Only one player has made more than seven World Cup appearances and averaged more than a goal per game: Gerd Muller, who managed 14 in 13 for West Germany over the 1970 and ’74 editions. James Rodriguez, who plundered six goals in five games in his first World Cup, will become the second if he plays more than once in Russia and averages at least a goal per game.
Encouragingly for the Colombia No.10, he will go into the Senegal game buoyed by an excellent record against African sides. Japan, meanwhile, have struggled defensively of late and Poland, staggeringly, conceded more than 30 countries in European qualifying.