30 more facts about FIFA World Cup 2014

This is a compilation of 30 more facts about FIFA World Cup Football which is updated on FIFA website. The process started by FIFA when it was 100 days left for World Cup 2014. Lets just read them one after another. You'll definitely find something interesting here. This is a continuation of the last post where 20 facts about FIFA World Cup were compiled. Enjoy reading..

21. With 80 goals in 84 appearances, Kunishige Kamamoto is Japan’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Sadly for this prolific striker, he - along with the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Ladislao Kubala and Ryan Giggs - is a member of an elite group of national icons who never graced the FIFA World Cup™. Kamamoto retired from international duty in 1977, 21 years before Japan made their maiden appearance in the game's greatest competition.

Nonetheless, his place atop the Samurai Blue scoring chart seems assured for some time, with his closest active challenger, Shinji Okazaki, requiring another 43 goals to eclipse that record tally.

22. John Barnes earned 79 caps for England, starring for his country at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups™.

However, arguably his greatest moment in a Three Lions shirt came in Brazil’s fabled Maracana, when he inspired England to a historic 2-0 victory over their hosts with a brilliant solo goal.

This photograph was taken the day before that famous 1984 encounter, with the then-Watford winger pictured entertaining local children on Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous Copacabana beach.

23. The 11th edition of the FIFA World Cup™ was held in 1978, and it brought a first title for hosts Argentina.

The star of the tournament was Mario Kempes, whose six goals – including two in the Final – saw him earn the Golden Boot as the competition’s top scorer.

In the history of the World Cup, only one other Argentinian has won this particular award, and perhaps surprisingly it is not Diego Maradona. That honour belongs to Guillermo Stabile, who scored eight times in just four appearances at the inaugural edition in 1930 and yet, remarkably, was never picked for his country again.

24. With 77 goals across 92 appearances, Pele is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer.

The man dubbed ‘O Rei’ (The King) signalled his intentions from his very first Seleçãoappearance in July 1957.

Thrown into a game against his nation’s great rivals, Argentina, at the age of just 16 years and nine months, Pele marked the occasion in what would become typical style: with a goal.

25. A total of 76 teams have taken part in the FIFA World Cup™ since the first edition in 1930.

This tally includes nations that either no longer exist or have undergone a transformation.

Brazil 2014 will see a 77th side added to the list, with Bosnia-Herzegovina preparing to make their entry as the upcoming edition’s sole debutants.

26. The late, great Nilton Santos, who was one of the pioneers of the attacking full-back role, won 75 caps for Brazil.

The Botafogo legend played at three FIFA World Cups™, making 15 appearances on the game’s greatest stage and losing just once.

The defeat cost Nilton Santos and his team-mates the title in his debut appearances in 1954, but he made ample amends by helping A Seleção lift the Trophy in 1958 and 1962.

27. The 1974 FIFA World Cup heralded the first appearance by a representative of the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation), with Australia the confederation’s pioneers.

The Socceroos made a forgettable debut, losing 2-0 to East Germany in Hamburg, but would claim their region’s first point en route to exiting the tournament with a goalless draw against Chile.

Australia are now regulars at the World Cup, having qualified for the last three editions in succession. They do, however, compete under the banner of the Asian Football Confederation these days, while the OFC – buoyed by New Zealand’s success four years ago – will be without a representative at Brazil 2014.

28. A capacity of 73,531 establishes the fabled Maracana as the biggest of Brazil 2014’s stadiums.

Yet while the scenes inside this sparkling, revamped arena during the FIFA Confederations Cup truly were a sight to behold, the numbers packed in represented a small fraction of what the stadium used to hold.

After all, in its pomp in the 1950s and ‘60s, the Maracana could - and often did - cram in colossal crowds of up to 200,000.

29. The great Michel Platini made 72 appearances during a glittering international career.

A midfield creator of grace and guile, this three-time Ballon d’Or winner inspired Les Bleusto their first major tournament success in 1984, scoring nine goals in a triumphant UEFA European Championship campaign.

