| Abstract: |
This paper investigates whether there are country-specific characteristics in
goal-scoring in the final stage of important international football matches.
We examine goal-scoring from 1960 onwards in full 'A' international matches of
six national teams: Belgium, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy and the
Netherlands. We analyze qualifying matches for the European Championship and
World Cup and the matches at the final tournaments of these two events, the
Copa America and the Confederations Cup. We find that the national teams of
Germany, England and the Netherlands are more likely than the three other
national teams to score in the last minute – including stoppage time. However,
for Germans this comes at a cost. Germany is more likely to concede a goal in
the dying seconds of a match than other countries. During our period of
analysis, the national teams of Brazil and Italy only conceded one goal in the
last minute. As to winning penalty shootouts, Germany outperforms the other
five countries. |