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48 games gone.. 16 to go.. the World Cup groups by numbers..the men to watch..the teams to fear..all the stats worth knowing from Russia as the greatest football show on earth moves into knockout stages
The percentage of matches decided by a single goal is at an all-time high in Russia: 61.5% compared to just 33.3% at the first World Cup in 1930
2018: 61.5% 2014: 53.8% 2010: 61.8% 2006: 40.5% 2002: 50% 1998: 53.1% 1994: 53.6% 1990: 57.1% 1986: 52% 1982: 45.8% 1978: 55.6%
1974: 26.7% 1970: 52.6% 1966: 36.8% 1962: 42.1% 1958: 47.1% 1954: 25% 1950: 28.6% 1938: 42.9% 1934: 50% 1930: 33.3% Ahmed Musa Nigeria v Iceland There are plenty of contenders after Russia’s Denis Cheryshev set the tone in game one. There have been fine longrange strikes from Nacho, Philippe Coutinho, Luka Modric, Granit Xhaka, Son Heung-min and Jesse Lingard, plus a great volley from Dries Mertens. But the skill of Musa to control and smash home against Iceland stood out. It is going to take something special to beat Michy Batshuayi’s goal ‘celebrations’ after Adnan Januzaj’s winner for Belgium against England on Thursday night.
The Chelsea striker (left) picked the ball out of the net, kicked it out of his hands straight on to the post only for the ball to bounce back from point-blank range and hit him in the head! Ha Rom Cri Den Die Ede Art And Joh Cou Lui Wa Ah Son Luk Mo Yer Mil