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Football fans throughout the world are enthused by the World Cup and after a month-long carnival of football, we have finally come to an end to the World Cup 2018. We have witnessed the best players, the underrated players, some world class goals and some world class own goals, some world-class saves by goalkeepers, and some VAR controversies.
It is hard to disagree with FIFA President describing Russia 2018 as the “best World Cup ever”. This World Cup has not only been a joyous and exciting journey for the fans in Russia but also for the fans all over the world. It is quite normal for people to feel sad whenever an event as huge as the World Cup ends.
There are possibly millions of football fans right now having a slight twinge of sadness in their stomach because their favourite tournament is over. The fact is, now we can only wait for the next World Cup. But let us first rewind the 10 talking points of the World Cup 2018:
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#10 VAR controversies
More often than not, penalties were awarded a total of 29 times by the referees in this World Cup which beats the old record of 18 set in 1998 and 2002. And almost most of those were awarded after reviewing by the referees through VAR.
The controversy surrounding VAR has been aptly summarised by football pundits and experts throughout Russia. While it has disrupted the flow of a football match in a negative way, the referees are also getting huge help in getting decisions nearly correct.
On the other side, most players were left rather disappointed by the VAR decisions. The VAR used in crucial and big matches left the players, fans and the football experts disappointed. The failures to provide instant clarifications about the issue at stake to the stadium audiences have also been criticised.
Lack of experience of the referees with VAR has affected the matches in many ways. But after 19 correct reviews in 62 matches and FIFA President claiming that goals scored from an off-side position have finished, VAR is in good hands.
#9 Own goals
A rather weird end to the World Cup 2018 saw Mario Mandzukic become the first ever player to score an own goal in a World Cup final. This goal also means that this World Cup has seen more own goals than any other in the history with Mandzukic’s own goal being the 12th own goal scored by a player.
It also goes past the highest scorer Harry Kane, with 6 goals more than the golden boot winner. And more than what Germany and Portugal could muster combined.
But my pick of the best own goal in this world cup is the first one scored by Aziz Bouhaddouz of Morocco against Iran. Defending a routine corner, Bouhaddouz scored with a diving header any striker would be proud of.
#8 Asian teams played with their heart out
It was an encouraging World Cup for the Asian teams in this World Cup. Almost all of the sides played with incentive and courage. Barring Australia, every team from the Asian confederation managed at least a win in Russia.
With big players playing in big European leagues and better managers managing the Asian teams, there is no doubt that the likes of Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Iran or Japan can come up with all the goods in the next World Cup.
Japan’s massive heartbreak with a last-gasp Belgian goal in their round of 16 match shattered the Japanese fans’ dream of reaching the World Cup 2018 quarter-finals. With South Korea eliminating the mighty Germany with a brilliant 2-0 win describes the fact that the Asian teams are not to be taken for granted.
Football in Asia is the stronghold of only a few countries, with South Korea and Japan the World Cup regulars. Upcoming teams like China and Saudi Arabia can also come good with their developments in football. There can only be optimism surrounding the teams from the Asian confederation going into the next World Cup.
#7 The European teams going strong
For the 13th time, a European team was crowned the World Cup champions in Russia. The elimination of Uruguay and Brazil in the quarter-finals meant that all the semi-finalists in this World Cup were from Europe, sealing the continent’s dominance of the event and ensuring a European World Cup winner for the fourth consecutive time.
It is likely that with better leagues and better facilities, the European teams have an advantage while the South American counterparts are lacking behind. Rather than a collapse, it was merely a series of dips in the South American teams which led them to another World Cup failure.
European teams, meanwhile, looked in control pretty much everywhere in and off the pitch. Only 4 of its 14 teams failed to reach the knockout stages. The dominance could get more pronounced when the World Cup expands to 48 teams in 2026. By then, the UEFA allocations will be up to 16 teams which more than complicate the teams from other continents.
While the best clubs in football are based in Europe, big money will make sure of increasing standards and better talents. It can only make them better, but for the teams from other continents, at least the next two World Cups won’t be held in Europe.
#6 Big Shocks
The competition has mostly been about stunning shocks right from the first match of this World Cup itself. The 5-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia by the hosts Russia, Croatia defeating Lionel Messi led Argentina 3-0, Germany losing to a spirited South Korean team 2-0, Iran showing their mettle in the big stage, the list of shocks in this World Cup doesn’t end there.
