How many matches will be played in total?

64 games

*NB - that goal line is within 90 mins only

extra time goals count on the site i'm looking at

which ones that zip?

http://classic.****.com/betting/index.asp?sl=sle&gi=5&sltc=38021.1&sle=88896...

spoilsports

cheers. stand corrected.
thought the firms were consistent on this

maybe we should keep it quiet, seems like a great bet to me

Record

Most goals scored in a tournament
171 goals, 1998.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup_records#Tournament

Any stats for other years ?

2006

147 total goals (incl ET)

117 in Groups
30 in KOs (incl 3 in ET)


2002

161 total goals (incl ET)

130 in Groups
31 in KOs (incl 3 in ET)


1998

171 total goals (incl ET)

126 in Groups
45 in KOs (incl 1 in ET)


By way of comparison

EURO 2000

85 total goals (incl ET)

65 in Groups
20 in KOs (incl 2 in ET)


EURO 2004

77 total goals (incl ET)

64 in Groups
13 in KOs (incl 3 in ET)


EURO 2008

77 total goals

57 in Groups
20 in KOs (incl 4 in ET)


Looking at those trends, it's hard to see the number of goals being over 162.5

Separate issue. But does anyone know if the groups are decided on goal difference or head to heads? If tied on points.

Cheers.

The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:
a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:
d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

Thanks DB.

Good point db but i do reckon there seems to be more goals scored in recent years at least in club competitions , maybe due to slightly different laws in the game or refs, football evolution. Perhaps clutching at straws with that argument but pure gut instinct says we are going to get a record amount of goals in this wc.

This is a winter World Cup.  I know Cape Town gets significant rain in June/July.  I expect more goals in dry weather so would expect less in winter.  Is this true?

Or are modern grounds so enclosed that weather is not a factor?

The noise of the SA horn thing constantly coul wreck the concentration of the goalkeepers, should be worth an extra 10.