All you need to know about the World Cup. From records to players

  We are now just months away from the 2018 Russia World Cup.

The groups have been drawn, the training camps have been decided, and national teams are currently preparing for the finals across a number of international friendlies. 

Four years after the 2014 finals in Brazil the world will again explode with colour as cities, countries and continents celebrate the selected group of players chosen to represent their nation.

But who has won the most World Cup trophies, which player has scored the most goals, and what else do you need to know about the biggest tournament in football?

Goal takes a look at the record books ahead of the summer's kick off.

Who has won the most World Cups?

Most titles won - 5, Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

Most finishes in the top two - 8, Germany (1954, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2014)

Most finishes in the top three - 12, Germany 1934, 1954, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)

Most finishes in the top four - 13, Germany (1934, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)

Most finishes in the top eight - 17, Germany (Every tournament except 1930, 1938 and 1950), Brazil (Every tournament except 1934, 1966 and 1990)

Most finishes in the top 16 - 20, Brazil (every tournament)

Most World Cup appearances - 21, Brazil (every tournament including 2018)

Most 2nd-place finishes - 4, Germany (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002)

Most 3rd-place finishes - 4, Germany (1934, 1970, 2006, 2010)

Most 4th-place finishes - 3, Uruguay (1954, 1970, 2010)

Most 3rd-4th-place finishes - 5, Germany (1934, 1958, 1970, 2006, 2010)

Most 5th-8th-place finishes - 8, England (1950, 1954, 1962, 1970, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2006)

Most 9th-16th-place finishes - 13, Mexico (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)

Most 17th-32nd-place finishes - 6, South Korea (1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2014)

Consecutive

Most consecutive championships - 2, Italy (1934–1938) and Brazil (1958–1962)

Most consecutive finishes in the top two - 3, Germany (1982–1990) and Brazil (1994–2002)

Most consecutive finishes in the top three - 4, Germany (2002–2014)

Most consecutive finishes in the top four - 4, Germany (2002–2014)

Most consecutive finishes in the top eight - 16, Germany (1954–2014)

Most consecutive finishes in the top 16 - 20, Brazil (1930–2014)

Most consecutive finals tournaments - 21, Brazil (1930–2018)

Most consecutive second-place Finishes - 2, Netherlands (1974–1978) and Germany (1982–1986)

Most consecutive third-place finishes - 2, Germany (2006–2010)

Most consecutive fourth-place finishes - no country has finished 4th in two consecutive tournaments

Most consecutive 3rd-4th-place finishes - 2, Sweden (1938–1950), Brazil (1974-1978), France (1982–1986), Germany (2006–2010)

Most consecutive 5th-8th-place finishes - 4, Switzerland (1934–1954)

Most consecutive 9th-16th-place finishes - 6, Mexico (1994–2014)

Most consecutive 17th-32nd-place finishes - 4, South Korea (1986–1998)

Biggest improvement in position in consecutive tournaments - Did not participate/qualify, then champion: Italy (1930–1934), Uruguay (1938–1950), West Germany (1950–1954), France (1994–1998)

Most consecutive championships by a confederation - 3, UEFA (2006–2014)

Biggest gaps

Longest gap between successive titles - 44 years, Italy (1938–1982)

Longest gap between successive appearances in the top two - 48 years, Argentina (1930–1978)

Longest gap between successive appearances in the top three - 48 years, Argentina (1930–1978)

Longest gap between successive appearances in the finals - 56 years: Egypt (1934–1990), Norway (1938–1994)

Host team records

Best finish by host team - Champion: Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978), France (1998)

Worst finish by host team - 17th–32nd position (FIFA final ranking of 20th): South Africa (2010)

Defending champion

Best finish by defending champion - Champion: Italy (1938), Brazil (1962)

Worst finish by defending champion - Did not participate: Uruguay (1934)

Worst finish by defending champion who participates in the next finals - Group stage: Italy (1950, 2010), Brazil (1966), France (2002), Spain (2014)

Debuting teams

Best finish by a debuting team - Champion: Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934)

Best finish by a debuting team after 1934 - Third place: Portugal (1966), Croatia (1998)

Most finishes in the top two without ever being champion - 3, Netherlands (1974, 1978, 2010)

Most finishes in the top three without ever being champion - 4, Netherlands (1974, 1978, 2010, 2014)

Most appearances, never progressing from the first round - 8, Scotland (1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998)

Fewest appearances, always progressing from the first round - 3, Republic of Ireland (1990, 1994, 2002)

Most appearances, never winning a match - 3, Bolivia (1930, 1950, 1994), Honduras (1982, 2010, 2014)

Most played final - 3, Argentina vs Germany (1986, 1990, 2014)

World Cup team records

Most appearances in the first round - 21, Brazil (every tournament)

Progressed from the first round the most times - 17, Germany (every tournament except 1930, 1938 and 1950), Brazil (every tournament except 1930, 1934 and 1966)

Eliminated in the first round the most times - 8, Scotland (1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998)

Most appearances, always progressing from the first round - 3, Republic of Ireland (1990, 1994, 2002)

Most appearances, never progressing from the first round - 8, Scotland (1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998)

Consecutive

Most consecutive appearances in the first round - 21, Brazil (every tournament)

Most consecutive progressions from the first round - 16, Germany (1954–2014)

Most consecutive eliminations from the first round - 5, Mexico (1950–1966), Scotland (1974–1990)

Host team

Host team eliminated in the first round - South Africa (2010)

Defending champion

Defending champion eliminated in the first round - Italy (1950 and 2010), Brazil (1966), France (2002), Spain (2014)

World Cup individual player records

Most championships - 3, Pele (Brazil, 1958, 1962 (only played in first two matches; medal awarded retroactively by FIFA in 2007) and 1970)

Most tournaments played - 5, Antonio Carbajal (Mexico, 1950–1966), Lothar Matthaus (Germany, 1982–1998)

Most tournaments in squad - 5, Antonio Carbajal (Mexico, 1950–1966), Lothar Matthäus (Germany, 1982–1998), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, 1998 (did not play), 2002–2014)

Most finishes in the top two - 3, Nilton Santos (Brazil 1950, 1958, 1962), Pelé (Brazil 1958, 1962, 1970), Pierre Littbarski (West Germany 1982, 1986, 1990), Lothar Matthaus (West Germany 1982, 1986, 1990), Cafu (Brazil, 1994, 1998, 2002), Ronaldo (Brazil, 1994, 1998, 2002)

Most finishes in the top three - 4, Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)

Most appearances in All-Star Team - 3, Djalma Santos (Brazil, 1954–1962), Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany, 1966–1974), Philipp Lahm (Germany, 2006–2014)

