Second round has livened up!

13 goals in 4 games is a very good start to the second round of group games. (I must also apologise to the linesman as the first goal in France v Mexico wasn't a mile offside but probably onside. Good call. Good to see someone older than me scoring too! Is there still hope for me to play international football...?) If France get through I'd be very, very surprised!

Comparing the goals in the various rounds of group games is unenlightening in the most part:

Tournament	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	KO stages	Tournament
SA 2010	1.56	3.25 (4 games)			1.89
Italia '90	2.25	2.17	2.4	2.06	2.21
USA '94	2.5	2.67	2.58	3	2.71
France '98	2.31	2.69	2.88	2.81	2.67
JK '02	2.88	2.19	3.06	1.94	2.52
Germany '06	2.44	2.25	2.63	1.88	2.30

There are no obvious patterns to me since 1990: we usually get most in the final set of group games but don't always. However it is noticeable how much lower the first round this time is.

The tournament needs a good round as the first round has very few goals. Now I'm not someone who can't appreciate a 0-0 draw, but you have to feel someone might actually score. The fact we still haven't had a decent free kick goal says something. Nigeria's effort today hardly counts: it was more about putting the goalkeeper in an impossible situation: a good free kick into the percentage area.

Still the Goalkeepers' union must be pleased that all their predictions of unpredicatble swerve have helped them for once.