World Cup: All the best facts & figures from Brazil 2014
It's certainly been a World Cup to remember. From drama and disappointment to goals and glory, Brazil 2014 will live long in the memory. With the help of our friends at Opta, here and just some of the facts and figures behind a very special World Cup...
Wednesday 16 July 2014 14:36, UK
Who became the first player since the 1970s to score in his first five World Cup games? Who is now the oldest ever World Cup player? How many players have now won the European Cup and the World Cup in the same year? All that and lots more with Opta's World Cup facts...
GOALS
The 2014 World Cup saw a joint-high number of goals scored (171).
James Rodriguez became the first player to score in his first five career World Cup appearances since Peru’s Teofilo Cubillas (across the 1970 and 1978 tournaments).
There were more goals scored by substitutes in this World Cup than in any previous edition (32).
13.3% of shots have been scored at these finals; a higher proportion than in any other World Cup tournament since records began in 1966.
There were only three direct free-kicks scored at these finals, the fewest since 1986 (3). In 2010 there were five scored, while in 2006 and 2002, nine were scored.
The only World Cup to see more own goals than this tournament (5) was the 1998 finals (6).
Tim Cahill has scored in three World Cups for Australia; no other Australian has done so in more than one tournament.
Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan (6) overtook Cameroon’s Roger Milla (5) as all-time top scoring African player at a World Cup.
Algeria became the first African team to score four goals in a World Cup game when they beat South Korea 4-2.
Keisuke Honda became the first Japanese player to score at two separate World Cups.
Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri scored the first entirely left-footed hat-trick at a World Cup (1966-2014). His treble was also the 50th hat-trick in the history of the World Cup.
Clint Dempsey’s goal (29 seconds) vs Ghana for the USA was the fifth fastest in World Cup history.
GOALKEEPERS
Faryd Mondragón became the oldest player to ever make an appearance at a World Cup finals when he came on for Colombia v Japan (43y 3d).
Switzerland’s Diego Benaglio was the only goalkeeper to register a shot at the 2014 tournament, thanks to a late effort vs Argentina.
Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi created two goalscoring chances for the Foxes; only three of his team-mates managed more in the tournament.
Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas saved 21 of the 23 shots on target that he faced at this World Cup (91%).
Tim Howard made 15 saves in the USA’s round of 16 defeat to Belgium – no goalkeeper has ever made as many saves in a single World Cup game (1966-2014).
PROGRESS
Three of the last four teams to win the World Cup have gone out in the following group stage (France 2002, Italy 2010, Spain 2014).
Italy have exited at the group stage in their last two World Cups. The last time they managed this was in the 1960s (1962 and 1966).
All eight group stage winners progressed to the quarter finals stage for the first time in World Cup history.
Honduras have now played nine games without a win at the World Cup (D3 L6). They have played more matches at the World Cup without winning than any other side (New Zealand, El Salvador and Bolivia – all six).