Most matches played, finals - 25, Lothar Matthaus (Germany, 1982–1998)

Most knockout games played, finals - 14, Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)

Most minutes played, finals - 2,217 minutes, Paolo Maldini (Italy, 1990–2002)

Most matches played, qualifying - 68, Ivan Hurtado (Ecuador, 1994–2010)

Most matches won - 17, Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)

Most appearances in a World Cup final - 3, Cafu (Brazil, 1994, 1998, 2002)

Most finals played with different teams - 2, Luis Monti (Argentina, 1930 and Italy, 1934)

Most appearances as captain - 16, Diego Maradona (Argentina, 1986–1994)

Most tournaments as captain - 4, Rafael Marquez (Mexico, 2002–2014)

Most appearances as substitute - 11, Denilson (Brazil, 1998–2002)

Youngest player - 17 years, 41 days, Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland), vs Yugoslavia, 17 June 1982

Youngest player, final - 17 years, 249 days, Pele (Brazil), vs Sweden, 29 June 1958

Youngest player, qualifying match - 13 years, 310 days, Souleymane Mamam (Togo), vs Zambia, 6 May 2001, 2002 CAF Group 1

Youngest captain - 21 years, 109 days, Tony Meola (United States), vs Czechoslovakia, 10 June 1990

Oldest player - 43 years, 3 days, Faryd Mondragón (Colombia), vs Japan, 24 June 2014

Oldest player, final - 40 years, 133 days, Dino Zoff (Italy), vs West Germany, 11 July 1982

Oldest player, qualifying match - 46 years, 175 days, MacDonald Taylor, Sr. (U.S. Virgin Islands), vs Saint Kitts and Nevis, 18 February 2004, 2006 CONCACAF First Round.

Oldest captain - 40 years, 292 days, Peter Shilton (England), vs Italy, 7 July 1990

Oldest player to debut in a World Cup finals tournament - 39 years, 321 days, David James (England), vs Algeria, 18 June 2010

Largest age difference on the same team - 24 years and 42 days, 1994, Cameroon (Rigobert Song: 17 years and 358 days; Roger Milla: 42 years and 35 days)

Largest age difference on a champion team - 21 years and 297 days, 1982, Italy (Dino Zoff: 40 years and 133 days; Giuseppe Bergomi: 18 years and 201 days)

Longest period between World Cup finals appearances as a player - 12 years and 13 days, Alfred Bickel (Switzerland, 1938–1950)

Longest span of World Cup finals appearances as a player - 16 years, Antonio Carbajal (Mexico, 1950–1966); Elias Figueroa (Chile, 1966–1982); Hugo Sanchez (Mexico, 1978–1994); Giuseppe Bergomi (Italy, 1982–1998); Lothar Matthaus (Germany, 1982–1998); Rigobert Song (Cameroon, 1994–2010); Faryd Mondragon (Colombia, 1998-2014)

Longest period between World Cup finals appearances, overall - 44 years, Tim ( Brazil, 1938, as a player; and Peru, 1982, as coach)

World Cup goal records

Most goals scored, overall finals - 16, Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)

Most goals scored, overall qualifying - 39, Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala, 2002–2016)

Most goals scored in a tournament - 13, Just Fontaine (France, 1958)

Most goals scored in a match - 5, Oleg Salenko (Russia), vs Cameroon, 1994

Most goals scored in a lost match - 4, Ernest Wilimowski (Poland), vs Brazil, 1938

Most goals scored in a qualifying match - 13, Archie Thompson (Australia), vs American Samoa, 2002 OFC Group 1

Most goals scored in a final match - 3, Geoff Hurst (England), vs West Germany, 1966

Most goals scored in all final matches - 3, Vava (Brazil), 2 vs Sweden in 1958 & 1 vs Czechoslovakia in 1962; Pele (Brazil), 2 vs Sweden in 1958 & 1 vs Italy in 1970; Geoff Hurst (England), 3 vs West Germany in 1966 and Zinedine Zidane (France), 2 vs Brazil in 1998 & 1 vs Italy in 2006

Scored goal(s) in multiple final matches - Vava (Brazil, 1958 & 1962), Pele (Brazil, 1958 & 1970), Paul Breitner (West Germany, 1974 & 1982) and Zinedine Zidane (France, 1998 & 2006)

Most matches with at least one goal - 11, Ronaldo (Brazil, 1998–2006), Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)

Most consecutive matches with at least one goal - 6, Just Fontaine (France, 1958) and Jairzinho (Brazil, 1970)

Most matches with at least two goals - 4, Sandor Kocsis (Hungary, 1954), Just Fontaine (France, 1958), Ronaldo (Brazil, 1998–2006) and Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2010)

Most consecutive matches with at least two goals - 4, Sandor Kocsis (Hungary, 1954)

Most hat-tricks - 2, Sandor Kocsis (Hungary, 1954), Just Fontaine (France, 1958), Gerd Muller (West Germany, 1970) and Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina, 1994 & 1998)

Most consecutive hat-tricks - 2, Sandor Kocsis (Hungary, 1954) and Gerd Muller (West Germany, 1970)

Fastest hat-trick - 8 minutes, Laszlo Kiss (Hungary), scored at 69', 72' and 76', vs El Salvador, 1982

Most goals scored by a substitute in a match - 3, Laszlo Kiss (Hungary), vs El Salvador, 1982

Olympic Goals (Goals From a Corner) scored in a World Cup - 1, Marcos Coll (Colombia), vs Soviet Union, 1962

Hat-tricks from the penalty spot - Never occurred in the final tournament, four times in qualification: Kubilay Turkyilmaz (Switzerland), vs Faroe Islands, 7 October 2000, 2002 UEFA Group 1; Henrik Larsson (Sweden), vs Moldova, 6 June 2001, 2002 UEFA Group 4; Ronaldo (Brazil), vs Argentina, 2 June 2004, 2006 CONMEBOL; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), vs Niger, 15 June 2013, 2014 CAF Second Round Group E

Scoring in every match of a team in a World Cup (at least three matches) - Gyorgy Sárosi (Hungary), 5 goals in 4 matches (1938), Arne Nyberg (Sweden), 3 goals in 3 matches (1938), Alcides Ghiggia (Uruguay), 4 goals in 4 matches (1950), Just Fontaine (France), 13 goals in 6 matches (1958), Omar Oreste Corbatta (Argentina), 3 goals in 3 matches (1958), Ferenc Bene (Hungary), 4 goals in 4 matches (1966), Jairzinho (Brazil), 7 goals in 6 matches (1970), Teofilo Cubillas (Peru), 5 goals in 4 matches (1970), James Rodriguez (Colombia), 6 goals in 5 matches (2014)

