A World Final of Records
Congratulations to Spain in winning their first World Cup. In the process they set some final and tournament records. The Dutch set a couple of records as well, but for the wrong reasons. Let's start with the Dutch records:
1) Tied the record for most yellow cards in a World Cup match with nine.That was a record for the final as well. Portugal also had nine in 2006 vs the Dutch.
2) The Dutch became the first team to lose the final twice in extra time.
Now for Spain's numerous records :
1) Most consecutive 1-0 wins in a tournament and most 1-0 wins in a tournament with four 1-0 wins.
2) They were involved in five 1-0 decisions . This is a record for one tournament.
3) Tied the record with four consecutive 0-0 halftime scores in a tournament with East Germany in 1974. Italy 1982 and Poland 1982 had four 0-0 halftime scores, but those were not consecutive. Cameroon had five consecutive 0-0 halftime scores spread over two tournaments.
4) The fewest goals scored by a World Cup winner with eight and 1.14 goals per match was the lowest rate for a World Cup winner.
5) Became the first team to win the World Cup after losing the opening match.
6) Did not concede any first half goals in a tournament after playing the maximum number of possible matches. This was matched by Germany in 2002, W. Germany 1990 and Italy 1990.
7) Conceded only two goals to win the World Cup. This was matched by Italy in 2006 and France in 1998.
8) Scored the latest match winning goal in extra time.
If I missed any records please let me know.
posted by manunitedrules @ 1:31 AM
3 Comments:
9. Most tedious World Cup Final Winning performance since Brazil 1994?
A pox on Robben missing those sitters that might have woken this match up.
I'm glad that Spain won because of Holland surprising thuggishness, but it's not good viewing, for the purists or otherwise.
Agreed, Gooner. I'm glad that you were somehow able to revive yourself for a long drive home after that tosh.
It goes without saying that this was the worst World Cup since 1990 and the less said about yesterday's match the better. Most of records that MUR kindly laid out on this thread are negative ones for the game.
I don't entirely blame the players. The Jabulani ball, for example, made the opening round a farce with no goals scored from free kicks and lots of goalkeeping howlers.
Given that, there were precious few highlights, but I'll still fondly remember Paul the Octopus, the Paraguayan model with the cellphone in her shirt, and Tshabalala's opening goal and celebration.
Not too many great matches either. My pick of the tournament was Italy v. Slovakia, which had lots of thrills and spills and featured one of the great goals of the tournament. Quagliarella's effort from the top of the box was only surpassed for me by Van Bronkhorst's piledriver into the top corner in the semifinal.
The ESPN coverage was excellent throughout (and I'll be writing a letter to them thanking them for it), but I thought that Martin Tyler (their crown jewel) was oddly muted and phoned in several matches with scripted lines. Ruud Gullit and Steve McManaman were my favorite pundits and struck up a great rapport that went straight to the end. Lexi Lalas was the most inane.
Despite the lack of quality (UWS's plea for quality will linger in the memory) I thoroughly enjoyed sharing it with all of you. And, guess what, there's only about a month of rest until the beginning of the new season. Can't wait!
Well stated Doctor Dahlgren!
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