Thousands of pub football arguments will be settled during this summer's tournament.......thanks to new state of the art technology.
Whether it is Ronaldo v Torres or Ballack v Fabregas, debates all over the country can be laid to rest thanks to a new mathematical formula developed by Castrol for the UEFA EURO 2008 Championships.
The Castrol Performance Index uses a complex formula which evaluates all player actions during a match in terms of how they either assist or prevent a goal. It also weights its score by taking into account the strength of the opposition and the time in a game the player's actions occurred.
Statistics from the Castrol Index indicate that out of the 368 players in Austria and Switzerland, 40 currently ply their trade in the Premier League (11%). The attached graphic highlights a Castrol Premier League Dream Team.
Castrol Brand Ambassador Arsene Wenger said: "The Castrol Performance Index allows me to be more measured in my assessment of players. It not only tells me if a guy has run 11.5km in a match, it examines how many short and long passes they have completed and better still, how many of those have been accurate and in what area of the pitch."
Rob Stroud, Marketing Manager at Castrol, explained: "The Castrol Performance Index is exciting news for football fans because we believe it will really take them under the bonnet of football in a way they have not had access to before.
"Up until now, this level of football data and analysis has only really been available to those within the game. We believe the CPI will not only enhance fans understanding of the game, but also their enjoyment."
Arsenal boss Wenger continued: "I use statistics in every game. I'm a little bit addicted to data. Statistics are like a universal language for football managers and players alike because everybody can use them to make a point - statistics don't usually lie when it comes to a player or a team's performance.
"A football match is played by 22 players but you only have two eyes to observe everything so the data available has become critical. The Castrol Performance Index will be very useful for fans because they will no longer just be relying on the views of pundits and presenters. Instead, Castrol will be giving them access to clear graphics and statistics which they can use to judge players and teams' performances objectively."
