The study analyzed attacking phases from 5 games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to identify characteristics of an optimal attack. There was no significant relationship found between the duration of an attacking phase and its outcome. However, more goals tended to be scored from phases lasting 11-15 and 21-25 seconds. There was a significant relationship between where on the field a phase began and its outcome, with fewer goals coming from phases starting in the mid-defensive zone and more from the attacking zone. The speed of phases also significantly correlated with team ranking, with the top ranked team having significantly slower phases than several other teams.