouba Diop (SEN) 2.31
19. Ashley Cole (ENG) 2.07
20. Cafu (BRA) 2.00
21. Korkmaz (TUR) 1.90
22. Hejduk (USA) 1.88
23. Edmilson (BRA) 1.67
24. Jin-Chul Choi (KOR) 1.60
24. Sanneh (USA) 1.60
26. Hierro (ESP) 1.50

Cumulative position (chances created per 90 minutes in parentheses - min 5 chances created):

Lucio (BRA) 5 + 9 + 2 + 6 + 5 = 27
Reyna (USA) 9 + 4 + 14 + 1 + 2 = 30 (1.75)
Helguera (ESP) 1 + 2 + 8 + 14 + 12 = 37
Alpay (TUR) 8 + 13 + 5 + 4 + 14 = 44
Linke (GER) 14 + 15 + 3 + 17 + 5 = 54
Gilberto Silva (BRA) 15 + 8 + 21 + 6 + 5 = 55 (1.29)
Hierro (ESP) 4 + 17 + 1 + 9 + 26 = 57
Tae-young Kim (KOR) 3 + 21 + 7 + 22 + 8 = 61
Daf (SEN) 12 + 1 + 18 + 16 + 15 = 62
Sanneh (USA) 6 + 10 + 22 + 1 + 24 = 63
Frings (GER) 9 + 6 + 16 + 22 + 12 = 65 (2.14)
Metzelder (GER) 15 + 19 + 17 + 5 + 9 = 65
Coly (SEN) 19 + 14 + 11 + 19 + 3 = 66
Puyol (ESP) 26 + 17 + 10 + 9 + 4 = 66 (1.50)
Ashley Cole (ENG) 21 + 5 + 13 + 11 + 19 = 69
Bouba Diop (SEN) 6 + 12 + 23 + 12 + 18 = 71
Kim Nam-Il (KOR) 12 + 22 + 15 + 22 + 1 = 72 (1.46)
Hejduk (USA) 23 + 3 + 9 + 18 + 22 = 75
Edmilson (BRA) 11 + 19 + 20 + 3 + 23 = 76
Sang-chul Yoo (KOR) 2 + 19 + 24 + 22 + 11 = 78
Korkmaz (TUR) 22 + 24 + 6 + 8 + 21 = 81
Mills (ENG) 19 + 16 + 12 + 22 + 17 = 86 (1.00)
Song Chong-Gug (KOR) 18 + 7 + 26 + 21 + 16 = 88 (1.84)
Akyel (TUR) 25 + 23 + 19 + 13 + 10 = 90
Cafu (BRA) 17 + 11 + 25 + 20 + 20 = 93 (0.71)
Jin-Chul Choi (KOR) 24 + 26 + 4 + 15 + 24 = 93

comme · May 4, 2013

comme said: ↑

Have Opta taken all this info down now? I've been struggling to find it.
Click to expand...

Found it now. Was just a problem with my browser in work.

PuckVanHeel · May 7, 2013

2006 World Cup

Tackles won % (min 10 tackles)

1. Ayala (ARG) 100.0%
1. Sagnol (FRA) 100.0%
3. Gusin (UKR) 90.0%
4. Lucio (BRA) 88.2%
5. Materazzi (ITA) 86.7%
5. Metzelder (GER) 86.7%
7. Mertesacker (GER) 83.3%
8. Cannavaro (ITA) 80.0%
9. Abidal (FRA) 78.6%
10. Terry (ENG) 73.3%
11. Meira (POR) 73.1%
12. Juan (BRA) 70.6%
13. Friedrich (GER) 70.0%
13. Rusol (UKR) 70.0%
15. Carvalho (POR) 62.5%
15. Nesmachniy (UKR) 62.5%
17. Valente (POR) 60.9%

