## 4 Discussion
### Offensive and Defensive Performance Indicators and Physical and Transition Metrics  
Consistent with existing literature emphasizing the value of possession and offensive precision [1; 2; 8; 11], winning teams in our study exhibited significantly greater ball possession percentages (M = 53.3%, SD = 12.8, 95% CI [48.9, 57.7]) compared to draws (M = 45.6%, SD = 10.0, 95% CI [41.5, 49.6]) and losses (M = 39.1%, SD = 12.4, 95% CI [34.9, 43.4]). Winning teams also scored significantly more goals (M = 2.91, SD = 1.9, 95% CI [2.28, 3.55]) relative to draws (M = 0.92, SD = 1.2, 95% CI [0.45, 1.39]) and losses (M = 0.51, SD = 0.7, 95% CI [0.26, 0.77]). Similarly, attempts at goal on target were greater in wins (M = 6.17, SD = 3.4, 95% CI [4.99, 7.35]) than losses (M = 3.17, SD = 2.3, 95% CI [2.38, 3.96]). These data confirm previous findings that possession dominance facilitates offensive control and creates more scoring and winning opportunities [25; 47; 48; 49]. Additionally, winning teams demonstrated superior passing performance in total completed passes (M = 519.69, SD = 170.6, 95% CI [461.10, 578.28]), highlighting effective ball circulation as a critical component of successful play [16; 17]. This pattern supports the notion that high-quality passing, more than sheer passing volume, is pivotal in advancing play and maintaining offensive pressure [1; 2]. Taken together, these results reinforced the concept that possession-based, precise offensive strategies strongly correlate with match success. In line with this, [PERSON] et al. [50] found that parabolic shots, typically emerging from well-structured attacking phases, were the most frequent shot type in both men's (59.86%) and women's (67.12%) European Championship matches, further underscoring the importance of sustained possession and coordinated build-up play in generating technically demanding and strategically advantageous shooting opportunities. Complementing this view, [PERSON] et al. [51] demonstrated that one-touch finishing, particularly within the penalty area and following assists from crosses or cutbacks, significantly increased goal-scoring probability, suggesting that decisive execution in the final third is a critical component of offensive efficiency and should be a focal point in tactical and technical training. Although the present study found only a marginal effect of match outcome on total set plays, with no statistically significant differences between winning, drawing, and losing teams, this does not diminish their tactical relevance (drawing teams: M = 34.31 \(\pm\) 7.23, 95% CI [31; 39; 37.23]) and winning teams: M = 33.97 \(\pm\) 6.93, 95% CI [31; 59; 36.35]) executed slightly more set plays than losing teams: M = 30.49 \(\pm\) 6.65, 95% CI [28.20, 32.77], though these differences did not reach statistical significance in pairwise comparisons). As highlighted by [PERSON] et al. [52], set pieces, particularly corners and penalties, are critical phases of play that can influence match outcomes, and their effectiveness depends on contextual, technical, and organizational factors that may not be fully captured by frequency alone. Supporting this, recent evidence from [PERSON] et al., [53] demonstrated that while the overall goal conversion rate from corners remains relatively low (3.09%), outswinging deliveries significantly increase the likelihood of a final attempt (OR = 0.79, \(p\) = 0.02), even though scoring rates do not differ between delivery types. These findings underscore that strategic delivery choices in set plays may enhance offensive productivity and mitigate defensive vulnerabilities such as counterattacks. Consequently, future research should delve deeper into delivery zones, marking systems, and opponent strategies to fully evaluate the functional contribution of set pieces to performance outcomes. Regarding defensive performance and pressure indicators, the present study revealed an inverse relationship between defensive pressures and match success.