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Questions tagged [world-cup]

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Questions about the FIFA World Cup. Questions with this tag must also be tagged with football tag.

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38
votes
4answers
11k views

Can a football team force its defeat, e.g. via own goals?

On Thursday at 2pm GMT, the football matches for group H of the World Cup 2018 will begin. By 4 pm GMT, the fate of that group will be decided. Let us assume that Japan comes first and Colombia ...
25
votes
4answers
51k views

How is 'distance covered' tracked in football (soccer) at the World Cup and during other official competitions?

In most football leagues, and now the World Cup, distance covered is now a commonly-shared statistic. Are there trackers in the boots? Do the players have chips implanted in their brains? How is '...
24
votes
1answer
10k views

Why is Ivory Coast being referred to as “Côte d'Ivoire” in the 2014 World Cup?

I understand that the country's basic language is French, but you don't see any other countries using non-English names in the World Cup. Japan isn't called "Nihon" or "Nippon", Germany isn't called "...
22
votes
2answers
4k views

Worst defeat of a host nation in world cup history

Brazil, host nation of world cup 2014, lost to Germany by 1-7. This seems very big defeat in term of goal difference. What is the worst defeat of a host nation in world cup history in terms of goal ...
22
votes
1answer
980 views

What is the stuff referees spray on the ground in Football matches?

During the World Cup, the referees sprayed something on the ground. It looked like it was white paint, but it was foamy. It was right before a free-kick on goal. What was the stuff they sprayed on ...
19
votes
3answers
859 views

Why did the Netherlands put in their backup keeper for the PKs?

In the Netherlands v. Costa Rica World Cup game played on 5 July 2014, the Dutch substituted their keeper at 120+1', clearly solely for the inevitable penalty kick shootout. I'd expect the starting ...
19
votes
3answers
69k views

FIFA World Cup 2014 Tie Breaker Rules: “Between the teams concerned”?

Here is the rule for the ranking of the teams in the Group Stage of the World Cup, from Article 41 of the Regulations, 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil (PDF): The ranking of each team in each group shall ...
14
votes
4answers
6k views

Why did Manuel Neuer leave the goal post and come to the midfield position in group qualifiers?

In the do or die match between Germany and South Korea in 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage, after conceding one goal, the German goalkeeper came forward to attack, leaving the goal post empty. Due to ...
14
votes
2answers
4k views

Fifa World Cup 2018 Group F Qualification Scenarios

With Germany winning 2-1 against Sweden yesterday, the group F qualification scenarios have become complex. In the next round of group games, if Germany beat South Korea 1-0, Sweden beat Mexico 1-0. ...
14
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3answers
21k views

FIFA World Cup 2014 overtime

After having seen Brazil win its match against Chile 3-2 on penalties, I was wondering how the overtime is played. Is that sudden death?
14
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2answers
11k views

How many balls are used in a typical World Cup game?

I've noticed that often after a ball goes out a different ball is used. Also I don't know if the same ball will be used for both halves (plus extra time). So how many balls are used during a typical ...
13
votes
1answer
4k views

FIFA World Cups History: Defending Champion Knocked Out in First Round?

As you all might have seen on 18th June, 2014 that Spain, winner of Last FIFA World Cup 2010 was knocked out in first round. I need to know that is it happened first time or it did happen in any past ...
12
votes
1answer
5k views

Why is the FIFA overtime period divided into two halves?

My question is about World Cup extra time rules, but I guess it applies to FIFA in general. About the FIFA extra time period, the rules say the following: It shall always consist of two periods of ...
12
votes
1answer
4k views

FIFA World Cup winners not qualifying automatically anymore for next edition

It used to be the case that the winner of the World Cup qualified automatically for the final stage of the following edition, but that's not the case anymore. France was the last team that this rule ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views

How is FIFA world cup schedule created?

For example, on 13/06 it was Spain and Netherlands. How are the matching teams decided and based on what? What are these groups? Sorry, I'm new to football and this site.
12
votes
2answers
541 views

How come Belgium and even Switzerland are atop of Holland on FifaRankings for WorldCup 2014?

