The Hindu : Sport / Football : Marcus Allback nets World Cup's 2000th goal

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Thursday, Jun 22, 2006

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Sport - Football

Marcus Allback nets World Cup's 2000th goal

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over the next few years, it might be a mere footnote in the history of the World Cup. But then, to those statistically-minded, Marcus Allback's feat on Tuesday night in Cologne would always remain significant.

The Swede's 51st-minute header that marked his country's first equaliser against England in Group B was the 2000th goal in the history of the quadrennial tournament.

It is now almost 76 years since Frenchman Lucien Laurent fired the first goal in the game's greatest tournament against Italy in Montevideo on July 13, 1930 and in the years since, the World Cup has witnessed some magnificent and unforgettable goals.

The 100th goal was scored by Schiavio (Italy) in 1934, the 500th by Bobby Collins (Scotland) in 1950, the 1000th by Rob Resenbrink (Holland) in 1978 and the 1500th by Claudio Cannigia (Argentina) in 1994.

A total of 2003 goals (avg. 2.95 goals per game) have been scored in the 680 World Cup matches prior to the matches on Wednesday. This includes the 87 goals (avg. 2.42 goals per match) from 36 matches witnessed till Tuesday night in the ongoing World Cup in Germany.

Miroslav Klose (Germany) currrently leads the scorer's list with four goals and is followed by Fernando Torres (Spain, 3 goals) and 11 others who have netted two each.

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