After Russia’s recent 5-0 over Saudi Arabia, one might think that the drubbing of Saudi Arabia must be the highest goal scored and biggest margin win in a World Cup opening match. Some with better memory will say it was Brasil’s 4-0 victory over Mexico was the biggest win prior to the Russia and Saudi Arabia game.

Actually, the most goals scored and biggest margin in the opening match of the World Cup is in 1934, in Rome, where Italy beat USA 7-1. The home nation went on to win the World Cup by beating Czechoslovakia 2-1 after extra time.

Iran the first Asian team to beat an African team since 2010 

  • This was the first win by an Asian team against an African team in the World Cup finals since Japan won 1-0 against Cameroon in June 2010. In the last World Cup, Asian teams only won 3 out of the 36 possible points, so Iran has matched the points for the first Asian team to play in this World Cup.
  • Iran did not attempt a single shot in the second half and were the first team since 1966 to score a goal in 45 minutes of World Cup football without attempting a shot.
  • Aziz Bouhaddouz’s own goal in the 95th minute was only the second own goal scored in the 90th minute in a World Cup match, after Joseph Yobo for Nigeria against France in June 2014.  Bouhaddouz is just the 3rd player to score an own-goal as a substitute in a World Cup match, after Laszlo Dajka (1986 for Hungary against USSR) and Petit (2006 for Portugal against Germany).
  • Morocco have never won their opening match at a World Cup tournament (drew two, lost three), also failing to win in 1970, 1986, 1994 and 1998.

-BY ARTURO FANGIO

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