However, despite appearing at three FIFA World Cups™, success on the game’s greatest stage eluded Platini, whose closest brush with glory came when France reached the semi-finals in 1982 and '86.

30. At 71 years old, Otto Rehhagel became the oldest man to coach at the FIFA World Cup™ when he led Greece at South Africa 2010.

The veteran German broke the record which had been held by Italian Cesare Maldini, who was 70 when he took charge of Paraguay at Korea/Japan 2002.

As for the youngest World Cup coach, that honour belongs to Argentina’s Juan Jose Tramutola. He was just 27 years old - younger than many of his players - when he managedLa Albiceleste in the inaugural edition in 1930.

31. The 1970 FIFA World Cup™ is generally remembered for its champions: a brilliant Brazil team widely regarded as the greatest of all time.

However, the Mexico-held tournament was also notable for other developments, including the first-ever substitution at a World Cup.

That historic switch was made in the opening match by USSR coach Gavriil Kachalin, with Anatoli Puzach sent on at half-time for Viktor Serebryanikov in the Soviets’ 0-0 draw with the hosts.

32. A total of 3,587,538 fans – making for an average of almost 69,000 per game - clicked through the turnstiles during the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™.

Every one of those supporters helped set a new attendance record for the world’s greatest competition and, despite the subsequent expansion in the number of teams and matches, that record remains to this day.

The biggest crowd recorded in 1994 was unsurprisingly for the Final, with 94,164 turning out at the Rose Bowl to watch Brazil beat Italy on penalties after a goalless draw.

33. With 68 international goals apiece, Gerd Muller and Miroslav Klose are Germany’s joint-record all-time goalscorers.

Klose equalled this benchmark in September, although he has achieved this haul in 131 appearances, while Muller required just 62.

Nonetheless, Klose will be aiming to claim the title of Germany’s top marksman for his own at Brazil 2014 – if not before – and is also sure to have his eye on Ronaldo’s all-time FIFA World Cup™ goals record.

34. Who remembers what happened in 67th minute of Chile’s group stage match with West Germany at the 1974 FIFA World Cup™? 

No-one? Well, Chile’s Carlos Caszely certainly will, as that was when he became the first player in World Cup history to pick up a red card.

Yellow and red cards had been introduced at Mexico 1970 but no-one was sent off, leaving Caszely to claim an unwanted piece of tournament history four years later thanks to his foul on Berti Vogts.

35. For England, 66 can only mean one thing. It is, of course, the year in which their FIFA World Cup™ dreams were realised for the first and, to date, only time.

The 1966 edition witnessed Geoff Hurst score the only hat-trick ever seen in a World Cup Final, and one of the goals – his second and England’s third – proved particularly contentious.

But while debate continues to this day about whether it was over the line, the introduction of goal-line technology for Brazil 2014 should ensure that a repeat of this legendary World Cup moment is avoided.

36. The 1990 FIFA World Cup™ was Romario’s first, but his involvement in Italy – due to injuries and suspension – amounted to just 65 goalless minutes.

Four years later, though, it was a very different story. Romario quickly emerged as the star of USA 1994, striking up a potent partnership with Bebeto and firing Brazil to the Trophy with five crucial goals.

That contribution resulted in him winning the adidas Golden Ball, becoming the first Brazilian since Pele in 1970 to be crowned as the World Cup’s outstanding player.

37. There will be 64 games played during Brazil 2014, with the Final taking place one month and one day after the opening match.

Contrast that to the considerably more modest inaugural FIFA World Cup™ in 1930, which lasted just 17 days and involved only 13 teams and 18 matches.

The participating nations on that occasion were divided across one group of four and three of three, with the section winners advancing directly to the semi-finals.

38. Alan Shearer made 63 appearances for England during a distinguished eight-year international career.

The former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers captained the Three Lions in 34 of those games and scored 30 goals, putting him level with Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney at joint-sixth in his nation's all-time standings.