Holland reached finals at WorldCup2010; qualified to Euro2012; won the qualifying group for WorldCup2014 with only one draw. Belgium missed WorldCup2010 missed Euro2012 won the qualifying group ...
11
votes
1answer
818 views

Does the team with the extra rest day perform better?

In the World Cup 2014, the semi-finals were held on 8th/9th July, and the final will be on 13th July. This gives Germany an extra day to rest/prepare compared to Argentina. This has been mentioned by ...
10
votes
4answers
855 views

New soccer ball for 2014 World Cup

I've heard that this year they will be introducing a new soccer ball for World Cup. What are the differences between this ball and the ball that was used in previous years? Why did they feel the need ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views

Why do World Cup teams bring kids out onto the pitch before the game

I'm watching USA vs. Portugal right now, and both teams have brought kids out onto the field for the national anthems. But it's not just these two teams that do it, it seems like every team, even in ...
10
votes
1answer
304 views

Lowest ball possession in the final match of the World Cup

In the final match of the World Cup 2018 against Croatia, France won having 39% of possession of the ball (34% or even 32% according to other sources). In contrast, possession of the winner of other ...
9
votes
2answers
400 views

Hasn't Kasper Schmeichel broke the rules when saving Modrić's penalty during the World Cup 2018, Round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark?

Law 14 - The Penalty Kick - 1. Procedure explicitly states that: The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked. ...
9
votes
1answer
22k views

How to find “distance covered” for players during the World Cup?

I was curious about the in-depth player stats from yesterdays game, Brazil - Croatia (specifically to assess Ivan Perisic's impact in the game) and came across a bunch of sites that provide basic ...
9
votes
1answer
2k views

Quickest goal scored in each World Cup edition

I'm looking for the following statistic, if available: Quickest goal scored in any match throughout the tournament in each edition of the World Cup. For example, for the 2014 World Cup, Clint ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views

Strikers who can defend as well

I have read that both Rio Ferdinand and Daniel van Buyten began their careers as strikers (I have even managed to train van Buyten to be a top striker in Football Manager). Their careers as strikers ...
9
votes
1answer
3k views

World cup winner as manager and captain

Didier Deschamps might achieve the feat of winning FIFA World Cup both as captain (1998) and manager (2018) for France. I know Franz Beckenbauer had already done it before. Is there any other person ...
9
votes
1answer
2k views

Football coaches who have won multiple FIFA World Cups

Has there been any coach(manager) that has won the world cup more than once? If so, please provide the manager's name, winning years and team(s) managed.
8
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3answers
4k views

Why FIFA didn't prevent the potential cheating that may arise when the lasts of group matches are not played simultaneously?

Referring to the question here, the first and second paragraph. On Thursday at 2pm GMT, the football matches for group H of the World Cup 2018 will begin. By 4 pm GMT, the fate of that group will ...
8
votes
2answers
16k views

Have two teams ever played each other twice in the same world cup?

In FIFA World Cup 2014, if the United States and Germany had both advanced to the final, then they would have played each other twice. This didn't happen. But has it ever happened, that in the same ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views

What is the FIFA rule for two teams which played in the same group?

Is there any rule that prohibits two teams that advance from the same group playing against each other before the final?
8
votes
2answers
498 views

Are there any players who playing at 2014 World Cup without a club?

Watching the world cup games I was thinking, are there any players which are currently not employed by any club and participating in this world cup?
8
votes
1answer
1k views

Which players won both FIFA U-20 World Cup and FIFA World Cup?

Which players won both FIFA U-20 World Cup (until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship) and FIFA World Cup? This would show players who excelled both in the young age and in their later ...
8
votes
1answer
3k views

Is there any goal keeper who received red card in FIFA World cup?

I heard that the referee can give red card even for goal-keepers in football. Is there any goal-keepers who received red card in FIFA world cup matches? If yes, please provide the details.
8
votes
1answer
203 views

South Korea defeated Germany who defeated Sweden who defeated Mexico who defeated South Korea

In the 2018 World Cup group F, South Korea defeated Germany who defeated Sweden who defeated Mexico who defeated South Korea and thereby took the most indirect revenge. Did such a long circular ...
8
votes
1answer
991 views

Is football's (soccer's) popularity in the US increasing?

