Kolkata, June 19 -- Remember James Rodriguez's stunning volley against Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup? Or Lionel Messi picking a low corner through a thicket of legs against Mexico in 2022? These goals stand out not only for their quality but also because long-range strikes have become increasingly rare at World Cups. Nearly 16% of the 145 goals scored in South Africa in 2010 were from outside the 18-yard box. The number kept dropping in World Cups thereafter hitting 7.6% in 2022 where 13 of the 172 goals were long-rangers. After all 48 teams have played once, the trend is on the up in 2026. Of the 70 goals scored till the end of Wednesday's matches, at least 12 or 17% of them were long-rangers.Most of the goals have come from not farther than 25 yards out and not one was from a direct free-kick. P13...