43 days to go: A set-piece goal shower

Forty-three percent of the goals scored at the 2018 Russia World Cup came from set-pieces, the highest percentage ever registered at a tournament. Twenty-two of the 79 goals were penalties, another record for a single edition. Free-kick scorers included Russia's Aleksandr Golovin, Serbia's Aleksandar Kolarov, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Germany's Toni Kroos, Uruguay's Luis Suarez, and England's Kieran Trippier.

The latter helped England set a new record for most goals from set-pieces at one World Cup, with nine. The Three Lions scored five times from corners alone, demonstrating the growing importance of set-piece preparation in modern football. Set-piece specialist coaches have become increasingly common, and the 2018 tournament highlighted how effectively organized dead-ball situations can decide tight matches at the highest level.