Physical workload and fatigue pattern characterization in a top-class women's football national team: a case study of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Abstract

With the growing scientific interest in women's football it is critical to understand the match demands and fatigue patterns during a top-class women's competition. Physical characteristics and performance of top-class women football matches during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was investigated from data collected using global positioning system for 21 outfield players during the tournament. Relative total distance (TD; m·min-1) was moderately lower (P≤0.05, ES:0.6) in the final match (96.1±5.0 m·min-1) compared to the first (104.1±5.9 m·min-1) match. Performance in relative total high-speed running (THSR; m·min-1) declined -27.5% (P≥0.05) throughout the tournament following peak performance in the third match (M3) (5.3±1.7 m·min-1). Match performance between halves was reduced -25.4±0.13% (P≤0.05, ES:1.2-2.3) across all measures in M3. Relative high-intensity running (HIR; 25.9±3.5 m·min-1) and THSR (9.8±1.5 m·min-1) were greater (P≤0.05, ES:0.2-0.7) for forwards, while midfielders performed greater (P≤0.05, ES:0.6) relative total distance (102.0±5.5 m·min-1), compared to central defenders (HIR: 16.1±3.7 m·min-1; THSR: 3.1±1.6 m·min-1; TD: 92.5±5.7 m·min-1). Reductions in relative HIR between halves (-10.9%), within the first half (-31.0%), and the start and end of the match (-36.9%) were most pronounced for midfielders (P≤0.05, ES:0.6-2.3). Across all matches, relative THSR performance was reduced, with moderate to large differences (P≤0.001, ES: 0.7-0.8) observed between halves, within the first half, and throughout the match. In conclusion, specific fatigue patterns observed within and between matches throughout the women's World Cup, may be influenced by playing positions, the rank of the opposition, as well as the stage of the tournament.