As the ball slipped through the hands of Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and into the net there was something somewhat fitting that that would be the strike that broke the record for goals during the opening phase of a World Cup finals.
Luckily for the 28-year-old teammate Aleksandr Kerzhakov was on hand to equalise for the Europeans and also add to a total which eventually ended on 46 in an astonishing 16 matches.
However, while there has been an outpouring of praise for the attacking football on display it could be argued that the current goal spree is largely a result of a widespread mediocrity amongst defences.
From those 46 goals 22 resulted from errors, be it an own goal, goalkeeping mistake or general poor defending, while another half dozen were debatable but could have easily fallen into one of those three categories.
While some of those mistakes will have resulted from the pressure imposed by an opponent intent on attacking the game that is still over half of the goals so far.
In another touch of irony that the opening goal of this tournament itself came from an own goal from Brazil full-back Marcelo, before yet another error, this time from referee Yuichi Nishimura handed the hosts the lead from the penalty spot.
The following evening 2010 winners Spain took on the Netherlands, who proceeded to smash five past the holders as Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique look shadows of their previous selves, while Iker Casillas was certainly at fault for at least one of Robin van Persie’s goals, before conceding another soft attempt as they exited the competition against Chile.
With the second phase of matches now underway, and usually more open as victories become vital, the goals have continued to fly in as the defensive inadequacies continue, Australia and the Netherlands serving up a five goal thriller with at least two stemming from mistakes.
That night Cameroon goalkeeper Charles Itandje, recognised for a disastrous spell with Liverpool, singlehandedly did his best to improve Croatia’s prospects of qualifying from Group A, first by clearing straight to the feet of Ivan Perisic who ran through to score and then weekly palming a save to Mario Mandzukic to complete a four goal rout.
Although the entertainment has admittedly been defined by some impressive individual performances from star names such as van Persie, Luis Suarez and Thomas Mueller, and will no doubt feature in FIFA’s eventual Team of the Tournament, selecting a stand-out individual to take their place in defence proves quite difficult.
Centre-back pairing Per Mertesacker and Mats Hummels registered a clean sheet, the latter even scoring himself, against one of the favourites Portugal, however, after Ronaldo below par display, losing main striker Hugo Almeida early on and only having 10 men after Pepe’s dismissal somewhat spoils that achievement.
However, while castigating teams for their defending we must appreciate that, mistakes or not, goals produce an greater spectacle for the neutral that two tacticians shuffling their players like chess pieces and therefore must celebrate the ‘problem’.
Who knows, we may even see these World Cup finals surpass the 171 goal record set 16 years ago at France’98.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
