Thursday 15 March 2018, 09:00

91 days to go: Near perfection from Ticos' No.1

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is getting closer – 91 days to go!

In just three months' time – on 14 June, to be precise – the 21st FIFA World Cup™ kicks off at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, as the hosts take on Saudi Arabia. That leaves us plenty of time to enjoy a countdown.

Between now and the start of the World Cup, we will take a closer look at a different statistic from the history of the tournament each day.

91 – the percentage of shots on target saved by Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ (21 saves from 23 shots).

Though his side were drawn in Group D with former World Cup winners Uruguay, Italy and England, the Real Madrid man was only beaten by Edinson Cavani from the penalty spot in Costa Rica’s opening three matches at Brazil 2014. His superb performances between the posts helped Los Ticos reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history and also ensured they conceded just two goals, fewer than any other side in the competition. Navas kept three clean sheets in Costa Rica’s five matches, going unbeaten for 336 minutes at one stage, and was his side’s hero in the penalty shoot-out that decided their Round of 16 tie against Greece.

The keeper remained an undisputed first choice for his country in the qualifiers for Russia 2018, making 11 appearances, keeping five clean sheets and finishing on the losing side just once in those games.