Random World Cup Facts

Wow, I didn't know - So before 1970, there were no subs at all? What about for injuries??

 

I didn't know either. Interesting.

 

No subs? So what did people eat then, just hot dogs and burgers?

 

Played a man down.

 

Not always...

 

"Before 1970" was the question asked.
But point taken. West Germany had already used their two subs when Beckenbauer was injured, and desperate times called for desperate measures.

 

The first headed goal in World Cup history was by U.S. forward Bert Patenaude in the 69th minute of their opening match against Belgium in Montevideo 1930. He scored on a cross by Moorehouse (or Brown according to another source), to cap the victory at 3-0.

4 days later, the U.S. beat Paraguay by the same score. In 27 World Cup matches since then, the U.S. have not won by a 3-goal margin. They have scored 26 goals in total, scored 3 goals in a match only once (2002 v. Portugal, 3-2), and 2 goals in a match in 4 occasions.

 

That was the first shutout in World Cup history, and it cursed the USA against Belgium. The USA has lost every match against Belgium since, not even scoring a goal again against Belgium until last year -- 83 years since Patenaude's header.

 

Brazil have used the most players in WC history (233), followed by Italy (213), Germany (205), Argentina (200), and Spain (196).


The Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) have used the fewest players in WC history (11) - they are the only team to have played 1 match in all of their WC participations as well as the only with fewer than 3 matches played. The XI that lost 0-6 to Hungary was:
GK: Tan Mo Heng
DF: Frans G.Hu Kon, Jack Sanniels
MF: Sutan Anwar, Frans Alfred Meeng, Achmad Nawir
FW: Suvarte Soedarmadji, Isaak "Tjaak" Pattiwael, M.J.Hans Taihuttu, Tan Hong Djien, Hendrikus V.Zomers

 

[quote="
The Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) have used the fewest players in WC history (11) - they are the only team to have played 1 match in all of their WC participations as well as the only with fewer than 3 matches played. The XI that lost 0-6 to Hungary was:
GK: Tan Mo Heng
DF: Frans G.Hu Kon, Jack Sanniels
MF: Sutan Anwar, Frans Alfred Meeng, Achmad Nawir
FW: Suvarte Soedarmadji, Isaak "Tjaak" Pattiwael, M.J.Hans Taihuttu, Tan Hong Djien, Hendrikus V.Zomers
[/quote]

The D.E.I. may not have been much good at football, but they were spiffy dressers.

What is it that the keeper is holding in his left arm? It's almost like a Rorschach test. Even if you blow up the photo it's hard to recognize. My guess is either bagpipes or the saddle for a horse.

 

it was a mascot / doll

 

Right you are! I never would have guessed. Scary-looking little bugger.

 

I think that may be a Wajangdoll. By the looks of it, it is a wayang golek or a wayang gedhog, which are threedimentional (golek) or flat wooden dolls used in traditional plays.

 

great

 

In the 32-team era, there are three combinations of final point totals in World Cup groups that have occurred three times: 7-5-4-0, 9-4-2-1, and 9-6-3-0. The combinations of final point totals that have occurred two times are: 5-5-4-1, 6-5-4-1, 7-4-3-3, 7-5-3-1, 7-6-3-1, 7-7-3-0, and 9-4-4-0.

The most common final point total for a team in a World Cup group in the 32-team era is 4, which has occurred 23 times. Here are the point totals with their number of occurrences:
0: 10
1: 18
2: 7
3: 18
4: 23
5: 15
6: 11
7: 16
9: 10

 

Interesting idea. Since three points for a win started at WC94, only once have all teams tied in the group stage: 4-4-4-4 between Mexico, Italy, Ireland and Norway. When it was two points for a win, I don't think it ever happened that a group ended 3-3-3-3.

 

You are correct; when 2 points where awarded for a win, no group ever ended with all teams tied in points. In 1990, Group F, if Egypt had scored against England for the match to end 1-1, all teams would have been leveled in all criteria and drawing lots would have decided who advanced, as was done to break the tie between IRL and NED.

