Germany will miss the leadership and skill of Michael Ballack - EnglishHorn73 at en.wikipedia photo

Injuries interfered in David Beckham's quest to participate in another World Cup for England - osakasteve photo

SPORTS NOTES - IT'S ON!!! - FIFA World Cup Begins

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

With injuries eliminating many star players and Brazil not choosing Ronaldinho and other top name Brazilian World Cup experienced players for their squad it all adds up to new faces picking up the slack and having the opportunity making their presence known in the beautiful games supreme event - WORLD CUP RECORDS

Thursday June 10, 2010

INJURIES PROVE TO BE A MAJOR FACTOR

It all starts tomorrow as the long anticipated World Cup in South Africa will begin. With the facilities in place South Africa defied their critics and finished on time. Though going into the tournament Spain is thought to be favored by many injuries are playing a major role in the probable outcome.

Strong contenders Germany, Netherlands and England have suffered major losses in Michael Ballack, Arjen Robben and Rio Ferdinand. England also lost out on David Beckham's talent and on field leadership due to his injury. Ballack has scored 42 goals in 98 German national team appearances. Long shot Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba suffered a broken arm that has been operated on with hopes that should they go through it will heal enough for him to play in the World Cup's later rounds. With Brazil not choosing Ronaldinho and other top name Brazilian World Cup experienced players for their squad it all adds up to new faces picking up the slack and having the opportunity making their presence known on the world stage.

As they say records are made to be broken so here are some World Cup records for teams and players to work towards.

Two players share the record for playing in the most World Cups; Mexico's Antonio Carbajal and Germany's Lothar Matthäus both played in five tournaments. Matthäus has played the most World Cup matches overall, with 25 appearances. Brazil's Pelé is the only player to have won three World Cup winners' medals, with 20 other players who have won two World Cup medals.

The overall top goal scorer in World Cups is Brazil's Ronaldo who has registered 15 goals in three tournaments. West Germany's Gerd Müller is second, with 14 goals in two tournaments. The third placed goal scorer is France's Just Fontaine who also holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup. All of his 13 goals were scored in the 1958 tournament.

Brazil's Mário Zagallo and West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer are the only people to date to win the World Cup as both player and head coach. Zagallo won in 1958 and 1962 as a player and in 1970 as head coach. Beckenbauer won in 1974 as captain and in 1990 as head coach. Italy's Vittorio Pozzo is the only head coach to ever win two World Cups. All World Cup winning head coaches were natives of the country they coached to victory.

As of the end of the 2006 tournament, Brazil and Germany have both played 92 matches, the most by any nation, with Brazil scoring the most goals, 201. The two teams have played each other only once in the World Cup, in the 2002 final. To date, the final of the World Cup has only been contested by European and South American teams. The two continents have won nine titles apiece. Only two teams from outside these two continents have ever reached the semifinals of the competition: USA (North, Central America and Caribbean) in 1930 and Korea Republic (Asia) in 2002. The best result of an African team is reaching the quarterfinals: Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002. Only one Oceanian qualifier, Australia in 2006, advanced to the second round.

All World Cups won by European teams have taken place in Europe and the only teams to have won outside Europe come from South America. The only non-European team to win a tournament in Europe is Brazil in 1958. Only twice have consecutive World Cups been won by teams from the same continent. Italy and Brazil successfully defended their titles in 1938 and 1962 respectively.

Six of the seven champions have won one of their titles while playing in their own homeland, the exception being Brazil, who finished as runners-up after losing the deciding match on home soil in 1950. England (1966) and France (1998) won their only titles while playing as host nations. Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934) and Argentina (1978) won their first titles as host nations but have gone on to win again, while Germany (1974) won their second title on home soil.

Other nations have also been successful when hosting the tournament. Sweden (runners-up in 1958), Chile (third place in 1962), Korea Republic (fourth place in 2002), Mexico (quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986), and Japan (second round in 2002) all have their best results when serving as hosts. So far, all host nations have progressed beyond the first round.

Part 2 - More World Cup - Players and Coaches ON THE MOVE

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