What makes a team world class?

by Daffa Buckley - FIT3179 Data Visualisation

Based on findings, we can conclude that Powerhouse countries all have similar traits. All the powerhouse countries we have looked into have around the same player average height. Which is quite invaluable in this sport, even though feet are the main tools to play. This is because taller people are generally stronger, faster (longer strides) and are at an advantage when the header skill is utilised.

Top countries also seem to have the same ratio of right-left dominant feet whilst also kicking around the same amount of goals in a calendar year. On top of that, the player's average metrics are nearly the same that it could almost be mistaken for being identical.

In this visualisation, we will be choosing a handful of teams
that have won the World Cup, as we will be assuming that a
"World Class" team has won at least one football/soccer's
prestigious achievement.

Correlation between top countries and their player's average height

When hovering over the red dots below, we can see
that each of the marked countries' average player height
exceeds more than 180.


Whilst this there is a relationship between the marked countries
and the player's average height. It is also true that other countries'
height are also at the same range. But are considered a significantly
weaker footballing nation. Like Australia

Goals kicked in a year by each Country

Something that can be noticed straight away is each countries goal tally dips during the same year. Whilst we cannot definitively say what it is, we can assume that its not because these teams all of a sudden became bad.

Left footed player statistics

We look at the statistics of left footed players because it is not an unknown fact that they are much harder to play against. As many are used to playing against right footed players.

But looking at the visualisation on the left. We could conclude that the ratio of left-right footed players are about the same.

What player metrics are special about every country?

Viewing and interacting with the pie chart next to us. It looks like every country has around the same slice of pie for every player metric. Seeing that every country's slice of pie is divided evenly may be the reason why they are a top footballing nation. They are simply balanced in every category.