Jun 11 Cagliari England v Rep of Ireland 1-1
Jun 12 Palermo Netherlands v Egypt 1-1
Jun 16 Cagliari Netherlands v England 0-0
Jun 17 Palermo Egypt v Rep of Ireland 0-0
Jun 21 Cagliari England v Egypt 1-0
Jun 21 Palermo Rep of Ireland v Netherlands 1-1

Team .......... P W D L Gls Pts
ENGLAND ....... 3 1 2 0 2-1 4
REP. OF IRELAND 3 0 3 0 2-2 3*
NETHERLANDS ... 3 0 3 0 2-2 3*
Egypt ......... 3 0 2 1 1-2 2
* Second and third places decided by lots.

 

I remember that situation very well. I was watching the Ireland-Holland match and when Ireland equalized with roughly 15-20 minutes to go the competitive aspect of the game was effectively over since both teams were then guaranteed to advance to the Round of 16. This was when there were only six groups and the four best third place sides advanced. Neither side was willing to go all out for the winner, content to hold the ball in their own half when they gained possession and allow lady luck to dictate who would meet Romania and Germany in the Round of 16.
Since only the top two can advance from the groups these days, I'm not sure we'll ever see a situation like 1990 Group F again since lady luck (drawing of lots) would dictate which teams advanced/were eliminated rather than who they will play in the next round.

(Fwiw, off the top of my head 1970 USSR-Uruguay was the closest a knockout round match went to having lots determine who advanced and who went home.)

 

The first direct free kick goal in WC history was scored by Argentine centre-half Luis Monti on 15 July 1930 against France in the 81st minute to give Argentina a 1-0 win. It was Argentina's first goal of that tournament, and the only goal scored from a direct free kick in the tournament.

The second direct free kick goal in WC history was scored by Argentine full-back Ernesto Belis on 27 May 1934 against Sweden in the 4th minute to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. It was Argentina's first goal of that tournament, and the only goal scored from a direct free kick in the tournament.

Source: RSSSF

 

This will be Nigeria's fifth World Cup Finals and the fourth time they have drawn Argentina in their group. Just for good measure they also played in the two finals of the Olympics against them (1996 & 2008) plus they met in the same group of the confederations cup in 1995.

 

In WC 1998 Jurgen Klinsmann played for germany against the USA (and got a goal and an assist!)
In WC 2014 Jurgen Klinsmann will coach the USA against germany

has this every happened before? seems unlikely

there are several examples of individuals who have both played and coached against several teams, especially the ones who have played in and coached in multiple cups:

Zagalo - Czechoslovakia, England, France, chile
Beckenbauer - Argentina, Uruguay, England, Netherlands, Morocco, Yugoslavia

perhaps most notable is Maradona, who coached argentina in 5 games in 2010. In the group stage they faced Nigeria, Greece and South Korea; each of whom maradona had played against in the group stages of past world cups. in the round of 16 they faced Mexico, who hosted the world cup that Maradona won (86), and in the quarterfinals they were knocked out by germany, who maradona played against in the final of to world cups

others?

 

Rigobert Song is currently the only man to have appeared in world cups on four different continents (USA, France, Japan, South Africa)

But in 2014, he will potentially be joined by many others: Americans Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley; Spaniards Iker Casillas, Xavi and Carlos Puyol; German Miroslav Klose; Italian Gianluigi Buffon; Englishman Ashley Cole and Mexican Rafael Marquez. All of whom have played in world cups in Korea/Japan, Germany, South Africa and potentially Brazil

Too bad 37 year old Rigobert Song isn't going to pull a Roger Milla, he could have been the only person to play in world cups in all 5 continents that have hosted

 

I guess Puyol probably isn't going to be going to Brazil, so you can strike his name. Others who could join the list but seem unlikely to make the 23 this year: Kaka of Brazil, Torrado of Mexico and probably others still