Is Brazil 2014 a record breaking edition?

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup edition just a few days to kick-off, Cameroonweb.com looks at some of the records that will be affected when teams meet at the World football jamboree in Brazil.

The first record that will be broken when the World Cup kicks-off, June 12, 2014 is that of Cameroon’s football legend, Albert Roger Milla who participated at the 1994 World Cup in USA when he was 42 years and a month old. Milla’s 20 year old record of the oldest player in the World Cup will come to an end and will be broken by Colombia's 42-year-old goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon who will actually turn 43 on June 21.

Another bone of contention will be the all time World Cup scorer. Former Brazilian striker, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, played 19 matches in three World Cup editions scoring a total of 15 goals to hold the record. Meanwhile, German forward, Miroslav Klose, having played 19 matches in three World Cup editions, scoring 14 goals will be looking forward this year to beat the Brazilian’s goal record. Klose might also set a new record of scoring at least 4 goals in 4 tournaments after he has already done so in three World cup tournaments.

The record of most goals scored in a match currently held by Russia’s Oleg Salenko in 1994, who scored 5 goals when they humiliated Cameroon 6-1 in the 1994 World Cup. This record might also be broken in Brazil when the tourney kicks off.

Cameroon’s World Cup record of the largest age difference on the same team, 24 years and 42 years set in 1994, could also be broken. In USA 1994, the Lions’ squad had, Rigobert Song, 17 years and 358 days while Roger Milla was 42 years and 35 days thereby making them the largest age difference on the same team in World cup history.

Brazil’s record of most FIFA World Cup championships, 5(1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) will either be broken by the Brazilians or by 4 times champs, Italy (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006).

The record of most finals reached held by Brazil (1950, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 1998, and 2002) and Germany (1954, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, and 2002) might also see a new record set by both teams or by 6 times finalist, Italy (1934, 1938, 1970, 1982, 1994, and 2006).Meanwhile, the record of most second place finishes; Germany (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002) could be broken by the Germans.

Brazil might also break her seven world record of emerging unbeaten in the World Cup. There were unbeaten in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994 and 2002.Also, the host has gone for a mix of young and old as Luiz Felipe Scolari has included eight players who are 30 or older, while youngsters Bernard (21), Neymar and Oscar (both 22) bring the average down to 28.Meanwhile, Cameroon’s youngest player, Fabrice Olinga (18) and oldest player, Samuel Eto'o (33) gives Cameroon an average team age of 26.61.

Furthermore, the record of highest red cards by a single player in the World Cup currently held by Zinedine Zidane and former Lions’ skipper, Rigobert Song who both had two red cards in the World Cup might be broken this year in Brazil. Zidane had two red cards in three World Cups (1998, 2002, and 2006 while Song had two in four World cup editions (1994, 1998, 2002, and 2010).

Other Miscellaneous records like the fastest goal in a match, scored by Turkey’s Hakan Sukur in 2002 against Korea in 11 seconds, oldest hat-trick scorer held by 33 years and 159 days, Tore Keller in 1938 and highest attendance in a World Cup 3,570,000 in USA 1994 could also be broken when the tourney kicks-off..