Fans have ranked every World Cup game like a TV show - and one match stands clear
Thousands of fans have ranked every World Cup game like a TV show on IMDb – and an England game is currently second in the standings behind Argentina's dramatic 3-2 win over Cape Verde.
So far, we've been treated to some memorable results at this summer's 48-team tournament, with 269 goals being scored across a three-week period.
A total of 18 group-stage matches were won by three or more goals, a significant increase on the five recorded at the 2022 World Cup, with France, Germany and the Netherlands tied for most goals in that time.
In fact, this year represents the highest average number of goals scored per game (2.99) in a group stage since the 32-team format began in 1998.
Advert
The round of 32 stage hasn't disappointed, either. A late goal from Gabriel Martinelli sealed Brazil's place in the last 16 and on Wednesday evening, a brace from Harry Kane secured England's spot in the last 16.
The last 16 has also delivered a couple of crackers in Mexico v England and Argentina's sensational comeback victory against Egypt.
So, which game comes out on top in the fan rankings? The website Series Graph has given thousands of viewers the chance to rate every game that has been played at this summer's tournament.
Argentina's win over Cape Verde ranks higher than England vs Mexico
When we initially published this piece on July 3, England's 4-2 win against Croatia in their Group L opener was the highest-rated game at 9.2/10.
A short time later, Belgium's 3-2 victory over Senegal proceeded to top the charts with a 9.3 rating but on Friday night, Argentina's 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde was crowned the new champions.
In total, 87% of fans gave the match a 10/10 rating after Diney Borges' own goal in extra time handed Lionel Scaloni's side a place in the quarter-finals.
The round of 32 stage of this summer's tournament has been one to remember, and many will argue that England's hard-fought 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca was the best game of all.
However, the fixture currently sits second on the Series Graph standings behind Argentina versus Cape Verde with a score of 9.5/10. Argentina also occupy third spot after their heroics against Egypt in the last 16.
Belgium's incredible 3-2 comeback against Senegal sits fourth in the standings with a 9.3 rating, with Portugal's 2-1 win over Croatia following next and ahead of the 3-3 draw between Austria and Algeria on June 28 – an 8.9/10 game that featured stoppage-time goals from Riyad Mahrez and Sasa Kalajdzic.
The Netherlands were involved in two 8.8-rated games, including their 2-2 draw with Japan on June 14 and Tuesday's penalty shoot-out defeat to Morocco, a game that featured a last-minute equaliser from Issa Diop.
In terms of the worst-rated game, the 0-0 draw between Australia and Paraguay on June 26 has been given a pitiful rating of 4.8/10.
Other poor scorers include Ghana's 1-0 win over Panama, which scored 5.3/10, and another match involving Ghana in Group L, the 0-0 draw with England at Boston Stadium, scored 5.4/10.
As far as England games go, it has been a mixed bag. They've hardly produced the most convincing of performances this summer, but their 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday (June 27) was handed a very average 6.8/10.
Among the other leading scorers are Morocco versus Haiti (8.6), Brazil versus Japan (8.6), Germany versus Paraguay (8.5), Norway versus Senegal (8.5) and Argentina versus Algeria (8.5).
Topics: FIFA World Cup, England, Brazil, France, Germany
Jack Kenmare