@Article{Kilci2026,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
year="2026",
title="Differences in physical and technical match performances between youth and senior international players: tournament and positional trends",
abstract=" This study examined the influence of competition category and chronological age on physical and technical match performance in players competing at the 2022 Senior and 2023 U20 and U17 FIFA Men’s Football World Cups. A total of 156 matches were analysed using linear mixed-effects models, with possession percentage and match outcome included as contextual covariates. Analyses were conducted in two parts: (1) benchmarking performance across tournament and positional roles, and (2) evaluating variables across decimal age groups (U17, U20, 21.0–24.9, 25.0–29.9, 30.0–34.9, ≥ 35). Total distance (TD) was higher in U20 players than in U17 and senior players, whereas high-intensity running was higher in senior players than in younger groups, with clearer differences observed in Zone 5 and top speed (TS). Position-specific analyses showed greater high-intensity distances in U20, and Senior players compared with U17, particularly in wide defensive and midfield positions (p \< 0.005). When analysed by decimal age groups, TD was higher in U20 players, whereas high-intensity running and TS differed across age groups, with the highest values observed in players aged 21–29 years (p \< 0.05). Across tournaments and decimal age groups, older age groups demonstrated higher values in pass completion, total offers made, pressing indirect, and tackles won than U17 and U20 players (p \< 0.05), whereas U17 players showed higher values in pressing direct and tackles made compared to older age groups (p \< 0.05). Overall, after accounting for contextual factors, high-intensity performance displayed an inverted U-shaped distribution across age, while technical variables were higher in older age categories. ",
author="Kilci, Abdullah
and Koç, Muhammed Emin
and Özdemir, Burcu
and Binokay, Hülya
and Bradley, Paul S.",
pages="43--57",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2026.163920",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.163920"
}