Most tournaments with at least one goal - 4, Pele (Brazil, 1958–1970), Uwe Seeler (West Germany, 1958–1970) and Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)

Most tournaments with at least two goals - 4, Uwe Seeler (West Germany, 1958–1970) and Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)

Most tournaments with at least three goals - 3, Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany, 1990–1998), Ronaldo (Brazil, 1998–2006) and Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2010)

Most tournaments with at least four goals - 3, Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2010)

Most tournaments with at least five goals - 2, Teofilo Cubillas (Peru, 1970, 1978), Miroslav Klose (Germany, (2002–2006) and Thomas Muller (Germany, 2010–2014)

Most qualification tournaments with at least one goal - 5, Rafael Marquez (Mexico, 2002–2018) and Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala, 2002–2018)

Longest period between a player's first and last goals - 12 years, 1 month and 7 days; Miroslav Klose (Germany, 1 June 2002 – 8 July 2014)

Longest period between a player's first and last goals overall - 12 years, Uwe Seeler (West Germany, 8 June 1958 – 14 June 1970), Pele (Brazil, 19 June 1958 – 21 June 1970), Diego Maradona (Argentina, 18 June 1982 – 21 June 1994), Michael Laudrup (Denmark, 8 June 1986 – 24 June 1998), Henrik Larsson (Sweden, 16 July 1994 – 20 June 2006), Sami Al-Jaber (Saudi Arabia, 25 June 1994 – 14 June 2006), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico, 20 June 1998 – 17 June 2010), Miroslav Klose (Germany, 1 June 2002 – 8 July 2014) and Ivica Olic (Croatia, 8 June 2002 – 18 June 2014)

Longest period between one goal and another - 12 years, Michael Laudrup (Denmark, 1986–1998) and Ivica Olic (Croatia, 2002–2014)

First goalscorer - Lucien Laurent (France), vs Mexico, 13 July 1930

Youngest goalscorer - 17 years, 7 months and 27 days, Pelé (Brazil), vs Wales, 19 June 1958

Youngest hat-trick scorer - 17 years, 8 months and 1 day, Pele (Brazil), vs France, 24 June 1958

Youngest goalscorer, final - 17 years, 8 months and 6 days, Pele (Brazil), vs Sweden, 29 June 1958

Oldest goalscorer - 42 years, 1 month and 8 days, Roger Milla (Cameroon), vs Russia, 28 June 1994

Oldest hat-trick scorer - 33 years, 5 months and 8 days, Tore Keller (Sweden), vs Cuba, 12 June 1938

Oldest goalscorer, final - 35 years, 8 months and 21 days, Nils Liedholm (Sweden), vs Brazil, 29 June 1958

Most penalties scored (excluding during shootouts) - 4, Eusebio (Portugal, 4 in 1966), Rob Rensenbrink (Netherlands, 4 in 1978) – both records for one tournament – and Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina, 2 each in 1994 and 1998)

Most penalties missed (excluding during shootouts) - 2, Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), vs Czech Republic, 2006 and vs Uruguay, 2010

First substitute winning goalscorer, final - Came on 86th minute, Mario Götze (Germany), vs Argentina, 2014

Fastest goal from kickoff - 11 seconds, Hakan Sukur (Turkey), vs South Korea, 2002

Fastest goal by a substitute - 16 seconds, Ebbe Sand (Denmark), vs Nigeria, 1998

Fastest goal in a final - 90 seconds, Johan Neeskens (Netherlands), vs West Germany, 1974

Fastest goal in a qualifying match - 8.1 seconds, Christian Benteke (Belgium), vs Gibraltar, 2018 UEFA Group H

Fastest brace scored - 69 seconds, Toni Kroos (Germany), vs Brazil, 2014

Latest goal from kickoff - 121st minute, Alessandro Del Piero (Italy), vs Germany, 2006 and Abdelmoumene Djabou (Algeria), vs Germany, 2014

Latest goal from kickoff in a final - 120th minute, Geoff Hurst (England), vs Germany, 1966

Latest goal from kickoff, with no goals scored between - 119th minute, David Platt (England), vs Belgium, 1990 and Fabio Grosso (Italy), vs Germany, 2006

Latest goal from kickoff in a final, with no goals scored between - 116th minute, Andrés Iniesta (Spain), vs Netherlands, 2010

Most participations in different World Cup penalty shoot-outs - 3 times, Roberto Baggio (Italy) (1990, converted, 1994, missed, and 1998, converted)

World Cup penalty records

Most played - 5, Argentina (1990, 1990, 1998, 2006, 2014)

Most played in one tournament - 2, Argentina (1990), Spain (2002), Costa Rica (2014) and Netherlands (2014)

Most won - 4, Germany (1982, 1986, 1990, 2006) and Argentina (1990, 1990, 1998, 2014)

Most won in one tournament - 2, Argentina (1990)

Most lost - 3, England (1990, 1998, 2006) and Italy (1990, 1994, 1998)

World Cup goalkeeper records

Most clean sheets (matches without conceding) - 10, Peter Shilton (England, 1982–1990) and Fabien Barthez (France, 1998–2006)

Most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal (finals) - 517 mins (5 consecutive clean sheets), Walter Zenga (Italy, 1990)

Most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal (qualifying) - 921 mins (9 consecutive clean sheets[21]), Richard Wilson (New Zealand, 1982)

Most goals conceded - 25, Antonio Carbajal (Mexico) and Mohamed Al-Deayea (Saudi Arabia)

Most goals conceded, one tournament - 16, Hong Duk-Yung (South Korea), 1954

Most goals conceded, one match - 10, Luis Guevara Mora (El Salvador), 1982 (vs Hungary)

Fewest goals conceded, one tournament, champions - 2, Fabien Barthez (France), 1998, Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, 2006) and Iker Casillas (Spain, 2010)

Fewest goals conceded, one tournament - 0, Pascal Zuberbuhler (Switzerland), 2006

Most penalties saved, one tournament (excluding during shootouts) - 2, Jan Tomaszewski (Poland), 1974 and Brad Friedel (United States), 2002

Most penalties saved overall (excluding during shootouts) - 2, Jan Tomaszewski (Poland, both in 1974), Brad Friedel (United States, both in 2002), and Iker Casillas (Spain, 1 in 2002 and 1 in 2010)

World Cup coaching records

Most matches coached - 25, Helmut Schon (West Germany, 1966–1978)

Most matches won - 16, Helmut Schon (West Germany, 1966–1978)

Most championships - 2, Vittorio Pozzo (Italy, 1934–1938)

Most tournaments - 6, Carlos Alberto Parreira (1982, 1990–1998, 2006, 2010)

Most nations coached - 5, Bora Milutinovic (Mexico, 1986; Costa Rica, 1990; United States, 1994; Nigeria, 1998; China PR, 2002), and Carlos Alberto Parreira (Kuwait, 1982; United Arab Emirates, 1990; Brazil, 1994 and 2006; Saudi Arabia, 1998, South Africa, 2010)

Most consecutive tournaments with same team - 4, Walter Winterbottom (England, 1950–1962); Helmut Schon (West Germany, 1966–1978). Sepp Herberger took Germany/West Germany to four tournaments, (1938, 1954, 1958, 1962) omitting the 1950 competition from which Germany was banned).

