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After years in the making, the FIFA World Cup 2022 began on Sunday with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador in a Group A match. Enner Valencia's two goals ensured Ecuador's campaign was off to a great start. Later on Monday, England scored half a dozen goals against Iran, winning the match 6-2. Netherlands overcame a strong unit in Senegal, beating them 2-0 thanks to late goals. USA took the lead against Wales in the first-half but conceded a penalty late into the game. Gareth Bale equalised from the spot to finish the match 1-1. By the numbers has the best stats from the four matches played so far in the World Cup: Qatar vs. Iran1Qatar became the first host nation to lose their opening match at a World Cup. The World Cup hosts previously had a 16-0-6 (W-L-D) record in the tournament. 83.6%From 1998 to 2018, 61 of 73 teams -- 83.6% -- who won their opening match of a World Cup advanced out of the group stage. 5Enner Valencia is Ecuador's all-time leading scorer at the World Cup with five goals. He also scored Ecuador's last five goals at the FIFA World Cup. The current record is held by Eusébio (Portugal 1966), Paolo Rossi (Italy 1982) and Oleg Salenko (Russia 1994) who scored six in a row for their teams. England vs. Iran 19y, 145dAt 19 years and 145 days, Jude Bellingham is the third youngest scorer for England at a World Cup. He also became only the second teenager to score for England at a World Cup after Michael Owen in 1998. 2Harry Kane provided two assists with just 18 touches, the fewest touches by a player to tally multiple assists in a World Cup game as far back as the data stretches (since 1966). 6England joined Germany (2002) as the only teams in the past 30 years of the World Cup to score 6+ goals in the team's opening match. At the 2002 World Cup, Germany defeated Saudi Arabia 8-0 in their opening match enroute to a runner-up finish. 49Marcus Rashford scored just 49 seconds after coming on for England against Iran. This is the third-quickest goal by a substitute in World Cup history. 35There were 35 passes in the build-up to England's sixth goal scored by Jack Grealish, the most passes in the build-up to a goal at the World Cup on record since 1966. 9Gareth Southgate has won more matches -- 9 -- at major tournaments (World Cup/EUROs) than any other England manager. He surpassed Sir Alf Ramsey's total of eight wins. Netherlands vs. Senegal0The Netherlands have never lost to a team from Africa at the World Cup. They have a 4-0-1 (W-L-D) record with the lone draw coming in their first ever match vs a team from CAF in 1990 against Egypt. 7Netherlands extended their winning streak in the FIFA World Cup group stage to 7 games. They are unbeaten in their last 14 World Cup group stage matches (last loss: 1994 vs Belgium). USA vs. Iran19y, 358dAt 19 years, 358 days, Yunus Musah became the youngest player to start a World Cup match for the US Men's National Team. 5Gareth Bale's last 5 goals for club and country have come in the 80th minute or later. 18The US team hasn't kept a clean sheet in any of its last 18 World Cup matches against European opposition, last doing so in a 1-0 win over England in 1950. 4Monday's matches saw four single halves with the most stoppage time on record (since 1966) in a single World Cup match. ENG-IRN 1st half (14:08). ENG-IRN 2nd half (13:08). SEN-NED 2nd half (10:03). USA-WAL 2nd half (10:34). (Stats courtesy: ESPN Stats and Information Group)
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