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**MikeH** · June 17, 2010, 08:40

http://cnls.lanl.gov/~ebn/pubs/sports/html/

Measured, soccer, baseball, basketball, football and ice hockey

We find that soccer and baseball are the most competitive sports with and , respectively, while basketball and football, with nearly identical and , are the least.

also

Soccer matches as experiments: how often does the 'best' team win?

http://arxiv.org/abs/0909.4555

Models in which the number of goals scored by a team in a soccer match follow a Poisson distribution, or a closely related one, have been widely discussed. We here consider a soccer match as an experiment to assess which of two teams is superior and examine the probability that the outcome of the experiment (match) truly represents the relative abilities of the two teams. Given a final score, it is possible by using a Bayesian approach to quantify the probability that it was or was not the case that 'the best team won'. For typical scores, the probability of a misleading result is significant. Modifying the rules of the game to increase the typical number of goals scored would improve the situation, but a level of confidence that would normally be regarded as satisfactory could not be obtained unless the character of the game was radically changed.

**Alexander's Horse** · June 17, 2010, 08:54

Originally posted by MikeH View Post

Unlike Rugby? Oh.

a round ball

**Kitschum** · June 17, 2010, 08:54

For all your arguing needs over distance/sprint running there's some great stats at FIFA's site.

For instance we can look up the Spain-Switzerland match from yesterday and find out that Spain ran a total of 104,268 m and Switzerland a total of 119,913 m. Switzerland's Fernandes ran the farthest at 12,244 m.

We can also find out that the Spanish players had an average top speed of 19 km/h vs Switzerland's 20 km/h. Fastest of all was Switzerland's Von Bergen with 26.39 km/h.

Web App - Unavailable

http://www.fifa.com/live/competitions/worldcup/matchday=6/day=1/match=300111112/index.html

**Alexander's Horse** · June 17, 2010, 08:55

Originally posted by MikeH View Post

The big thing about Soccer is that compared to any other major team sport you get much more 'upsets', so it's much more unpredictable. A really crap team can beat a really good one on a given day. This makes every match, potentially, interesting. I will see if I can dig up the research that proved that.

that's because scoring is so hopelessly difficult

**Asher** · June 17, 2010, 09:37

I'm going to settle this.

Hockey players can play soccer at acceptable levels; soccer players can't play hockey at acceptable levels.

**Imran Siddiqui** · June 17, 2010, 10:05

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse View Post

that's because scoring is so hopelessly difficult

Another thing Albert Speer has in common with soccer.

(I'm sorry, that was kinda low...

)

**rah** · June 17, 2010, 10:05

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse View Post

that's because scoring is so hopelessly difficult

Baseball was the other sport listed in the link mike provided, and scoring is considerably easier in baseball.

**MikeH** · June 17, 2010, 10:31

I went to see the Giants when in SF, and I loved it. Great occasion.

Although what's with all the fans turning up late, staying for half an hour talking on their cell phones the whole time then leaving?

**MikeH** · June 17, 2010, 10:37

This second round of matches is delivering already.

Much better stuff.

**Kitschum** · June 17, 2010, 10:38

Originally posted by MikeH View Post

This second round of matches is delivering already.

Much better stuff.

Higuain

**Imran Siddiqui** · June 17, 2010, 10:40

Originally posted by MikeH View Post

I went to see the Giants when in SF, and I loved it. Great occasion.

Although what's with all the fans turning up late, staying for half an hour talking on their cell phones the whole time then leaving?

This is a something that is constantly railed against - ie, the "West Coast Fans" epithet.

**MikeH** · June 17, 2010, 10:43

Ah, like the prawn sandwich brigade.

**C0ckney** · June 17, 2010, 11:39

i hope people are watching the greece nigeria game, thrilling stuff

**MikeH** · June 17, 2010, 11:46

Yes, against all the odds what started as a dull lumpen ugly scrap between 2 sub-pub team level sides has turned into an entertaining football match. And people say red cards are bad for games!

**Imran Siddiqui** · June 17, 2010, 11:51

All due to a stupid sending off. That Nigerian player is going to get his ass beaten.

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Soccer really sucks, doesn't it?

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