Most consecutive wins - 11, Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil, 2002, 7 wins; Portugal, 2006, 4 wins – Portugal "won" its next match, the quarterfinal against England, by penalty kicks, which technically counts as a draw)

Most consecutive matches without a loss - 12, Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil, 2002, 7 matches; Portugal, 2006, 5 matches)

Youngest coach - 27 years and 267 days, Juan Jose Tramutola (Argentina, 1930)

Oldest coach - 71 years and 317 days, Otto Rehhagel (Greece, 2010)

Quickest substitution made - 4th minute, Cesare Maldini, Giuseppe Bergomi for Alessandro Nesta (Italy, vs Austria, 1998); Sven-Göran Eriksson, Peter Crouch for Michael Owen (England, vs Sweden, 2006)

Most championship wins as player and head coach - 3, Mario Zagallo, Brazil (1958 & 1962 as player, 1970 as coach)

Most final appearances as player and head coach - 5, Mario Zagallo, Brazil (1958 & 1962 as player, 1970, 1974 & 1998 as coach); Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany (1966–1974 as player, 1986 & 1990 as coach); Berti Vogts, West Germany (1970–1978 as player, 1994 & 1998 as coach)

Won tournaments as both player and head coach - Mario Zagallo, Brazil (1958 & 1962 as player, 1970 as coach); Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany (1974 as player, 1990 as coach)

First World Cup player to coach a team in a World Cup - Milorad Arsenijevic, Serbia (1930 as player, 1950 as coach, both times for Yugoslavia)

World Cup streaks

Most consecutive successful qualification attempts - 15, Brazil (1930-2018) and 14, Germany (1934–2018)

Most consecutive failed qualification attempts - 20, Luxembourg (1934–2018)

Most consecutive wins - 11 Brazil, from 2–1 Turkey (2002) to 3–0 Ghana (2006)

Most consecutive matches without a loss - 13, Brazil, from 3–0 Austria (1958) to 2–0 Bulgaria (1966)

Most consecutive losses - 9, Mexico, from 1–4 France (1930) to 0–3 Sweden (1958)

Most consecutive matches without a win - 17, Bulgaria, from 0–1 Argentina (1962) to 0–3 Nigeria (1994)

Most consecutive draws - 5, Belgium, from 0–0 Netherlands (1998) to 1–1 Tunisia (2002)

Most consecutive matches without a draw - 16, Portugal, from 3–1 Hungary (1966) to 1–0 Netherlands (2006)

Most consecutive matches scoring at least one goal - 18, Brazil (1930–1958) and Germany (1934–1958)

Most consecutive matches scoring at least two goals - 11, Uruguay (1930–1954)

Most consecutive matches scoring at least three / four goals - 4, Uruguay (1930–1950) and Hungary (1954) (four goals); also Portugal (1966), Germany (1970), Brazil (1970)

Most consecutive matches scoring at least six / eight goals - 2, Hungary (1954) (eight goals); also Brazil (1950) (six goals)

Most consecutive matches without scoring a goal - 5, Bolivia (1930, 1950 and 1994), Algeria (1986 and 2010), and Honduras (1982 and 2010-2014)

Most consecutive matches without conceding a goal (clean sheets) - 5, Italy (1990) and Switzerland (2006–2010)

Most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal - 559, Switzerland (1994, 2006–2010)

Most consecutive matches conceding at least one goal - 22, Switzerland (1934–1994)

Most consecutive matches conceding at least two goals - 9, Mexico (1930–1958)

Most consecutive matches conceding at least three goals - 5, Mexico (1930–1950)

Most consecutive matches conceding at least four goals - 3, Bolivia (1930–1950), Mexico (1930–1950)

Most consecutive matches conceding at least five / six / seven goals - 2, South Korea (1954) (seven goals); also United States (1930–1934) (six goals); also Austria (1954) (five goals)

Team

Biggest margin of victory - 9, Hungary 9-0 South Korea, 1954; Yugoslavia 9-0 Zaire, 1974; Hungary 10-1 El Salvador, 1982

Biggest margin of victory, qualifying match - 31, Australia 31-0 vs American Samoa, April 11, 2001, 2002 OFC Group 1

Most goals scored in a match, one team - 10, Hungary 10-1 El Salvador, 1982

Most goals scored in a match, both teams - 12, Austria 7-5 Switzerland, 1954

Highest scoring draw - 4–4, England vs Belgium (AET), 1954, and Soviet Union vs Colombia, 1962

Largest deficit overcome in a win - 3 goals, Austria, 1954 (coming from 0–3 down to win 7–5 vs Switzerland) and Portugal, 1966 (coming from 0–3 down to win 5–3 vs North Korea)

Largest deficit overcome in a draw - 3 goals, Colombia, 1962 (coming from 0–3 down to draw 4–4 vs Soviet Union) and Uruguay, 2002 (coming from 0–3 down to draw 3–3 vs Senegal)

Most goals scored in extra time, both teams - 5, Italy 3-2 West Germany, 1970

Most goals scored in a final, one team - 5, Brazil, 1958

Most goals scored in a final, both teams - 7, Brazil 5-2 Sweden, 1958

Fewest goals scored in a final, both teams - 0, Brazil 0-0 Italy, 1994

Biggest margin of victory in a final - 3, France 3-0 Brazil 1998, and Brazil 4-1 Italy, 1970, and Brazil 5-2 Sweden, 1958

Largest deficit overcome in a win in a final - 2, West Germany, 1954 (coming from 0–2 down to win 3–2 vs Hungary)

Most goals in a tournament, one team - 27, Hungary, 1954

Most individual goalscorers for one team, one match - 7, Yugoslavia, vs Zaire, 1974 (Dusan Bajevic, Dragan Dzajic, Ivica Surjak, Josip Katalinski, Vladislav Bogicevic, Branko Oblak, Ilija Petkovic)

Most individual goalscorers for one team, one tournament - 10, France, 1982 (Gerard Soler, Bernard Genghini, Michel Platini, Didier Six, Maxime Bossis, Alain Giresse, Dominique Rocheteau, Marius Tresor, Rene Girard, Alain Couriol) and Italy, 2006 (Alessandro Del Piero, Alberto Gilardino, Fabio Grosso, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Filippo Inzaghi, Marco Materazzi, Andrea Pirlo, Luca Toni, Francesco Totti, Gianluca Zambrotta)

Largest goal difference improvement in consecutive matches - +10, Turkey (1954) – lost 1–4 to West Germany, then won 7–0 over South Korea; and West Germany (1954) – lost 3–8 to Hungary, then won 7–2 over Turkey

Largest goal difference worsening in consecutive matches - −12, Sweden (1938) – won 8–0 over Cuba, then lost 1–5 to Hungary, Turkey (1954) – won 7–0 over South Korea, then lost 2–7 to West Germany; Hungary (1982) – won 10–1 over El Salvador, then lost 1–4 to Argentina.