Tackles won per 90 minutes

1. Abidal (FRA) 3.47
2. Materazzi (ITA) 3.22
3. Gusin (UKR) 3.20
4. Lucio (BRA) 3.00
5. Meira (POR) 2.59
6. Juan (BRA) 2.40
7. Valente (POR) 2.30
8. Friedrich (GER) 2.20
9. Ayala (ARG) 2.12
10. Cannavaro (ITA) 2.09
11. Terry (ENG) 2.06
12. Sagnol (FRA) 2.05
13. Rusol (UKR) 2.00
14. Metzelder (GER) 1.95
15. Nesmachniy (UKR) 1.88
16. Carvalho (POR) 1.58
17. Mertesacker (GER) 1.50

Clearances per 90 minutes (min 15 clearances)

1. Materazzi (ITA) 9.92
2. Cannavaro (ITA) 8.48
3. Ayala (ARG) 8.47
4. Juan (BRA) 8.20
5. Rusol (UKR) 6.57
6. Gusin (UKR) 6.41
7. Terry (ENG) 6.00
8. Carvalho (POR) 5.37
9. Mertesacker (GER) 5.25
9. Metzelder (GER) 5.25
11. Lucio (BRA) 5.20
12. Meira (POR) 5.18
13. Abidal (FRA) 4.89
14. Valente (POR) 3.44
15. Friedrich (GER) 3.14
16. Nesmachniy (UKR) 3.00
16. Sagnol (FRA) 3.00

Blocks per 90 minutes

1. Ayala (ARG) 1.24
2. Terry (ENG) 1.13
3. Juan (BRA) 1.00
4. Gusin (UKR) 0.96
5. Cannavaro (ITA) 0.91
6. Metzelder (GER) 0.90
7. Rusol (UKR) 0.86
8. Lucio (BRA) 0.80
9. Carvalho (POR) 0.79
10. Materazzi (ITA) 0.74
11. Valente (POR) 0.49
12. Meira (POR) 0.41
12. Sagnol (FRA) 0.41
14. Nesmachniy (UKR) 0.38
15. Friedrich (GER) 0.16
16. Abidal (FRA) 0.00
16. Mertesacker (GER) 0.00

Interceptions per 90 minutes

1. Gusin (UKR) 4.48
2. Nesmachniy (UKR) 3.94
3. Cannavaro (ITA) 3.65
4. Abidal (FRA) 3.63
5. Lucio (BRA) 3.60
6. Materazzi (ITA) 2.98
7. Friedrich (GER) 2.82
8. Meira (POR) 2.73
9. Carvalho (POR) 2.68
10. Juan (BRA) 2.60
11. Valente (POR) 2.30
12. Metzelder (GER) 1.80
13. Ayala (ARG) 1.76
14. Rusol (UKR) 1.71
15. Mertesacker (GER) 1.65
16. Sagnol (FRA) 1.50
17. Terry (ENG) 1.13

Cumulative position (chances created per 90 minutes in parentheses – min 5 chances created):

Gusin (UKR) 3 + 3 + 6 + 4 + 1 = 17
Materazzi (ITA) 5 + 2 + 1 + 10 + 6 = 24
Ayala (ARG) 1 + 9 + 3 + 1 + 13 = 27
Cannavaro (ITA) 8 + 10 + 2 + 5 + 3 = 28
Lucio (BRA) 4 + 4 + 11 + 8 + 5 = 32
Juan (BRA) 12 + 6 + 4 + 3 + 10 = 35
Abidal (FRA) 9 + 1 + 13 + 16 + 4 = 43
Metzelder (GER) 5 + 14 + 9 + 6 + 12 = 46
Terry (ENG) 10 + 11 + 7 + 2 + 17 = 47
Meira (POR) 11 + 5 + 12 + 12 + 8 = 48
Rusol (UKR) 13 + 13 + 5 + 7 + 14 = 52
Carvalho (POR) 15 + 16 + 8 + 9 + 9 = 57
Sagnol (FRA) 1 + 12 + 16 + 12 + 16 = 57
Friedrich (GER) 13 + 8 + 15 + 15 + 7 = 58
Valente (POR) 17 + 7 + 14 + 11 + 11 = 60 (0.82)
Nesmachniy (UKR) 15 + 15 + 16 + 14 + 2 = 62 (1.13)
Mertesacker (GER) 7 + 17 + 9 + 16 + 15 = 64

comme · May 7, 2013

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

2006 World Cup

Tackles won % (min 10 tackles)

