The numbers game

Some fascinating facts and figures from the World Cup:

0 - Shots on target by the Netherlands in the opening 90 minutes of its semifinal against Argentina before it lost 4-2 on penalties.

0 - Yellow cards shown for diving.

2 - Previous finals between Germany and Argentina. Argentina won 3-2 in 1986 and Germany 1-0 in 1990.

2 - Pitch invasions.

2 - Two African countries, Nigeria and Algeria, made it to the knockout stages for the first time but failed to reach the last eight.

2.69 - Average goals per match after 62 of 64 games, up from a final tally of 2.27 in South Africa four years ago but far below the record of 5.38 in Switzerland in 1954.

4 - Months Luis Suarez was banned from soccer-related activities after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. The Uruguay forward was also handed a nine-match competitive international suspension.

6 - Goals scored by leading marksman James Rodriguez of Colombia, one more than Germany's Thomas Mueller.

7 - Goals conceded by Brazil in its semifinal against Germany, the most in the nation's World Cup history and the widest margin of victory in a last-four encounter.

8 - German scorers at the finals, twice as many as Argentina (4).

10 - Red cards, fewer than any other World Cup since 1986 (8) and down from the record 28 shown at Germany 2006.

16 - Germany striker Miroslav Klose's record for the number of goals at the World Cup set when he scored against Brazil in the semifinals to surpass its former forward Ronaldo.

16 - Saves made by US goalkeeper Tim Howard in the last-16 defeat against Belgium, a total unmatched since World Cup records began.

17 - Germany's goal tally on the way to the final, more than twice as many as Argentina (8).

28 - Tackles Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano has made, more than any other player.

57.3 - Average minutes played per match, up from 54 at the 2010 edition.

69.6 - Kilometers covered by Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder in his six matches, the most of any player.

167 - Goals scored up to the semifinals, already the most since the record total of 171 set at France 1998.

172 - Yellow cards in 62 of 64 matches, down from a peak of 307 at Germany 2006.

393 - Average passes per team, up from 353 in 2010.

506 - World Cup minutes played by Algeria without scoring until it netted against Belgium in its Group H opener.

53,018 - Average stadium attendance, the most since the record of 68,991 at USA 1994.

3,000,000 - US dollars airlifted to Brazil to placate disgruntled Ghana players.

11,600,000,000 - Cost to Brazil (in US dollars) to host the Cup.

Reuters

(China Daily 07/14/2014 page24)