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Why Pre-World Cup Friendlies Are Essential Yet Risky for National Teams.

Every four years, the FIFA World Cup captures the imagination of billions of football fans across the globe. It is the tournament where careers are defined, legends are created, and nations unite behind a common dream. While the spotlight ultimately shines on the matches that determine champions and heartbreaks, much of the groundwork for success takes place long before the opening whistle of the tournament itself. Among the most important elements of World Cup preparation are pre-tournament friendly matches, a seemingly simple aspect of international football that carries enormous significance. These games provide national team managers with invaluable opportunities to refine tactics, evaluate players, and build chemistry, yet they also introduce substantial risks that can threaten an entire World Cup campaign before it even begins. The paradox of pre-World Cup friendlies is one that every manager must confront. On one side lies the necessity of preparation. National teams do not have...
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Isak now has the most consecutive Premier League games with a goal, closing in on the record.


Alexander Isak is unstoppable right now. The Swedish striker continued his hot streak against Wolves this evening, scoring another goal.

Isak's opener at St James' Park means the 25-year-old has now scored in eight consecutive Premier League games for Newcastle, and his form has propelled Eddie Howe's team back into contention for Champions League qualification.

His purple patch also means that only two players have ever scored more goals in the Premier League.

Isak has outperformed a slew of Premier League players who have scored in seven consecutive games. Some expected names appear, including Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero, Erling Haaland, Ian Wright, Thierry Henry, and Alan Shearer. Romelu Lukaku, Emmanuel Adebayor, Mark Stein, and Taiwo Awoniyi have all scored in seven consecutive games.

Isak's eighth win in a row has elevated him to elite company. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored in eight consecutive games during his brilliant debut season at Manchester United in 2001/02, while Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge (2013/14) and Leicester's Jamie Vardy (2019/20) have also done it.

Van Nistelrooy also has the second longest goal-scoring streak in the Premier League. The Dutchman had a 10-game goalscoring streak that lasted two seasons, finishing the 2002/03 season with eight goals in a row before scoring in the first two games of the next season.

That record stood for over a decade until Jamie Vardy broke it during Leicester's stunning title-winning season in 2015/16. Vardy scored in 11 consecutive games, breaking the record against Manchester United at the King Power Stadium. Ironically, Van Nistelrooy is now Vardy's head coach at Leicester City.

Most consecutive Premier League games with a goal

=3. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manchester United, 12.12.2001–19.01.2002 (8)

=3. Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool, 23.11.2013–23.02.2014 (8)

=3. Jamie Vardy, Leicester, 19.10.2019–08.12.2019 (8)

=3. Alexander Isak, Newcastle, 04.12.2024–15.01.2025* (8*)

2. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manchester United, 22.03.2003–23.08.2003 (10)

1. Jamie Vardy, Leicester, 29.08.2015–28.11.2015 (11) 
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