Where have all the goals gone?
In the group stages of this World Cup, the goals flowed. We saw 121 in 36 matches at an average of nearly 3.5 per game. There were 31 goals in six Pool F games and 24 in the six games in Pool E. New
Zealand's Pool also averaged close to four goals per match.
That average dropped significantly in the round of 16, with just 15 goals across the eight matches, but they've slowed to a virtual trickle in the quarter-finals with only three goals in a combined seven and half hours of football, including two in the same game.
For the first time in the history of the under-20 World Cup, three of the four quarter-finals were decided by penalty shoot-outs. In all, five games have gone to penalties, the most in tournament history.
There's no doubt that as the stakes rise, teams become increasingly cautious. With their tournament lives on the line, it's tempting to be more defensive, rather than going all-out on attack. Inflated scorelines are rare in the knockout stages of any World Cup.
History also tells us the best defensive teams go furthest in World Cups. While goals win matches, defensive solidity is very much the hallmark of teams that lift trophies.
One of the four semi-finalists at this tournament - Serbia - have let in just two goals in their five games. Another - Brazil - haven't conceded a goal for eight minutes short of seven hours.
But Brazil present a fascinating study of defence at the expense of attack. While their goal has remained unbreached for hour upon hour of football, they've also been spectacularly unable to score themselves.
The normally free-flowing attacking play we associate with the famous yellow jersey simply isn't there and neither is the end product. Brazil haven't scored a goal for over four hours. That would be unthinkable for past Brazilian teams containing Pele, Zico, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.
Perhaps the nation was so rocked by the 7-1 hiding the senior men's side received at the hands of Germany in last year's World Cup semi-final on home soil, they've abandoned their traditional attack-minded football and instead decided to make sure they are never again on the end of such a drubbing at any level.
Furthermore, in the face of defences which are generally solid, there doesn't seem to be quite enough front-third quality in many of these sides for the goals to flow freely. Often the build-up play is good as the ball is transferred from defence through midfield and into the attacking third, but the final killer pass, or moment of attacking inspiration isn't there to finish the job.
There haven't been too many instances in the knockout games of goalkeepers having absolute blinders to keep opposition attackers at bay. More often than not, attacks are breaking down before a shot is even fired. Defenders have to get credit here of course, but there just don't seem to be enough strikers with the creativity, skill and innovation to consistently unlock them.
Of course, goals aren't everything in football. The drama created by a penalty shoot-out is unequalled in sport. But there's nothing like a six- or seven-goal thriller to get people really excited. It's unlikely though we'll see any of those in the last four games of this tournament.