1. Ayala (ARG) 100.0%
1. Sagnol (FRA) 100.0%
3. Gusin (UKR) 90.0%
4. Lucio (BRA) 88.2%
5. Materazzi (ITA) 86.7%
5. Metzelder (GER) 86.7%
7. Mertesacker (GER) 83.3%
8. Cannavaro (ITA) 80.0%
9. Abidal (FRA) 78.6%
10. Terry (ENG) 73.3%
11. Meira (POR) 73.1%
12. Juan (BRA) 70.6%
13. Friedrich (GER) 70.0%
13. Rusol (UKR) 70.0%
15. Carvalho (POR) 62.5%
15. Nesmachniy (UKR) 62.5%
17. Valente (POR) 60.9%

Tackles won per 90 minutes

1. Abidal (FRA) 3.47
2. Materazzi (ITA) 3.22
3. Gusin (UKR) 3.20
4. Lucio (BRA) 3.00
5. Meira (POR) 2.59
6. Juan (BRA) 2.40
7. Valente (POR) 2.30
8. Friedrich (GER) 2.20
9. Ayala (ARG) 2.12
10. Cannavaro (ITA) 2.09
11. Terry (ENG) 2.06
12. Sagnol (FRA) 2.05
13. Rusol (UKR) 2.00
14. Metzelder (GER) 1.95
15. Nesmachniy (UKR) 1.88
16. Carvalho (POR) 1.58
17. Mertesacker (GER) 1.50

Clearances per 90 minutes (min 15 clearances)

1. Materazzi (ITA) 9.92
2. Cannavaro (ITA) 8.48
3. Ayala (ARG) 8.47
4. Juan (BRA) 8.20
5. Rusol (UKR) 6.57
6. Gusin (UKR) 6.41
7. Terry (ENG) 6.00
8. Carvalho (POR) 5.37
9. Mertesacker (GER) 5.25
9. Metzelder (GER) 5.25
11. Lucio (BRA) 5.20
12. Meira (POR) 5.18
13. Abidal (FRA) 4.89
14. Valente (POR) 3.44
15. Friedrich (GER) 3.14
16. Nesmachniy (UKR) 3.00
16. Sagnol (FRA) 3.00

Blocks per 90 minutes

1. Ayala (ARG) 1.24
2. Terry (ENG) 1.13
3. Juan (BRA) 1.00
4. Gusin (UKR) 0.96
5. Cannavaro (ITA) 0.91
6. Metzelder (GER) 0.90
7. Rusol (UKR) 0.86
8. Lucio (BRA) 0.80
9. Carvalho (POR) 0.79
10. Materazzi (ITA) 0.74
11. Valente (POR) 0.49
12. Meira (POR) 0.41
12. Sagnol (FRA) 0.41
14. Nesmachniy (UKR) 0.38
15. Friedrich (GER) 0.16
16. Abidal (FRA) 0.00
16. Mertesacker (GER) 0.00

Interceptions per 90 minutes

1. Gusin (UKR) 4.48
2. Nesmachniy (UKR) 3.94
3. Cannavaro (ITA) 3.65
4. Abidal (FRA) 3.63
5. Lucio (BRA) 3.60
6. Materazzi (ITA) 2.98
7. Friedrich (GER) 2.82
8. Meira (POR) 2.73
9. Carvalho (POR) 2.68
10. Juan (BRA) 2.60
11. Valente (POR) 2.30
12. Metzelder (GER) 1.80
13. Ayala (ARG) 1.76
14. Rusol (UKR) 1.71
15. Mertesacker (GER) 1.65
16. Sagnol (FRA) 1.50
17. Terry (ENG) 1.13

