The 2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil is off to a cracking start with defending champions Spain making an early exit. As as we push towards the business end of the tournament, here's some interesting world cup facts
10 interesting World cup facts
1. Quickest goal
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Turkey’s Hakan Sukur in action during the 2002 World Cup. Pic: AFP
Turkey’s Hakan Sukur took 11 seconds to score against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, which is the fastest goal in world cup history
2. Long haul
Germany's Lothar Matthaus played 25 matches over 5 world cups, which is the record for most number of appearances in world cup matches
3. Old is gold
In the 1994 world cup held in the USA, 42-yr-old Roger Milla of Cameroon became the oldest goal scorer and the oldest player in world cup history
4. First hat-trick
The first hat-trick in a world cup match was scored by Bert Patenaude of United States against Paraguay in the 1930 World Cup
5. Viv the all-rounder
Cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards, who played international football for Antigua and appeared in qualifying matches for the 1974 world cup, is the only person to have played both world cup football and world cup cricket
6. Brazil's perfect record
Brazil is only the country to have played in every world cup tournament. They have won five world cups in 19 appearances
7. German wall
Germany’s Oliver Kahn is the only goalkeeper in the FIFA World Cup history to have won the Golden Ball trophy
8. Record attendance
The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: AFP
In the 1950 world cup final between Brazil and Uruguay a record 199,854 people came to watch the match at the stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which is the largest attendance in a single world cup match
9. Most goals
Just Fontaine of France with 13 goals in the 1958 tournament holds the record for most goals scored in a world cup
10. Youngest debut
Northern Ireland player Norman Whiteside became the youngest player to appear at a world cup at the age of 17
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