Adidas and UEFA reveal the most powerful and distant shots from the Euro group stage

Following the conclusion of the thrilling UEFA Euro 2024 Group Stage, the Adidas and UEFA compiled data from readings of the Connected Ball technology from Adidas of each game to reveal the most powerful goals of the tournament. The statistics also show who scored the goal from the furthest distance and who had the most spin on their shots.

Thanks to a 500Hz inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion sensor, stabilized by a suspension system in the center of the ball, officials have unprecedented insight into all elements of the ball’s movement, including the speed and distance the ball travels, as well as how much the ball spins during flight. Developed in close collaboration with Kinexon2024 is the first year the technology has been used in a UEFA European Championships tournament.

The most powerful goals

At 129 km/h, Erik Janža’s goal against Denmark in the first round of Group C is the most powerful strike of the tournament so far, from 24.5 metres. Along with Janža, the top three are Răzvan Marin of Romania (125 km/h against Ukraine) and Arda Güler of Turkey (118 km/h against Georgia).

Czech Republic’s David Jurásek has the highest shot on target in the Group Stage, with a 136km/h strike against Turkey in the final Group F match. He is joined in the top three by Theo Hernández (131km/h against Poland) and Cristiano Ronaldo (130km/h against Georgia).

Completing the round of 16… 🤗@bookingcom | #EUROfixtures pic.twitter.com/y4BNNwC88j

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 2, 2024

Long distance goals

In the early stages of the tournament, a significant number of goals were scored from long range, including several from outside the penalty area. Connected Ball technology shows that the longest-range goal of the tournament so far belongs to Denmark’s Morten Hjulmand, who equalised the match against England with a shot from 28 metres. Two of the three most powerful goals in the Group Stage were also in the top three in terms of distance: Arda Güler against Georgia (26 metres) and Răzvan Marin (25 metres).

Main ball rotations

adidas’ Connected Ball Technology can measure the spin of a ball based on how many rotations it makes per second while in motion. Kevin Csoboth scored the goal with the highest spin, 16 rotations per second, against Scotland. Ukraine’s Mykola Shaparenko (15.7 RpS vs. Slovakia) and Germany’s Florian Wirtz (15.02 RpS vs. Scotland) round out the top three.

Faster and more accurate decision making

A tecnologia Connected Ball da Adidas sends accurate ball data to the match’s video referees in real time. Combining player position data with AI, the innovation contributes to UEFA’s semi-automatic offside technology and has been instrumental in supporting faster decision-making in matches. Adidas Connected Ball Technology can also help VAR referees identify each individual touch of the ball and reduce the time spent resolving handball and penalty incidents.

By default, the ball can distinguish contact with the foot or hand from contact with the ground. The “heartbeat” of the ball that was shown by broadcasters throughout the tournament is the same as what the referee would see during the on-field review and discerns the point of contact with accuracy of five hundredths of a second.

So far, fans have seen three instances where the Adidas Connected Ball Technology has contributed to three major handball decisions, once in Belgium against Slovakia and twice in Georgia against the Czech Republic.