Cumulative position (chances created per 90 minutes in parentheses – min 5 chances created):

Gusin (UKR) 3 + 3 + 6 + 4 + 1 = 17
Materazzi (ITA) 5 + 2 + 1 + 10 + 6 = 24
Ayala (ARG) 1 + 9 + 3 + 1 + 13 = 27
Cannavaro (ITA) 8 + 10 + 2 + 5 + 3 = 28
Lucio (BRA) 4 + 4 + 11 + 8 + 5 = 32
Juan (BRA) 12 + 6 + 4 + 3 + 10 = 35
Abidal (FRA) 9 + 1 + 13 + 16 + 4 = 43
Metzelder (GER) 5 + 14 + 9 + 6 + 12 = 46
Terry (ENG) 10 + 11 + 7 + 2 + 17 = 47
Meira (POR) 11 + 5 + 12 + 12 + 8 = 48
Rusol (UKR) 13 + 13 + 5 + 7 + 14 = 52
Carvalho (POR) 15 + 16 + 8 + 9 + 9 = 57
Sagnol (FRA) 1 + 12 + 16 + 12 + 16 = 57
Friedrich (GER) 13 + 8 + 15 + 15 + 7 = 58
Valente (POR) 17 + 7 + 14 + 11 + 11 = 60 (0.82)
Nesmachniy (UKR) 15 + 15 + 16 + 14 + 2 = 62 (1.13)
Mertesacker (GER) 7 + 17 + 9 + 16 + 15 = 64
Click to expand...

Do you have a source data file for all of these? ie a spreadsheet which has the data you used to calculate these?

PuckVanHeel · May 7, 2013

Yes. I made one to aid me with this.

If you see an error let me know. I think it is correct.

---------------------------------------

Regarding the omission of the French CB pair in this overview: both had less as 10 attempted tackles. Thuram attempted eight in 660 minutes. Gallas 7 in 660 minutes. Both met (by a large margin) the 15 clearances condition.

That is why they missed out. Reason for this 10 tackles condition is to apply a bit more certainty and reliability in the data.

comme · May 7, 2013

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

Yes. I made one to aid me with this.

If you see an error let me know. I think it is correct.

---------------------------------------

Regarding the omission of the French CB pair in this overview: both had less as 10 attempted tackles. Thuram attempted eight in 660 minutes. Gallas 7 in 660 minutes. Both met (by a large margin) the 15 clearances condition.

That is why they missed out. Reason for this 10 tackles condition is to apply a bit more certainty and reliability in the data.
Click to expand...

No, I'm not saying it is wrong. Just would be interesting to see all the raw data if you have extracted it from the Opta site.

msioux75 · May 7, 2013

Interesting to see some "unknow" players topping some list.
I'd like to know some countryman opinions.

Superb job, Puck

PuckVanHeel · May 7, 2013

msioux75 said: ↑

Interesting to see some "unknow" players topping some list.
I'd like to know some countryman opinions.

Superb job, Puck
Click to expand...

The context is important, I think.

Gusin met all criteria but played only 281 of the 480 minutes (Ukraine played 5 games + 30 minutes of extra time). He wasn't a starter in all games.

Materazzi was, as known, used as replacement when Nesta caught an injury during the tournament. He played 363 of the 690 minutes. And was red carded plus not a good reputation.

Ayala was seen as one of the best defenders of the tournament and made the all-star team but eventually his journey ended at the quarter-finals (5 games). Same for the Brazilian pair (Lucio + Juan).

It is understandable that captain & winner Cannavaro took the spotlights. Zidane won the Golden Ball with 2012 points, Cannavaro was second with 1977 points. Pirlo was third on a large distance, 715 points. Of course, he won the 2006 Ballon d'Or, which was largely based on the same World Cup.
Purely rated as a defender, the Opta statistics makes the reputation credible, I think.

