From the first minute of the 2006 World Cup Germany, the competition has had the world in its thrall with spectacular goals, extravagant skills and nerve-shredding drama all enhanced by the passion and colour shown by supporters and the smooth organisation of the tournament hosts. Germany 2006 is a definite winner and this is reflected in the number of people attending games. The first 48 matches were watched by 2,484,439 fans, producing an average attendance of 51,759. The competition is on course to be the second-most watched World Cup with the US 94 leading the way with an average of 68,991. The 1966 edition in England produced an average 51,094 while four years later Mexico had 50,124. A statistical analysis of the group stage throws up some fascinating details. For instance while Germany's Miroslav Klose is the leading scorer on four, no player has contributed more than two assists. Nine players are on that mark. Four teams qualified for the next stage with a maximum nine points (Germany, Brazil, Portugal and Spain) while two teams qualified with only four (Australia and Mexico). Three teams had the honour of scoring eight goals (Argentina, Germany and Spain) while Trinidad and Tobago were the only team not to score. Serbia and Montenegro conceded the highest number -- 10. Argentina had the biggest win -- 6-0 v Serbia and Montenegro -- while the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica also produced six goals. With 117 goals before the knockout stage each game has produced an average of 2.44 with the World Cup's 2000th goal scored by Sweden's Markus Allback against England on 20 June. There is almost an even split between each half -- 57 goals have arrived in the first 45 minutes, 60 in the second. Fourteen goals have come in the first 10 minutes, 30 in the last ten minutes (including added-on time). There have been three own goals and 12 penalties awarded with nine scored and three missed. Substitutes have accounted for 20 of the goals scored while the title of fastest goal so far (second minute) is shared by Ghana's Asamoah Gyan (v Czech Republic) and Darijo Srna of Croatia (v Australia). Lionel Messi (18 when he scored) is the youngest goalscorer so far with his strike for Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro. The oldest is Yahya Golmohammadi (35) with his goal for Iran against Mexico. The most yellow cards (12) were accrued by Ghana and Tunisia with USA having the least (three). The average number of yellow cards per game is 4.83. Leading the FIFA Fair Play Award after the first three matches are France, with Brazil and Spain next best. Interestingly, two of the non- qualifiers, Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia, fill the bottom two places with Australia and then Ghana the 'worst behaved' of those taking part in the Round of 16. France have an excellent Fair Play record: they were joint- winners, along with England, in 1998. Brazil were twice recent winners -- in 1994 and 1986.