World Cup referees and disciplinary records

Most tournaments - 3, John Langenus (Belgium, 1930–1938), Ivan Eklind (Sweden, 1934–1950), Benjamin Griffiths (Wales, 1950–1958), Arthur Ellis (England, 1950–1958), Juan Gardeazabal (Spain, 1958–1966), Jamal Al Sharif (Syria, 1986–1994), Joel Quiniou (France, 1986–1994), Ali Mohamed Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates, 1994–2002), Oscar Ruiz (Colombia, 2002–2010), Carlos Eugênio Simon (Brazil, 2002–2010), Marco Rodriguez (Mexico, 2006–2014)

Most matches refereed, overall - 9, Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan, 2010–2014)

Most matches refereed, one tournament - 5, Benito Archundia (Mexico, 2006), Horacio Elizondo ( Argentina, 2006) and Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan, 2010)

Youngest referee - 24 years and 193 days – Juan Gardeazábal (Spain, 1958)

Oldest referee - 53 years and 236 days – George Reader (England, 1950)

Fastest caution - first minute - Giampiero Marini (Italy) vs Poland, 1982; Sergei Gorlukovich (Russia), vs Sweden, 1994

Fastest sending off - 56 seconds, Jose Batista (Uruguay), vs Scotland, 1986

Fastest sending off, qualification - 37 seconds, Rashed Al Hooti (Bahrain), vs Iran, 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Latest caution - during penalty shootout: Edinho (Brazil) v France 1986; Carlos Roa (Argentina), vs England, 1998

Latest sending off - after penalty shootout: Leandro Cufre (Argentina), vs Germany, 2006 (Cufre was red carded for kicking Per Mertesacker in an altercation following the match)

Sent off from the bench - Claudio Caniggia (Argentina), vs Sweden, 2002

Most cards (all-time, player) - 6, Zinedine Zidane (France, 1998–2006) and Cafu (Brazil, 1994–2006)

Most cautions (all-time, player) - 6, Cafu (Brazil, 1994–2006)

Most sendings off (all-time, player) - 2, Rigobert Song (Cameroon, 1994 and 1998) and Zinedine Zidane (France, 1998 and 2006)

Most sendings off (tournament) - 28 (in 64 games), 2006

Most sendings off (all-time, team) - 11 (in 97 games), Brazil

Most sendings off (match, both teams) - 4 (2 each) in Portugal vs Netherlands, 2006 (also known as Battle of Nuremberg)

Most sendings off (final match) - 2, Pedro Monzon & Gustavo Dezotti (both Argentina), vs West Germany, 1990

Most cautions (tournament) - 345 (in 64 matches), 2006

Most cautions (all-time, team) - 88 (in 64 games), Argentina

Most cautions (match, one team) - 9, Portugal, 2006, vs Netherlands & Netherlands, 2010, vs Spain

Most cautions (match, both teams) - 16, Portugal vs Netherlands, 2006 and Cameroon v Germany, June 11, 2002

Most cautions (match, player) - 3, (61', 90', 93') Josip Simunic (Croatia), vs Australia, 2006 (referee: Graham Poll)

Most cautions (final match, both teams) - 14, 5 (Spain) and 9 (Netherlands) 2010

Most suspensions (tournament, player) - 2, Andre Kana-Biyik (Cameroon 1990)

Longest suspension (player, doping) - 15 months, Diego Maradona (Argentina vs Nigeria, 1994)

Longest suspension (player, misconduct) - 9 matches, Luis Suarez (Uruguay vs Italy, 2014) for biting Giorgio Chiellini; 1 year, Ndaye Mulamba (Zaire vs Yugoslavia, 1974) for kicking the referee; 1 year, Samir Shaker Mahmoud (Iraq vs Belgium, 1986) for spitting at the referee

Longest suspension, qualifying - Life (amnestied after 12 years): Roberto Rojas (Chile vs Brazil, 1989) for feigning injury from a firecracker, leading to a match being abandoned.

World Cup tournament records

Most matches played - 106, Germany

Fewest matches played - 1, Indonesia (as Dutch East Indies)

Most wins - 70, Brazil

Most losses - 24, Mexico

Most draws - 21, Italy

Most matches played without a win or a draw - 6, El Salvador

Most matches played without a win - 9, Honduras

Most matches played until first win - 17, Bulgaria

Most goals scored - 224, Germany

Most goals conceded - 121, Germany

Fewest goals scored - 0, Canada, China PR, Indonesia (as Dutch East Indies), Trinidad and Tobago, and DR Congo (as Zaire)

Fewest goals conceded - 2, Angola

Most matches played without scoring a goal - 3, Canada, China PR, Trinidad and Tobago, and DR Congo (as Zaire)

Most matches played always conceding a goal - 6, El Salvador

Highest average of goals scored per match - 2.72, Hungary

Lowest average of goals conceded per match - 0.67, Angola (2 goals in 3 matches)

Highest average of goals conceded per match - 6, Indonesia (as Dutch East Indies)

Lowest average of goals both scored and conceded per match - 1, Angola

Highest average of goals both scored and conceded per match - 6, Indonesia (as Dutch East Indies)

Most meetings between two teams - 7 times, Brazil vs Sweden (1938, 1950, 1958, 1978, 1990 and twice in 1994), Germany vs Yugoslavia/Serbia (1954, 1958, 1962, 1974, 1990, 1998 and 2010) and Argentina vs Germany (1958, 1966, 1986, 1990, 2006, 2010 and 2014)

Most meetings between two teams, Final match - 3 times, Argentina vs Germany (1986, 1990, 2014)

Most tournaments unbeaten - 7, Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994, 2002)

Most tournaments eliminated without having lost a match - 3, England (1982, 1990, 2006)

Most tournaments eliminated without having won a match - 6, Mexico (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978) and Bulgaria (1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1998)

In one tournament

Most wins - 7, Brazil, 2002

Fewest wins - champions - 3, Uruguay, 1950 (out of 4)

