Goals dry up in finals

Goals have dried up during the knock-out stages of the World Cup finals and there is virtually no chance of beating the record set four years ago in France.

After the first round group stage in South Korea and Japan, some 130 goals had been scored at an average of 2.71 per game and the 2002 tournament was on course for a record with four goals more than in France.

But since then, the eight second round matches, four quarter-finals and first semi-final have produced a paltry 23 goals in 13 games despite the fact that five of those matches went into extra-time.

With three matches left - the second semi-final, third-place play-off and final - the tally of 153 goals is 18 short of the final total of 171 goals in France.

The last four matches played at the present tournament have resulted in just three goals. Germany have beaten both the United States and South Korea 1-0, Turkey beat Senegal by the same score with a golden goal and South Korea and Spain drew 0-0 before the Koreans won on penalties after extra-time.