World Cup 2010 Final Countdown: Who Has Scored The Most Goals In The Grand Finale?

Goal.com counts down to the final.

Jul 8, 2010 6:59:00 AM

By James Daly

More On :  England
England World Champion 1966
Until the end of World Cup 2010, Goal.com UK will be counting down to the final on July 11 with a range of statistics relevant to the number of days remaining in the tournament.

Yesterday it was all about the number four, but today Goal.com UK is fussed just with the magic number, as we edge ever closer to the final of South Africa 2010.

  1. Let's start with a positive England statistic and it's from the day that was the pinnacle of English football in 1966, of course, when the Three Lions beat Germany 4-2. Geoff Hurst's three goals in the final is still a World Cup record.
  2. Brazil have picked up the most wins (five) but Germany have been in the most finals (seven) and between the two of them have pretty much dominated the World Cup down the years. So, it's unsurprising to find out both the Selecao and Die Mannschaft have the most consecutive World Cup final appearances with three - the Samba Stars from 1994 to 2002 and the Germans in 1982, 1986 and 1990.
  3. We established in previous Final Countdown's that Mexico were pretty rubbish in the early World Cup years so it's hardly a revelation to discover they hold the record for the most consecutive matches conceding at least four goals, which of course is three from 1930 to 1950. Bolivia were also apparently pretty awful during that period too, matching the Mexicans' record.
  4. Maarten Stekelenburg is a decent shot stopper right? Wrong. The Netherlands keeper has conceded more goals from outside the box than any other custodian at the World Cup 2010, with a total of three. Oops.
  5. Germany forward Miroslav Klose goes into the third-place play-off needing one goal to equal Ronaldo's all-time World Cup scoring record of 15 goals, but he has set a new feat this summer - he's the only player to have scored at least four goals at three World Cups, having netting in 2002, 2006 and this year.
  6. Graham Poll reportedly hates the number three and refuses to recognise its existence. The reason? The English ref dished out three yellow cards to a confused Josip Simunic during Croatia's 2-2 draw with Australia in 2006, and was subsequently branded a fool.
  7. We end with some penalty shoot-out records and let's hear a big 'awww' for Roberto Baggio, the World Cup's nearly man. The Divine Ponytail has been involved in three penalty shoot-outs but never won (1990, 1994 and 1998). Anyone who remembers his decisive kick sailing over the bar and into the Los Angeles sky in 1994 and doesn't feel sorry for the guy does not have a heart. Meanwhile, Portugal's Ricardo holds the record for the most saves in a shoot-out - three in total. Who was it against? You've guessed it: England, in 2006.

No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to its most beautiful and sunniest city. Durban offers much more than sandy beaches, safaris, casinos and the World Cup, for information on what to do and see, please click here.

The 2010 World Cup is finally upon us, so keep up to date with all the news at Goal.com's World Cup homepage and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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