Most matches not won, champions - 3, Italy 1982 (out of 7)

Most wins by non-champion (excluding third-place playoff) - 6, Netherlands 2010, Argentina 2014

Most matches not won - 5, Yugoslavia 1974, Argentina 1974, West Germany 1978, Belgium 1986, Republic of Ireland 1990, Argentina 1990

Most matches not won in regulation time - 6, Belgium in 1986 and England in 1990

Most losses - 3, (28 teams, of which only Mexico has accomplished this feat at three different tournaments: 1930, 1950 and 1978)

Most losses, champions - 1 Germany, 1954 and 1974; Argentina, 1978; Spain, 2010

Most victories over former World Cup winning teams - 3, Brazil (1970), Italy (1982), Argentina (1986), Germany (2010 and 2014)

Highest finish without winning a match - last eight, Republic of Ireland (1990)

Highest finish, winning at most one match - fourth, Sweden (1938)

Most goals scored - 27, Hungary, 1954

Fewest goals conceded - 0, Switzerland, 2006

Most goals conceded - 16, South Korea, 1954

Most minutes without conceding a goal - 517 mins, Italy, 1990

Highest goal difference - +17, Hungary, 1954

Highest goal difference, champions - +14, Brazil, 2002, Germany, 2014

Lowest goal difference - −16, South Korea, 1954

Lowest goal difference, champions - +6, Italy, 1982, Spain, 2010

Highest average of goals scored per match - 5.40, Hungary, 1954

Highest average goal difference per match - +3.2, Hungary, 1954

Highest average goal difference per match, champions - +3.0, Uruguay, 1930

Most goals scored, champions - 25, Germany, 1954

Fewest goals scored, champions - 8, Spain, 2010

Fewest goals scored, finalists - 5, Argentina, 1990

Fewest goals conceded, champions - 2, France, 1998, Italy, 2006, Spain, 2010

Most goals conceded, champions - 14, Germany, 1954

Lowest average of goals scored per match, champions - 1.14, Spain, 2010

Most unbeaten teams - 5, 2006 (Switzerland, Argentina, England, France, Italy)

Fewest unbeaten teams - 0, 1954

Most matches to qualify for World Cup Finals - 22, Australia (2018)

Largest distance travelled in a single qualifying campaign - 155,000 Miles: Australia (2018)

World Cup attendance records

Final - 114,600, Argentina v West Germany, 29 June 1986, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico, 1986

Decisive match - 199,854, Uruguay v Brazil, 16 July 1950, Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1950

Lowest match attendance in a World Cup tournament - 300, Romania vs Peru, 14 July 1930, Estadio Pocitos, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1930

Highest match attendance in a World Cup qualifying match - 162,764, Brazil vs Colombia, 9 March 1977, Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1978 CONMEBOL Group 1

Lowest match attendance in a World Cup qualifying match - 0, Costa Rica vs Panama, 26 March 2005, Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, San Juan de Tibas, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2006 CONCACAF

Final Group

Highest average of attendance per match - 68,991, 1994

Highest attendance (tournament) - 3,570,000, 1994

Lowest average of attendance per match - 23,235, 1934

Lowest attendance (tournament) - 390,000, 1934

Spain boss concern for Isco and Asensio over Real Madrid playing time

Spain coach Julen Lopetegui is worried Isco and Marco Asensio will not play enough for Real Madrid as he steps up his preparation for the World Cup.

Isco has started 14 La Liga games for Zinedine Zidane's side this season but was absent for Saturday's 4-1 win at Valencia due to a hip injury.

The victory at Mestalla was the first match of the season Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo started together and the return of the 'BBC' strikeforce could limit Isco's involvement over the second half of the campaign.

Asensio may also be pushed down the pecking order even though he has scored four La Liga goals - double Benzema's haul despite starting three league matches fewer.

While Isco and Asensio's game time is a concern for Lopetegui with the World Cup approaching, the form of Diego Costa at Atletico Madrid is a positive, the Brazil-born forward having scored three goals in his five appearances since returning from Chelsea.

"I'm sure they will play again, but I'm worried that Marco and Isco play little," Lopetegui told reporters at the Spanish Sports Press Awards.

"Diego Costa has not surprised me and he can be in the next squad."

Royal Spanish Football Federation president Juan Luis Larrea, also speaking at the event, confirmed Lopetegui is set to sign a new Spain contract.

"The renewal of Julen is underway," Larrea said.

"And it is very likely that it will be closed soon."

Peter Crouch: I once took my future wife on a romantic trip to watch Ronaldinho.

My future wife Abbey Clancy didn’t know about the treat I had in store. When we first started going out, I took her away for the weekend to Barcelona and promised her a romantic trip to one of the city’s most iconic destinations...

It’s fair to say she wasn’t exactly bowled over when finding out that the trip was to see Barcelona play Celta Vigo at the Nou Camp! Who said romance was dead? But, as far as I was concerned, it was a night I’ll never forget after watching Ronaldinho.

This was the era when he was on fire, the main man in world football. We got to the stadium early and as the team went through their warm-up, he just stayed on his own. It was so funny seeing him not even attempting to jog but, at the same time, it was mesmerising watching him do these tricks.

I ended up playing against him a couple of times. The first occasion I only got on the field briefly in two Champions League ties with Liverpool in 2007, when we knocked Barcelona out.

The second time, at Fratton Park in 2008, I saw his genius at close quarters. Portsmouth were leading AC Milan 2-0 in the UEFA Cup with 16 minutes to go when he came off the bench. Ronaldinho ended up causing havoc, bending in a free-kick from 25 yards to launch a comeback and helping his team draw 2-2, a result that knocked us out of Europe.

I also had the pleasure of playing with him once, in a UNICEF game at Old Trafford in November 2015. He’d spent the entire night before out on the town but that didn’t stop him being the best player on the pitch!

He announced his retirement this week. What a player.

Cavs beaten by the Warriors

-------``` Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | TOT``` 
```GSW 35 | 22 | 36 | 25 | 118``` 
```CLE 37 | 27 | 27 | 17 | 108```

Cavs missed 15 of their 16 shots in the 4⃣th period leading to a 20-6 Golden State run, which eventually resulted in another disappointing result for Cleveland.

The men in wine-n-gold entered the 2⃣nd half with a 7-point advantage, following a strong 64-point 1st half. But the 4th quarter⏱ had a different story altogether. LeBron finished with a solid💪 32pts/8rebs/6ast on the stat-sheet, while KD matched up with similar numbers(32pts/5rebs/8ast) to solidify his claims that he is at par with 👑The King's skills, if not better. Curry shot 53% overall and made a contribution of 23 points along with 17 more from his 👏Splash Brother, Klay Thompson.

