Intra-match competitive balance and intensity in UEFA men’s national team competitions : the impact of recent changes in formats

Scelles, Nicolas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6177-5307 (2021) Intra-match competitive balance and intensity in UEFA men’s national team competitions : the impact of recent changes in formats. Soccer and Society, 22 (4). pp. 314-326. ISSN 1466-0970

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Abstract

In 2008 and 2014, UEFA decided to change the formats of its men’s national team competitions, with effect from Euro 2016. This article aims to evaluate the efficiency of these changes with two concepts related to outcome uncertainty: competitive balance and intensity. The study focuses on intra-match competitive balance and intensity in Euros 2012 and 2016 qualifying and final rounds. Results show that both dimensions have significantly increased between Euros 2012 and 2016 qualifying rounds. Besides, Euro 2016 final round was more intense than previously. In addition, the establishment of the Nations League in 2018 generated more games with sporting prizes. The changes made by UEFA have improved competitive intensity and encouraged competitive balance in European men’s national team games. This is consistent with UEFA’s objective to promote football in a spirit of unity and solidarity. UEFA could communicate on these positive evolutions to its stakeholders.