However, England’s failure to qualify for USA 1994 meant that Shearer played at just one FIFA World Cup™, scoring twice in four appearances at France 1998.

39. The 1962 FIFA World Cup Chile™ saw Brazil become only the second team to retain the Trophy.

It was a tournament that belonged to Garrincha, the Brazilians’ mercurial, magical winger, who captured the world’s imagination – and a few prizes to boot.

After all, as well as finishing joint-top scorer with four goals, the Botafogo legend also earned the Golden Ball award, recognising his status as the competition’s outstanding player.

40. Argentina’s Guillermo Stabile, who scored in the first FIFA World Cup Final in 1930, died at the age of 61 in December 1966.

Stabile was handed his international debut at those inaugural finals in Uruguay and made an immediate and spectacular impact, scoring a hat-trick in a 6-3 thrashing of Mexico and adding five more goals to become the World Cup’s first Golden Boot winner.

Bizarrely, though, he never played for his country again, and ended his glorious, four-matchAlbiceleste career with a goalscoring ratio of two-per-game.

41. The five most frequent scorelines in international football account for over 60 per cent of all FIFA World Cup™ results.

Every third World Cup game has ended either 1-0 (18.8 per cent) or 2-1 (14.5 per cent), while 11 per cent of games have ended 2-0.

Another 9.8 per cent of games have ended 1-1, and 8.2 per cent of all matches played to date have ended 0-0.

42. One of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the game, Dino Zoff captained Italy on 59 occasions and led his country to glory at the 1982 FIFA World Cup™.

That memorable triumph was the high point of a 15-year international career that saw Zoff amass 112 appearances, a tally that, until fairly recently, made him the most capped keeper in Italian history.

That title now belongs to the current No1, Gianluigi Buffon, who holds the overall Azzurrirecord with 139.

43. Multiple players impressed with their goal-scoring at the 1958 FIFA World Cup Sweden™. Pele and Helmut Rahn fired home six goals apiece, Vava and Peter McParland hit five, and Kurt Hamrin, Lajos Tichy, Agne Simonsson and Zdenek Zikan rippled the net four times.

But in scoring terms, nobody even came close to touching Just Fontaine. The Morocco-born France striker travelled to Scandinavia as a reserve, but an injury afforded him a chance to start Les Bleus’ opener.

Fontaine only had one boot when he was handed the shock start, and that almost cost him the opportunity to compete against Paraguay. However, he borrowed a boot from reserve Stephane Bruey and, with it, scored 13 goals in six matches as France finished third. That almighty feat remains a record for a single FIFA World Cup.

“I thought for a long time that somebody would be capable of beating my record, but 55 years have passed and, until now, nothing,” Fontaine said last year. “Actually, I’ve begun to doubt the possibility.”

44. 57 qualifiers determined which 14 teams would join hosts Switzerland and holders Uruguay at the 1954 FIFA World Cup™ – and a chilly evening in Rome was the setting for one truly dramatic climax.

Spain beat Turkey 4-1 in Madrid in their showdown for a place at the finals. Turkey won the return leg 1-0 in Istanbul. Since goal difference was not in effect, a play-off was scheduled for 17 March 1954 in the Italian capital.

Spain led 1-0. Turkey led 2-1. An Adrian Escudero equaliser took the game to extra-time. No goals ensued. The penalty shoot-out had not been born. The drawing of lots would decide whether Spain or Turkey would line up in Switzerland.

Somebody was required to do the deed. Luigi Franco Gemma, whose father worked at the stadium, answered the call. The 14-year-old picked out Turkey.

Sandro Puppo’s side went to Switzerland, where they impressed by thumping Korea Republic 7-0 before being eliminated by eventual champions West Germany.

45. 56 players have appeared in the Final of two FIFA World Cups™. Only four, however, have achieved the admirable feat of scoring in both.

Vava and Pele, who hit braces apiece in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over the hosts in the conclusion to Sweden 1958, were the first two. Peito de Aço (Steel Chest) sealed a 3-1 win over Czechoslovakia in the 1962 decider, while O Rei (The King), who missed that game through injury, headed home the opener in the title-clinching 4-1 defeat of Italy in 1970.

