Top teams have trouble winning at World Cup

Parity has come to the World Cup. Five of the top six nations in the FIFA rankings have played, and none has won. Only two of the top dozen teams have victories.

Top-ranked Germany lost to No. 15 Mexico, second-ranked Brazil tied No. 6 Switzerland, No. 4 Portugal drew 10thranked Spain, and No. 5 Argentina tied 22nd-ranked Iceland.

Among other teams in the top 12, only No. 7 France (over No. 36 Australia) and co-No. 12 Denmark (against No. 11 Peru) have victories.

No. 3 Belgium, No. 7 France, No. 8 Poland and co-No. 12 England haven’t played, and No. 9 Chile failed to qualify.

*** Rafa Marquez has gone on as a second-half substitute for Mexico to become just the third man to play in five World Cups.

The 39-year-old Marquez entered the game in the 72nd minute with Mexico leading defending champion Germany 1-0. He joins fellow Mexican Antonio Carbajal and Germany’s Lothar Matthaus in the elite group.

He played four matches in each World Cup as Mexico was eliminated in the round of 16 each time.

* * * A Colombia fan cycled alone for more than 5,000 km across seven European countries to reach Russia to watch his national team play in the World Cup.

The 43-year-old Daniel Quiroga started out in Portugal and went through Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia before making it to Russia.