A German breaking barriers faster than ‘The Ferrari’ **

A supersonic sextet from some starlets**

97 caps is what Jan Vertonghen moved on to against Cyprus to break Jan Ceulemans’ Belgium best. The contest involved Eden and Thorgan Hazard becoming the first Belgian brothers to score in the same international since Emile and Mbo Mpenza in 2005.

72 is the age that makes Jupp Heynckes, who recently began his fourth reign at Bayern Munich, the oldest coach in Europe’s big five leagues. Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is the only other into his 70s.

50 goals in UEFA women’s club competition is what Anja Mittag finally became the first player to reach. The 32-year-old Rosengard striker had agonisingly been stuck on 49 for almost two years, but ended her ten-game goal drought in the Women’s Champions League to reach her half-century in 68 appearances. It took Raul 97 appearances to become the first player to hit 50 goals in the European Cup/Champions League.

50 goals for Australia is what Tim Cahill became the first player to reach. The 37-year-old ended a ten-game goal drought with the equaliser against Syria, and then netted an extra-time winner to end a run of seven successive draws in AFC play-off games in World Cup qualifying.

25 years have passed since Wales last beat Republic of Ireland. Despite being 21 places beneath their hosts on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the Boys in Green edged the Dragons – keeping a sixth clean sheet in seven attempts in the fixture in the process – to snatch a play-off place at their hosts’ expense.

18 months – during which time they have won 11 games and drawn one – is what India have gone without defeat. Iconic forward Sunil Chhetri has netted in his last five internationals to take his overall tally to 55, level with Romario and above the likes of Gabriel Batistuta (54) and Wayne Rooney (53).

11 goals in his last 11 games for the Netherlands is what Arjen Robben scored to retire from international football as their joint-fourth leading marksman. The run saw the flying winger leapfrog seven players and tie Dennis Bergkamp (37 goals), shy only of Patrick Kluivert (40), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (42) and Robin van Persie (50).

8 hours and 45 minutes: that is how long Morocco have gone without conceding in Russia 2018 qualifying. Goalkeeper Munir’s heroics have left Morocco requiring a draw from their final preliminary away to Côte d'Ivoire to reach a first World Cup since 1998 and deny their hosts going to the global finals for the fourth time in succession.

6 goals in one half is what France became only the third side in FIFA U-17 World Cup’s 32-year history to score against New Caledonia. Spain incredibly managed the feat twice in one game in a 13-0 thrashing of New Zealand in 1997 (six in the first period; seven in the second), while Colombia netted six times after the break in a 9-1 reverse of Finland in 2003. France’s 7-1 win on Sunday was their biggest-ever in the competition, surpassing the Florent Sinama Pongolle-propelled 5-1 defeat of Japan in 2001.