How is soccer trending in the United States? Anecdotally, it seems like the World Cup is generating a lot more interest here this year than it did when it was hosted here twenty years back. I'm not ...
8
votes
7answers
38k views

Why do some soccer players wear small shin guards?

I've noticed that Thomas Müller of Germany wears very small shin guards (at least most of the time). If I remember correctly he did the same thing during the last world cup or Euros. I played a bit of ...
7
votes
2answers
924 views

How many times two teams from the same continent have played the World Cup Final game?

There is a chance that Germany and the Netherlands will play for 2014 World cup, so here is a related question. the How many times two teams from the same continent have played the World Cup Final ...
7
votes
3answers
673 views

Why are the same national football teams always the strongest?

I notice that, in football, a small group of national teams (Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, England, France and Germany) have won virtually every international prize and championship with very few ...
7
votes
3answers
336 views

Is Franco Baresi a World Cup winner?

In 1982 Franco Baresi took part of the Italian national team, but he had 0 appearances in that World Cup. Is he officially a World Cup winner? In some of his interviews he said "I only lost the World ...
7
votes
1answer
406 views

Heaviest loss of last four teams remaining in history of World Cup

Brazil just lost 1-7 to Germany in 2014 World Cup. What is the biggest loss ever among the top 4 teams in a world cup (that is biggest lost in the semifinals, 3rd place match or the final match)? Did ...
7
votes
1answer
7k views

What kind of ball is used in the FIFA World Cup?

What are the specifications, the FIFA World Cup football needs to have? I'm looking for weight, size, flight and possibly more info?
7
votes
1answer
900 views

Are there any languages where people use a different word for goal?

With the start of the World Cup today, I wanted to compile a list of how to say "goal" (event of scoring, not the target) in every language of the 2018 World Cup participating countries. As in many ...
7
votes
1answer
195 views

Does FIFA have contingencies for riots during or after a match that make the winner incapable of continuing the tournament?

During the monumental defeat of Brazil on 8 July 2014, some people jokingly said on Twitter that Holland and Argentina should hope that the Brazil fans storm the field and lynch both teams (their own ...
7
votes
1answer
138 views

Use of Video Assistant Review (VAR) in FIFA World Cup 2018

FIFA is going to use Video Assistant Review VAR in the Russia 2018 World Cup. This is is the first time it's going to get used in a major tournament. Under this new rule there are 4 reviewable ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views

Player throwing himself into another running player's way

Alternative title: Please explain why the situation leading to Antonio Valencia's red card was not also a foul on Lucas Digne's part. In yesterday's match Ecuador - France, around the 49th minute a ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views

How do I read this chart about a FIFA World Cup game from Google?

Throughout the World Cup the Google Doodle has been FIFA themed, and clicking it takes you to a search for the latest game. Today it's United States vs Portugal. The search brings up a chart which ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views

Why does the Australian soccer team compete in the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup?

Today, the Australian soccer team plays a match against Saudi-Arabia in the qualification rounds for the World Cup. Qualifications for the World Cup are usually organized per continent; e.g. Europe (...
6
votes
2answers
83 views

Have the three goalkeepers of a squad ever been used during a World Cup?

Usually, the same goalkeeper plays all the games during the competition, and I rarely saw the second goalkeeper playing, even less the third one. Have there been occurrences of teams having their ...
6
votes
1answer
251 views

FIFA World Cup 2018: Is the group stage goal ratio lowest?

After done with the group stage, my impression is that FIFA World Cup 2018 easily has the lowest ratio of goals scored per game in the history of FIFA World Cup. Is my impression correct? My search ...
6
votes
1answer
287 views

Has a team ever refused to participate in the World Cup finals after qualification?

Has a national football team ever declined to participate in the World Cup finals after qualifying? If there has been such a case, what were their reasons for not taking part?
6
votes
1answer
648 views

Procedure for World Cup draw 2018. How is the principle of geographical separation respected?

The procedure for drawing teams into groups for the 2018 World Cup has changed compared with 2014. (Source) The principles are: All teams will be allocated to pots 1 to 4 [...] The October 2017 ...

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