As the knockouts start, TOI seems at how issues panned out within the first segment…
Ronaldo | Rewriting More Firsts
Cristiano Ronaldo turned into the primary guy to attain at 5 World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022) when he netted house a penalty in Portugal’s 3–2 victory over Group H competitors Ghana. At 37 years and 292 days outdated on November 24, Ronaldo turned into the oldest participant to attain for Portugal on the World Cup. He additionally holds the list for being the youngest, having scored for his country on the 2006 World Cup when he was once 21 years and 132 days outdated.
Gavi , Spain’s Youthful History Maker
Spain’s no. 9 Gavi turned into the primary participant born within the yr 2004 to attain a target in Qatar when his nation thumped Costa Rica 7-0 of their opening fit of the event. Incidentally, that victory is the list for probably the most objectives Spain has ever scored in one World Cup fit.
Lionel Messi , Argentina’s Record-Breaker
Lionel Messi turned into the primary participant to attain in 4 World Cups for Argentina (2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022) after he netted a penalty in an opening-round loss to Saudi Arabia. He surpasses fellow compatriots Diego Maradona (1982, 1986 and 1994) and Gabriel Batistuta (1994, 1998 and 2002), who each scored in 3 editions of the event. The target was once additionally his 92nd in an Argentine blouse.
Olivier Giroud , France’s All-Time Top Scorer
The 36-year-old Giroud’s two objectives in France’s opening 4–1 win towards Australia approach he has now tied Thierry Henry’s all-time goal-scoring list for France (51).
Saudi Arabia snap Argentina win streak: Argentina got here to Qatar unbeaten in 36 video games, singling them out as probably the most favorites to win all of the pageant. However, that run was once shattered by way of the second-lowest ranked group within the event, Saudi Arabia, who defeated Argentina 2–1.
Inaki and Nico Williams , Sibling Revelry: Inaki Williams of Ghana and Nico Williams of Spain made World Cup historical past on November 24 once they turned into the primary brothers to play for various international locations on the World Cup.
Qatar | A humble first for Cup hosts: There’s sure record-making, after which there may be the opposite type. Unfortunately for hosts Qatar, they claimed a primary they may not need to brag about an excessive amount of. In shedding their first fit 0-2 to Ecuador, Qatar turned into the primary WC hosts to lose their opening-round recreation.
Wayne Hennessey , First purple in Qatar, 3rd ever for a goalkeeper: Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey turned into the primary participant at this World Cup to look a purple card after he collided with Iran’s Mehdi Taremi. The card proven was once to begin with a yellow ahead of it was once upgraded to a purple. Hennessey is now the 3rd goalkeeper in World Cup historical past to be despatched off with a purple card.
Enner Valenica turns into most effective the fourth guy in historical past to attain six World Cup objectives in a row for Ecuador: Enner Valencia’s target towards the Netherlands was once his 6th World Cup target in a row for Ecuador – no different Ecuadorian participant had scored within the intervening time. Valencia scored all 3 of Ecuador’s objectives within the team level of the World Cup in 2014. The South American facet didn’t qualify for the 2018 version in Russia. The 33-year-old joins a make a choice team that comes with Portugal legend Eusebio in 1966, Italy’s Paolo Rossi in 1982 and Russia’s Oleg Salenko in 1994.
Lewandowski in the end ends World Cup drought: Robert Lewandowski was once in tears after scoring his first World Cup target in Poland’s 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia. The Barcelona striker may just no longer conceal his feelings after doubling his facet’s lead with 8 mins closing to seal victory for his facet. The 34-year-old had long past 5 World Cup video games and not using a target and neglected a penalty in his group’s opening Group C recreation towards Mexico. Lewandowski now has over 600 profession objectives and has equaled Pele’s tally of 77 global moves.
Fastest target on this World Cup: Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first-ever target on the males’s World Cup. Davies’ target got here within the second minute of the fit, after 68 seconds, making it the quickest target on the 2022 World Cup. It was once the quickest target in a gaggle level fit on the World Cup since Clint Dempsey scored after 29 seconds towards Ghana in 2014.
An odd first: This is the primary World Cup in its present 32-team layout during which no group has received all 3 team suits. Three groups did so 4 years in the past, 4 in 2014, two in 2010, 4 in 2006, and two in 2002 and 1998.
Africa’s Cup of Joy: Morocco turned into the primary African group to win its team this century. Senegal joined them within the knockouts.
Super subs strike it scorching: 23 Goals scored by way of substitutes within the 48 suits of the gang phases. South Korea, curiously, reached the around of 16 after change Hee-Chan Hwang struck a 91st-minute winner to overcome Portugal 2–1.
Graphic: Akib Javed
