MOTIVATION
Popularity of Soccer
After forming the team for this project, amongst many ideas that we discussed as possible topics such as mortality rate, crime-murder analysis, climate change, and cricket. But soccer sparked an interest and choice for all. More specifically, we were all interested in finding out goal distribution across 90-minute playtime from 1930 to 2014 world cup.
Motivation
Soccer, widely known as Football, is the world’s most popular sport in the world, approximately over 240 million people in over 200 countries actively play and/or follow this sport. The viewership of the soccer 2014(**Brazil**) world cup reached an astounding 3.2 billion estimated by FIFA. The final game alone was watched by 1 billion viewers.
Soccer provides more opportunities to compete at both national and international levels than any other sport. Soccer is a continuous game with very few stoppages or timeouts during the play. On an average, a soccer player (depending upon position) can cover between 7 - 9.5 miles in a game, which appeals to fans and players across the globe. Soccer matches riled up emotions and during the World Cup these emotions have peaked.
Even the countries who don’t qualify for the world cup show their enthusiasm by selecting a favorite team or a favorite player. Love of the game surpasses both countries' and cultural barriers. Soccer is full of passion, life, and color.
Objectives
We tried to answer following research questions.
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How goals are distributed across time of the game?
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Identify top goal scorers?
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Is Sophomore Slump phenomenon present in soccer?
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Is there a relationship between Number of goals scored by a player and his age?
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Does a country's continent or region of origin have an impact on winning the world cup?
About Soccer
Soccer Ground: Dimensions and Player Position
Each of the 11 players on a team is assigned to a particular position on the field of play. A team is made up of one goalkeeper and ten outfield players who fill various defensive, midfield, and attacking positions depending on the formation deployed. These positions describe both the player's main role and their area of operation on the pitch
Popularity of Soccer
The Referee and Laws of the game
The referee is the final decision making authority in the play, and only official on the pitch enforcing the rules/laws of the game. The referee is assisted by two linesman, who are authorize to enforce and advise in certain situations such as ball outside the play area, corners, and other infringements. However, refree has final authroity to over-rule linesman. More detailed information about laws of game and authorities of refree and linesman can be found here. And official laws and regulations about Football(or Soccer) can be found here.
FIFA Worldcup Game
Most of the games generally last for 90 minutes (inlcuding stoppage time) but matches in knockout stages e.g. pre-quarter, quarter and semi-finals can go to extra time of 30 mins playtime divided between into halves 15 minutes each. If result is yet not determined, then game will be decided by Penalty Shootouts.