* Since the beginning of group play in 1950, teams that have won the first games have advanced to the second round 81.1% of the time. Teams that have lost their first game advanced only 18.8% of the time. And teams tied had a 62.5% chance of advancing to the second round.
* In the last ten opening games, only 9 goals have been scored. Three of those goals came when Brazil beat Scotland 2-1, in 1998. The opening game in the 2006 WC is between Germany and Costa Rica.
* Teams that have scored first have a record of 418-87-97, a 77.4% winning percentage.
* The only time that Brazil and Germany have met is the 2002 WC championship final. Brazil has played all 17 World Cups and Germany 15. That is a total of 172 matches played by both countries in the WC.
(From the NYT, June 7)