UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Every move being tracked at EURO

Behind the scenes, UEFA EURO 2008™ employs a revolutionary tracking system to provide fans, coaches and the media with a new level of statistical coverage.

Angelo Mendes and Danilo Baccarani are following EURO matches in close detail
Angelo Mendes and Danilo Baccarani are following EURO matches in close detail ©UEFA.com

UEFA EURO 2008™ employs a revolutionary tracking system to provide fans, coaches and media with a new level of statistical coverage. euro2008.com caught up with technicians Angelo Mendes and Danilo Baccarani at the Group D match between Greece and Russia in Salzburg to learn more.

Nowhere to hide
Helping collate all the match and player statistics required for television graphics, the internet and media printouts, Mendes and Baccarani are experts when it comes to managing football data. "We are responsible for the tracking system that follows all the players during the game," said Mendes, who acts as one of the tracking supervisors at two of the eight finals venues. "We have all the live data that shows how far each player has run, that provides the live tactical shape of the teams as well as being the source for the graphics that show exactly where the ball travels throughout the match."

Tactics at play
The tracking system – using two sets of eight cameras placed on a gantry high above the pitch – records all the co-ordinates of all the players, match officials and the ball itself, churning out masses of data every second, which are then collated live for publication across various media. "It's great to see the tracking working in matches such as this," Mendes said from his location high at the back of the commentary positions. "The tactical information itself is very interesting, because you can observe immediately the changes the coaches make. When Greece went a goal behind in this match, it was clear their defenders started to move forward. That is something you can quickly become aware of."

'Different perspective'
There are several tracking teams operating at the tournament, although a lot of experience has already been gained via UEFA Champions League coverage. Baccarani, for one, has worked in Rome, Liverpool and Porto in the last season. "We feel very proud of the work we do at a big event like this," he said. "Obviously, we see all the best national teams in Europe playing in all the most important games. You could say we are part of the overall machine that delivers so much graphical and data content which is then used everywhere, but we also feel part of the venue team delivering the match. However, we don't really see the game the same way as the viewers do. There is a great atmosphere in the stadiums and the fans make it really colourful, but we are concentrated so much on the players that we have a different perspective regarding what is taking place."

Routine
Far from the glamour of the on-field action, the team requires several hours to install, test and set up the technology at every game. Moreover, the work is not finished until everything is stored away, ready to be shipped to Vienna for the next match 48 hours later. "My friends tell me how lucky I am to be following the games in the stadiums while they watch it on television," Baccarani added. "They always ask me if it is really possible that the goalkeeper moves around four kilometres every game, but it's true. In the end, the result of the match is still the only important thing and that means how many times the goalkeeper has been beaten – but still, through this system, we can provide lots of important information to explain more to people."