Isaiah Thomas played a healthy 32 minutes, but could only manage 19 points🤷‍♂️ shooting 8 of 21 from the field. Cavs resurgent efforts were visible throughout the game, owing to the age-old👊 rivalry they have with the Warriors. There was trash talking, LeBron's mentoring, back and forth runs and Draymond's jibes🗣 after baskets, but none of that matters as it was evenly distributed on both sides.

Warriors improve to 36-9, which is the best record☝ in the league at this point in time. On the other hand, Cavs slip to 26-17 at the 3⃣rd position out east, just a game ahead of Miami in the standings.

Cleveland & Golden State have played against each other twice this season, both resulting in ✌GSW wins. The next time they face off would be in the NBA Finals, that is if both teams manage to reach it this year.

Chelsea Enter Alexis Sanchez race

Chelsea are making a late play for Alexis Sanchez, and have made the player and his representatives aware of their interest. While those close to the deal still believe Manchester United are likely to complete the signing, negotiations with Arsenal have been "complicated" and negotiations are considered only 75% complete. 
     
        It is also reported that Chelsea coach Antonio Conte approached Alexis Sanchez in the tunnel when Chelsea met Arsenal in the semi finals of the Carabao Cup.
       Let's see how the wranglings for Alexis Sanchez ends. Will it be Manchester City,  Manchester United or Chelsea.

Luis Suarez features in Pique+ 2014 World Cup drama

Gerard: The 2014 World Cup comes about, and that season you are the best player in the Premier League. I believe top scorer, too, in the qualifiers, with 11 goals. See? I prepared well!

Suárez: I beat Leo by one. By one!

Gerard: Oh yeah! hahaha! I’m gonna tell him! Then right before the World Cup you had a minor knee injury, in the meniscus I believe. You get an arthroscopy done. You barely make it back. You miss the first game against Costa Rica and the team actually ends up losing. And next you’re up against England and Italy, who are strong teams. You play against England, and you score both goals.

Tell me a little bit about how you felt, because you were coming from the injury, it was the English, and we’ve heard about how they treated you there. I am sure you wanted to beat them and get revenge on them, eh? How was all that?

Suárez: The truth is, it was a complicated moment because of the injury, because it just happened in the last game, Liverpool–Newcastle. We were in a close fight for the Premier. It was the last game. City had already won the championship, and we were …

It was a play against a defender and I feel a hit, that’s it. Afterward I was on vacation for a week. I remember I was here in Barcelona — and nothing, I went back to Uruguay to train, and I was feeling good. And on the second day I make a move, and I feel something in my knee. The doctor told me there was already an injury from a previous hit, and well, I think, I don’t remember if there was. It was on the 20th, so there was less than a month to the first game, and truth is I had that doubt of whether to get surgery and miss the World Cup.

However, in that moment, obviously my optimism, the support from my family…. I also had faith in the Uruguay trainer, Walter Ferreira, who told me, “Don’t worry, you will make it.” And, well, there was also doubt about whether the manager, El Maestro, if I got the surgery, if he was going to bring me to the World Cup knowing that there would be a period, the first two or three games that I wouldn’t play. They took me thinking that at the most I would play the third game, and if we went through. Knowing that it was difficult, and well, truth is, I worked a lot during that period to make it to the World Cup.

In the first game, I was on the bench, but hard-headed as I am, I remember I went to warm up on my own, hahaha, because I wanted to get into the game no matter what. And El Maestro, at no point did he consider the option of letting me in, but there I was warming up.

Gerard: He didn’t have you in mind.

Suárez: And truth is, I ended up pissed for not having played. We were losing in the debut and well… In the days leading up to the England game, I really killed myself to be able to make it to the game against them, especially since I had gone through a tough time. I remember the day of the injury, when the stuff about the possible surgery came out in the English headlines, there were, you know, the typical things: “Eh, hope the recovery goes slow” and so on, for me not to make the game. And well, playing against them and scoring two goals, truth is, for me, it was the most emotional moment I’ve lived in my career as a national team player, regardless of the titles and the previous World Cups — for everything, for what my recovery meant, and of the trainer who was with me.

Gerard:  You celebrated the second goal with him, no?

Suárez: Yes. No, the first one. The first one, also because — a lot of people don’t know this — he was coming out of recovering from a lymph cancer. And after some time passes, six months after the World Cup, he passed away. And, well, he went with a so-and-so doctor’s note because I told him I wanted to go to the World Cup, but only if he went with me. It was a really beautiful story that I had with him, and, well, that’s why the first thing I did was to remember him in that moment in which he was present, and truth is, until this day, it’s a moment that I remember a lot.

Gerard: Then the Italy game comes about, where you win, but, well, there’s an incident with the biting of [Giorgio] Chiellini. From the moment it happens, until the end of the game, are you already thinking about what’s going to happen to you, because you know ... from previous occasions. Or is it once the game ends, you think, “Oof, I think I’ve messed up?”

Suárez: After that — after I did it — I realized immediately. We score our goal a few minutes after, I think it’s about 10 minutes after when [Diego] Godín scores, and I don’t celebrate it as much as I usually would — the way everyone else celebrated it — because I was already thinking about the aftermath.

We advance, and I think we went to thank the Uruguayan fans. Everyone is screaming, celebrating, because obviously we had won against the two Europeans, qualifying and all, it had been spectacular, and I already felt everything. I enter the locker room and the first thing I do was to speak with my wife, who was there with the kids and all. And she asks me, asked me what I had done. And obviously, I always, initially I didn’t want to accept reality — negating, crying, and all — and, well, after it all, some feelings in the locker room were of happiness, but also everyone checking their phones and all for what was to come. And, well, the truth is, it was a very, very painful moment for me, for the team, and obviously, what happened, it affects you. It hurts you and all that.

Gerard: When did you start talks with Barcelona about coming here? That summer, before the World Cup?

Suárez: No, it was right then — there at the World Cup. It was during the World Cup period.

Gerard: And during any moment, did it cross your mind that because of it the Barcelona deal could fall through?

Suárez: Yes, yes. Because it was everything — in addition to thinking about the World Cup, and being able to fulfill my dream to come here to Barça — everything had gone overboard for me. And I think in the few days after that — before they kicked me out of the World Cup — that’s when I spoke with Zubi [Andoni Zubizarreta Urreta], and the president, and they told me to be calm because Barça still wanted me and … and I have no problem saying it, I cried. Because, they were accepting, and me going through what I did in that moment, and with the shit I had caused, it was complicated to trust in me. Truth is, Barça has been so good to me, and I will always be very grateful for that.