The FIFA World Cup 2018 threw more than its share of shocks even as it lived up to its expectations. Stunning results is what any sport is all about and this World Cup has seen plenty during the past 30 days.
#5 Goalkeeping mistakes
For a goalkeeper, a single mistake in a game can tarnish its reputation more than a striker who has not scored a goal for many games. As far as the top goalkeepers in this World Cup are concerned, both David De Gea and Manuel Neuer could not save their reputation as the world’s two best goalkeepers.
While De Gea could not save a routine shot from Cristiano Ronaldo, Neuer made the mistake of thinking he was a left winger when conceding South Korea’s second goal. Both could not recover from their mistakes as their teams faltered early in the tournament.
The goalkeeping errors don’t end there as the likes of Willy Caballero gifting Croatia their first against in their 3-0 loss and Fernando Muslera letting slip a shot from Antoine Griezmann for their quater-final loss.
When we thought that the goalkeepers have steadied their ship after some brilliant saves during the latter stages of the knockout rounds, Hugo Lloris made an awful mistake to embarrass himself in the final.
The goalkeepers will surely want to make amends for their costly mistakes during the World Cup, while at the same time make themselves as important as a goal scorer.
#4 Tournament of goals
This was the first ever World Cup to see all competing teams score at least two goals. While barring one match involving France and Denmark, at least one goal was scored in all of the 63 other matches (the most at any World Cup tournament since 1954). This tournament also saw 22 penalties scored, the most at any edition of the competition.
There were nine winning goals scored in the 90th minute or later, more than any other edition of the World Cup. These stats describe how much exciting this World Cup has been.
The Belgium team playing exciting counter-attack in scoring some brilliant goals or the pragmatic France team doing all they can to see off opposition by scoring early goals. This World Cup has also witnessed some brilliant goals scored by brilliant players. This World Cup has been a tournament of exciting goals and stats.
#3 Underdogs playing to their potential
Russia 2018 has indeed been an inspiring story. While the big teams faltered early during the tournament, the lesser known teams like Iceland, South Korea, Japan and Iran showed the world the potential that they have.
While the likes Belgium, England and Croatia punched far above their weight to defeat the likes of better teams to reach the semi-finals. But the ultimate compliments should be showered on the Croatian team for reaching their first ever World Cup final.
The big players from the Croatia and Belgium team have underachieved in their previous tournaments, so the time was almost right for them to deliver in the biggest stage of them all. And the likes of Eden Hazard and Luka Modric playing to their potential helped their respective teams to achieve their highest finish at the World Cup. Any World Cup underdog story has the potential to be an inspiration for future teams, and this World Cup had plenty.
#2 Russia showing their spirit on and off the field
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says about the “energetic and positive impact” that football has made in Russia, while also declaring Russia 2018 as the “best World Cup ever”.
Russia’s hosting of the most glittering prize in world football was controversial even before a ball was kicked. But there is no doubt that this tournament has been an eye-opener both on and off the pitch. That can be attributed to Russia’s organisation in hosting a brilliant tournament.
On the other side, the Russian football team, the crowd favourites had a tournament to remember. Playing as the host nation, they showed their vast potential of football geniuses. Their never give up spirit took them all the way till the quarter-finals only to be defeated by the Croatians. But one thing is for sure – Russia might not have won the World Cup but is undoubtedly a winner off the field.
#1 The high scoring World Cup final
The final of this World Cup held in Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow featured two teams showing all their mettle during the whole tournament. France has kept the crowd on the edge of the seat during the whole match scoring four goals against the resolute Croatian defence.
Les Blues manager Didier Deschamps became only the third ever to win the World Cup as a player and a coach. It was a match that featured anything you could have ever imagined, an own goal, a goalkeeper mistake, pitch invaders and a teenager playing to his potential.
The Croatians depended on the mastery of their talismanic midfielder Luka Modric to reach the final but were deprived of their attacking powers due to the brilliance of the French midfield. France also became the first team to score four goals in the final since Brazil did against Italy in 1970. In the end, it was destiny for France and heartbreak for Croatia. There could only be one winner and France deserved the win.
