The World Cup has burst into life with a flurry of goals, drama, and surprises, but it's the numbers that truly tell the story. A deep dive into the Opta data reveals some astonishing stats that give us a glimpse behind the curtain – and not everything adds up to its supposed 'golden' status.
Mexico took their time, playing at a glacial pace against South Africa, but it wasn't just about keeping possession – they were afforded space to do so by an opponent who barely ventured out of their own half. In contrast, Czechia's long throws became the stuff of dreams, as Vladimir Coufal set up Ladislav Krejci for the decisive strike.
Some of the pre-tournament favourites are already facing reality checks. Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and Uruguay dominated possession, but it's clear they still have work to do in converting that into tangible results. Spain's expected goals per shot was a meagre 0.08 – woefully below even average Premier League teams like Burnley and Wolves this season.
Draws are piling up, with an unprecedented number of ties so far, raising questions about whether the expanded format has made things too safe for some teams. Germany's estimated GBP 485 million-strong starting XI couldn't guarantee a win against Curaçao – it's a harsh reminder that on paper doesn't always translate to results.
Brazil's stuttering start showed that even with Vinícius Júnior's brilliance, they're still vulnerable in midfield. Carlo Ancelotti's masterclass at half-time transformed Brazil's defence, but elsewhere the numbers tell an even more compelling story – the Netherlands' 1.38 xG boost post-shot is the highest of all teams, while Japan somehow managed to score despite having the lowest xG.
The stats might show that some of these 'big' teams are merely keeping pace with their less-fancied counterparts, but one thing's for sure – it's going to be a wild ride.