Gerard: The truth is, I know very few teammates who are as noble and good people as you are. But I am telling you now, and I am serious — you know the relationship we have — but when we react on the playing field, people don’t know that our hearts are pumping at a thousand beats per minute. It’s just that these are things that happen, and I think your behavior at Barça from the moment you arrived, not only in the locker room — which I have told you, I think you are one of the nicest people I have met in a locker room — but also on the playing field, it’s admirable. So, Gordo, you should know it’s an honor to have you here.

Suárez: It’s the first time you give me goosebumps … Hahaha! You always have to try to remain the same way, no? Knowing where you’re coming from, to Barça, as we always said, you said it — that with Ney and Leo being here, it was complicated for me to come here, be well liked, be at that level, and trying to do it as good as possible, as much inside as outside the locker room.

Gerard: I will throw out a statistic that I was analyzing. You always like it when I throw out statistics! But since you made your debut in the World Cup, every time you’ve been on the playing field, Uruguay never lost. And the three times you didn’t play, Uruguay has lost, which is in the semifinal of the 2010 World Cup, against Costa Rica before that, and eventually the time against Colombia when Uruguay was eliminated when all this happens. So, don’t get injured, don’t get suspended, and perhaps you will win the 2018 World Cup! What are your thoughts on it? How do you view the 2018 World Cup?

Suárez: Truth is, there are many strong teams today, and it’s very complicated. It will be very even, and well, there will always be one surprise team of which you have to be careful with everything, no? I don’t know which one it will be out all of them, but there will be many teams that will be there.

Gerard: Do you see any favorite? Any team that’s more of a favorite than the others, or is it a group of teams, of which anyone can win?

Suárez: Favorite … Uruguay! Hahaha!

Gerard: Damn, you like to add some pressure, eh? Hahaha!

Suárez: Nah, I think there are many. Obviously, the European teams: Germany, for being the last champion. Spain is playing at an amazing level. France I like a lot — the players they have, although today the majority are young, but France is France. And then obviously Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.

 

Gerard: And a question to wrap up: Do we win anything with Barça this year or what?

Suárez: Yes, yes, for sure!

Gerard: Yeah? Leo told me the same thing, so now I am super excited. Hahaha! Well, thank you so much, truthfully, truthfully.

Official: Man Utd legend named Wales boss

   Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has been named as the new manager of the Wales National team.
    The 44 yr old will be tasked to help the team qualify for Euro 2020, after they missed out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Giggs was capped 64 times by his country and will be overjoyed that he finally has the chance to move into management, having recently described the Wales post as 'one of the top jobs'.

The FAW did not want to waste time after conducting the interviews and their ambition was to have the new man in place in time for the draw for the UEFA Nations League, which will be held in Switzerland on January 24.

Giggs has never made any secret of wanting to cut his teeth in management but, other than being interviewed for the Swansea post in October 2016, he has never come close to landing a Premier League position.

Luis Suarez features in Pique+ episode World Cup 2010

Gerard: The qualifications for the 2010 World Cup comes around, and it’s your first World Cup, I imagine those are amazing memories, no?

Suárez: Yes. I think Uruguay in terms of overall level — always in the World Cup there’s one team that surprises — and, well, in that one I think it was us. It was between us and Ghana, and in the quarterfinals we ended up winning against them on penalty kicks. I assume later you will ask me about the handball, hahaha!  

As for the experience, it was spectacular for Uruguay to get to the quarterfinals. We got to the semis with the whole team in good form, and Diego Forlán, in that World Cup, he killed it. It was spectacular, I think he was our breakout star, and I think, for what Uruguay was, and how Uruguay got there, we had a huge World Cup.

 

Gerard: Tell me how you felt after that handball [against Ghana in the quarters], because afterward I saw you in the locker room tunnel, when you saw them missing the penalty kick and …

Suárez: Not in the locker room. There, in the tunnel.

Gerard: You were in the locker room tunnel, and there’s an image of you celebrating when the ball hits the bar. And you go to penalty kicks, and you end up qualifying.

Suárez: Hahaha!

Gerard: But, that play — first you save it without touching it with your hand, and afterward you do put your hand on it.

Suárez: Yes.

Gerard: It must have been a very odd sensation for you because you ended up being sent off and not being able to play in the semifinals, but you did save the team.

Suárez: Yes, the truth is, it was a bit of everything — of being depressed, of being sad, of being sent off. Because we were going to lose, but if they weren’t scoring that goal we weren’t going to lose, and … well, you get up within 30 seconds when he takes the penalty kick, the satisfaction of … of … well, I took a risk in a situation of which I have been blamed for anti fair play. However, the Ghana player missing the penalty is not my fault.

 

Gerard: Not at all.

Suárez: I didn’t kick anyone or anything like that, that’s why I think that I celebrated like that, for having taken a risk for something that was worth it. And I remember that I celebrated it more than a goal. A teammate on the bench passed out on that play, hahaha.

Gerard: Hahaha. Seriously?! I didn’t know that. Who was it?

Suárez: Castillo. Juan Castillo.

Gerard: He passed out! Hahaha.

Suárez: There, in the celebration of the penalty kick, he says he passed out. And well, I left screaming and went to the locker room to watch the penalty kicks. And, the truth is, it was painful watching the penalty kicks in the locker room. I’ll tell you, when El Loco Abreu hits the penalty kick I was with a …

Gerard: He does a Panenka.

Suárez: Yes, yes, yes. He chips it, El Loco, and we were with one of the kit men. We are watching what El Loco is doing — and we say “good, good, good” — and we see everyone taking off running. We hadn’t realized that we had won! And then we went running onto the field, and it was was incredible. It was a moment that, to me, is one of the best moments I experienced with the national team.

 

Yerry Mina's explanation

Yerry Mina surprised everyone at his official presentation with FC
Barcelona when he took his first steps onto the Camp Nou pitch
barefoot. Superstitions in the football world are common of course, and
this one was also a symbol of respect for his new team. Mina gave a
reason why he did it at his press conference afterwards, explaining his
belief in one of the proverbs of the Bible he uses.

"🔥With the soles of your feet, you will touch the ground you want to conquer." - Deuteronomy 11:24🔥

And I want
to succeed here,” he acknowledged.
Throughout the presentation, Mina showed signs of his extroverted
character. He fully enjoyed the day, from the signing of his contract in
the morning, to when he stepped out in front of thousands of supporters
at the Camp Nou. They also witnessed one of the Colombian's funniest
facets; his dancing. Without a doubt, it was a presentation that left
everyone with a smile on their face.

Yerry Mina's awkward belief

Yerry Mina, Barcelona's newest signing was unveiled yesterday at the Nou Camp.
       But wait,  he didn't get into the famous grounds as expected. He took off his boots and socks to the utter surprise of all present.

  Check out the images