Next up was Paul Breitner, who scored a penalty for West Germany in their 2-1 reverse of the Netherlands in the 1974 Final, before grabbing a consolation in the 3-1 loss to Italy eight years later. 

Finally, Zinedine Zidane, whose pair of headers propelled France to a 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 decider, followed suit by converting an early spot-kick in the 2006 equivalent, which his country lost on penalties to Italy.

46. 55 FIFA World Cup™ matches have gone to extra time – including one-third of its 18 Finals.

Italy, England, Argentina and Spain used the additional 30 minutes to seize the Trophy in 1934, 1966, 1978 and 2010 respectively, while, following goalless extra time periods in 1994 and 2006, Brazil and Italy emerged triumphant on penalties.

Gli Azzurri have gone to extra time a record 11 times in the World Cup, losing in it only once, courtesy of Ahn Jung-Hwan’s headed golden goal for Korea Republic in the Round of 16 in 2002 – an act that got him sacked by his Italian club Perugia.

Germany, England and France have gone to extra time nine, eight and seven times respectively, while Argentina, Brazil and Spain have done six times apiece.

47. Switzerland 1954 was the first FIFA World Cup™ to be televised thanks to technological developments. Just 16 years later, due to the launch of communication satellites in the 1960s, Mexico 1970 became its first edition to be beamed all around the globe, complete with action replays.

Now, of course, the World Cup is the most-viewed sporting event in the world. South Africa 2010 was shown in every single country and territory on Earth, including Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, smashing record viewing figures in many TV markets.

Furthermore, the last World Cup reached over 3.2 billion in-home people – 46.4 per cent of the world’s population. That’s a truly unbelievable statistic when one considers it excludes out-of-home viewers, innumerable of whom watched the action in bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels, online, via mobile handsets and at FIFA Fan Fests.

48. “Every 16 July I took my phone off the hook, because otherwise it would not stop ringing,” recalled Zizinho, a half-century after, on that day, Brazil were stunned by Uruguay in the deciding match of the 1950 FIFA World Cup™.

It’s an injustice that Zizinho, who passed away, aged 80, in 2002, failed to win that tournament. During it, La Gazzetta dello Sport described him as “a Leonardo da Vinci, creating works of art with his feet on the immense canvas of the Maracana pitch”, while he finished it with the best player award ahead of Juan Schiaffino and Ademir de Menezes.

Zizinho, Pele’s childhood hero, did nevertheless seize a host of honours with Flamengo, Bangu and Sao Paulo. The attacking midfielder also inspired Brazil to a 7-0 thumping of Paraguay in the Copa America 1949 decider, and hit 30 goals in 53 internationals.

49. After just two editions as a hitherto high 38-match tournament, Spain 1982 became a 52-game spectacle – and nobody was left complaining about the increase.

Indeed the first round included Hungary thrashing El Salvador 10-1 for the biggest victory in FIFA World Cup™ history, Northern Ireland’s stunning upset of the hosts, and three Brazil matches decorated by multiple wonder goals. The second round involved Italy upsetting Brazil 3-2 in one of the competition’s greatest games.

Thereafter, following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the semi-finals, West Germany recovered a deficit in the penalty shoot-out to beat France 5-4, before Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Co lost 3-1 to Italy in a memorable Final.

Even the match for third place was a corker, with Poland scoring three goals in six minutes to edge France 3-2.

50. With 51 goals in 123 appearances for the national team, Thierry Henry is France’s all-time leading scorer.

Previous record-holders such as Michel Platini (41) and Just Fontaine (30) were left in the former Arsenal striker’s wake as he racked up the goals during a 13-year international career.

Nor is Henry’s record likely to come under threat any time soon. After all, Karim Benzema – the highest scorer among the Brazil-bound Bleus squad – currently has just 19, leaving him 32 adrift of his prolific predecessor.

Source: FIFA