“Is the Women’s World Cup the most penalty-ish tournament ever?” asks Thomas Levine. “Either in terms of percentage of goals? Or percentage of goals which impact on a result – which reduces the distorting effect of the Thailand thumping a bit.”
Unfortunately the Knowledge hasn’t got the budget to afford a team of statisticians big enough to leaf through result-affecting penalties at major tournaments, Thomas. In fact, we’re going to simplify this by sticking to World Cups (men’s and women’s), particularly so because the two most recent (France 2019 and Russia 2018) have been played in the era of VAR. If we look at Brazil 2014, 11 of the 167 goals scored in the 64 games played were penalties. This works out at just 6.6%.
Four years later, at Russia 2018, of the 169 goals scored, 22 were penalties, a much higher figure of 13.02%. The clampdown on pushing and pulling on corners was probably as much of an influence on penalties given as VAR was in that particular tournament. Interestingly, though, at the Women’s World Cup in 2015 – where VAR was not in use – the percentage of goals from penalties was 12.32% (18 of 146 goals), which seems quite high for a non-VAR tournament.
So, fast-forward to France 2019 and of the 140 goals scored so far, 17 have been penalties, which works out at a figure of 12.14%, just down on Canada 2015 and Russia 2018. There are still three matches to play, though, so if VAR continues to be called on when arms are deemed to have been in unnatural positions, this could change. The highest percentage from World Cups before 2014 that we could find was 8.8% at Germany 2006, where 13 of the 147 goals scored came from the spot.
Playing in the most derbies (revisited)
Last week’s Knowledge archive section focused on players who have been involved in the most same-city derbies …
Quite a few of you pointed out that Richard Gough should have two derbies revoked (Derby-Forest) and San José v Los Angeles Galaxy. “They’re more than 300 miles apart. That’s roughly the same as London to Cologne,” writes Chris Taylor. if we stick strictly to those rules then Paul Stewart loses two derbies (Sunderland-Newcastle and West Brom-Wolves), taking him back to four, while Christian Ziege loses one (Newcastle-Sunderland), moving him back to five.
So, purely focusing on same-city derbies, Liam Patrick Corbett has a new leader in the category. “The Brazilian Ronaldo (who surely would have been the best of all time but for the injuries) played in the five below:”
1) For Cruzeiro v Atletico Mineiro (City: Belo Horizonte)
2) For Barcelona v Espanyol
3) For Internazionale v Milan and for Milan v Internazionale
4) For Real Madrid v Atlético Madrid
5) For Corinthians v Palmeiras
“That’s without counting El Clasíco (as non-same city). I also believe he scored in most of these too. I can’t find record of him playing in the Eindhoven derby v FC Eindhoven as they were in different leagues during his time in Holland so probably not unless they met in the cup.”
Captains with roles reversed (2)
“I surely can’t be the only one to point out this example from the ongoing Women’s World Cup. France’s captain is the wonderful Amandine Henry. Her club team is Lyon, which just so happens to be led out in matches by her fellow French international, the peerless Wendie Renard,” writes Aditya Narayanan.
Knowledge archive
“Phil Stamp once popped the ball in a challenge during what I think was the 1998-99 season. Has any other footballer managed this feat?” wondered Paul Teigh in March 2006.
“Ian Wright did it during one of the Arsenal v Manchester United league games in the 1996-97 season,” writes Chris McCluskey. “I’m not sure if it was the Highbury or Old Trafford game because Peter Schmeichel and Wright had bust-ups in both of them. Wright went flying in as Schmeichel was coming out to narrow the angle and his two-footed ‘first touch’ burst the ball against Peter’s shins. The momentum of the challenge also made Schmeichel do a comical break-dancing style spin.”
But Mat Wood reckons he can top the BBC pundit’s achievement. “Being an ardent Minsterman I was at York City v Millwall in a match played at Bootham Crescent during the 1997-98 campaign,” he recalls. “I particularly remember this match as Nigel Pepper burst not one, but two footballs. Awesome!”
• For thousands more questions and answers look through our archive.
Can you help?
“Cameroon’s Yaya Banana scored a goal against Guinea-Bissau at Africa Cup of Nations. Are there any other players with fruit as their name or surname?” asks Bogdan Kotarlic.
“When Yaya Banana scored for Cameroon the other day, I noted that the only vowel present in his first and last name was “a”. I initially thought this might be unique, however a quick check of the list of players to play in the premier league quashed that (John Johnson, Mo Johnston, etc). However, I could not think of a footballer with more than five of the same vowel in their first and last name combined, with no other vowels used in either name. Would the knowledge be able to help me out?” asks Dominic Lambert.
“A baby was born at Anfield last Tuesday during a Pink gig. Can anyone else lay claim to being born at a football ground?” asks Sheryl Parker.
Any professional tennis players that played as professional footballers as well?
— Jack Chesterman (@JackChesterman) July 2, 2019
“Has Matej Delač, who spent eight seasons at Chelsea, had the longest spell at a club without making a first team appearance?” wonders Abdo Hussein.
Who was the last outfielder to wear trousers whilst playing.
— Ben Jones (@benijones_89) July 2, 2019
“After Wayne Rooney popped another one in the back of the net from his own half for the third time in his career, it made me think: who has scored the most goals from their own half? Perhaps a ‘keeper?” wonders George O’Neill.
“Richarlison, who plays for Everton, is currently in Brazil’s squad at the Copa América, where an international teammate is called Everton,” writes Doug McNair. “Are there any other examples of players having international teammates sharing their name with their club?”
• Email your questions and answers to knowledge@theguardian.com or tweet @TheKnowledge_GU.
