Top 5 number of goals scored during the group stage of a single FIFA World Cup edition
We are only a few months away from the commencement of one of the biggest sports tournaments in the world in Russia. The upcoming World Cup has all it takes to be the most vibrant tournament in FIFA World Cup history- few big teams missing, few debutants, several teams returning back to the competition, teams relying on one player and of course, great footballers.
When you think about the source of football’s entertainment, goals is the first thing that comes to your mind. Across the 84 years in FIFA World Cup history, a total of 2379 goals have been scored in 836 matches. Out of those 2379 goals, 1566 (65.82%) have been scored during the group stages. Let’s take a look at the most number of goals scored in the group stages of a single FIFA World Cup edition.
#5. 2010 FIFA World Cup -101 goals
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was lucky to have 32 teams because it ranks below most tournaments when it comes to goals per match ratio with only the 1990 World Cup having a lower goals per match ratio. Nevertheless, the 2010 World Cup had 101 goals scored in the group stages, nearly 70% of the total goals scored in the tournament.
As far as goal fests were concerned, the tournament had a few one-sided goal fests, the most prominent of them being Portugal’s 7-0 thrashing of North Korea. Other one-sided goal fests included Germany’s 4-0 thrashing of Australia and Argentina’s 4-0 drubbing of South Korea.