The Sunday News
ATTENDANCES of 100 000-plus have been recorded at 17 different FIFA World Cup matches — and all 17 have taken place in either Rio de Janeiro or Mexico City. The tournament record was set in 1950, when a staggering crowd of 173 850 packed in to the Maracana to witness Uruguay’s shock defeat of Brazil in that year’s final.
There will not, however, be an 18th 100 000-plus attendance at Brazil 2014, with the new, all-seater Maracana – though still Brazil’s biggest stadium — operating at a capacity of “just” 73 531.
Germany
Germany have played 99 matches at the Fifa World Cup, more than any other nation. Brazil, with 97, follow in second place.
The Germans’ supremacy in this respect is all the more impressive as they have competed in 17 editions, two fewer than the Brazilians.
Match number 100 for Die Nationalmannschaft will come on 16 June, when they take on Portugal in their Brazil 2014 opener in Salvador.
France
France won their first and, to date, only FIFA World Cup in 1998.
Les Bleus’ long-awaited victory came on home soil, in the Stade de France, with Brazil — the most successful team in the tournament’s history, and the then holders — beaten 3-0 in a one-sided final.
The hero of the hour was, of course, Zinedine Zidane, who headed home two first-half goals to spark delirious scenes in the French capital and throughout the country.
Brazil
Over the course of 97 matches, spread across 19 Fifa World Cups, Brazil have established themselves as the tournament’s most successive side.
Their tally of five world titles is, of course, unmatched and there are other areas in which A Seleção reign supreme.
Most notable is the all-time Fifa World Cup scoring chart, which Brazil lead with 210, followed by Germany (206), with Italy (126) and Argentina (123) a distant third and fourth. — Fifa.com
