Group stage stats show workrate, shots are not everything at World Cup

MOSCOW, June 30 — Germany’s exit from the 2018 is still one of the main talking points of the World Cup and is certain to bring recriminations with talk of a massive overhaul of their side in the coming months.
However, although the Germans took the first plane home, statistics show that it was not for lack of effort from the German side, whose players collectively ran 335.59 kilometers as a team, a total only beaten by Serbia, who ran 339 kilometers before also being knocked out, which perhaps shows that in football workrate isn’t everything.
And although they went home with just two goals to their credit, the Germans actually managed to create a total of 75 chances, a long way ahead of the 56 created by Brazilians and the 52 by the Belgians, who were the maximum scorers in the group stage with nine goals.
With Brazil creating chances, it’s no surprise that Neymar heads several statistics; the Paris Saint Germain forward had 18 shots at goal in Brazil’s opening three matches, although the fact his only goal to date was a 97th minute tap-in against Costa Rica implies he needs to adjust his sights or look to pass to a better-placed teammate a bit more often.
Compare Neymar’s one goal from 18 shots to the 5 goals scored from just 6 chances (including two penalties) by England striker Harry Kane, who was rested for his side’s final game in the group stage.
Neymar has also provoked more fouls than anyone else in the World Cup: 17 compared to the 13 suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.
Germany’s Tony Kroos managed 15 shots during their three games, the same as Ronaldo, while Leo Messi had 14.
Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano has come in for criticism for his lack of pace at the tournament, but you can’t question his commitment with the veteran committing 11 fouls, the same number as Russian forward Artem Dzyuba.
And talking about commitment, nobody has put in the kilometres as much as Denmark’s Christian Eriksen, who is not only his country’s most creative player, he is their hardest worker too with 36.42 kilometers of turf covered, rather more than the 25.96 covered by Ronaldo and just 23.94 by Messi.

Xinhua