Think it is important to keep these contextual things in mind but I share your view that some relatively unknown names look very good (Bruno Pezzey for example).

At the end of this, I'll also make a ladder with duels won percentage, absolute number of duels won and number of successful passes (which measures involvement in the game).

I'll skip the pass accuracy because that is a bit deceptive; then Schwarzenbeck looks suddenly nearly as good as Beckenbauer and other Italian defenders better as Baresi. I think in case of defenders it can be an deceptive statistic and is more valuable for mid-fielders and forwards.

I'll also skip the attempted number of shots because in case of defenders it doesn't exceed the 10 shots (also in case of very offensive ones), which makes it an unreliable measurement.

msioux75 · May 7, 2013

Thanks for your answer, mate.

The conditions you made for the stats looks good. I personally would add two (one or another) conditions to make sure, the player was a starter, for a final result:
* A nominee must play more than 50% of #games for a finalist (f.e in 2006 4/7 matches, in 1954 3/5 matches, etc.)
* A nominee must play more than 60% of full minutes his team disputed.

This left the likes of Gusin or Materazzi out.

btw, Pezzey was among the top defenders in late 70 - early 80s, i think.

Pipiolo · May 8, 2013

msioux75 said: ↑

Thanks for your answer, mate.

The conditions you made for the stats looks good. I personally would add two (one or another) conditions to make sure, the player was a starter, for a final result:
* A nominee must play more than 50% of #games for a finalist (f.e in 2006 4/7 matches, in 1954 3/5 matches, etc.)
* A nominee must play more than 60% of full minutes his team disputed.

This left the likes of Gusin or Materazzi out.

btw, Pezzey was among the top defenders in late 70 - early 80s, i think.
Click to expand...

I think you're talking bollocks. Why would you leave Materazzi out of the WC06 stats, when he was one of its leading protagonists?

Gregoriak · May 8, 2013

PuckVanHeel said: ↑

I'll skip the pass accuracy because that is a bit deceptive; then Schwarzenbeck looks suddenly nearly as good as Beckenbauer and other Italian defenders better as Baresi. I think in case of defenders it can be an deceptive statistic and is more valuable for mid-fielders and forwards.

I'll also skip the attempted number of shots because in case of defenders it doesn't exceed the 10 shots (also in case of very offensive ones), which makes it an unreliable measurement.
Click to expand...

You could use the pass accuracy in the opposite half instead.

PuckVanHeel · May 8, 2013

It depends on how you interpret it but if it is interpreted as 'passing skill' in general or 'passing proficiency', 'passing accuracy' etc. then I think it can be misleading for defenders.

Some examples involving cultured sweepers:

Passing accuracy in opponents half

1974 World Cup:
Beckenbauer (GER) 83.7%
Schwarzenbeck (GER) 83.0%

1978 World Cup:
Galvan (ARG) 83.6%
Tarantini (ARG) 76.0%
Passarella (ARG) 71.7%

1982 World Cup:
Cabrini (ITA) 77.5%
Gentile (ITA) 72.0%
Collovati (ITA) 59.2%
Scirea (ITA) 57.7%
Bergomi (ITA) 57.1%

1990 World Cup:
De Agostini (ITA) 82.9%
Vierchowod (ITA) 76.7%
Maldini (ITA) 75.0%
Ferrara (ITA) 71.4%
Bergomi (ITA) 69.6%
Baresi (ITA) 68.5%
Ferri (ITA) 67.2%

1998 World Cup:
Desailly (FRA 81.0%
Blanc (FRA) 73.3%
Thuram (FRA) 72.7%
Lizerazu (FRA) 72.6%

Demonstrates how it can be misleading. Desailly over Blanc in ability to play accurate passes? Really? The passes are probably devoid of risk in case of Desailly but what does this stat add for defenders?

This 'weakness' mentioned above is less apparent in case of midfielders. For midfielders it has more added value.

Of course, I already said/clarified this on the first page....