How every team contributed to making this World Cup the Greatest Ever

The Runners-Up

Croatia

France v Croatia - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final

Football World Cups never have fairy tales. There will be the odd story of an under-dog progressing, but their campaigns typically end up in the quarter finals or the semi-finals at the most. The powerhouses always reach the finals and one of them wins. Croatia defied those odds this World Cup and ended up as the most unfancied team to get thus far in the tournament ever.

They were smooth in the group stages with a perfect record, the win against Argentina a stern warning of what they were capable of. Their knockout wins though endeared them to fans across the world. They played 120 minutes in each of their knockout stages till the finals, coming from behind on each of the occasions. Their skipper was the hero, but not of Hollywood proportions and he urged them forward in every situation through sublime play in the midfield. The ball almost appeared to be in a zen state when at Luka Modric’s feet. The support act followed through Rakitic, Perisic and Mandzukic and a bunch of lesser-known but highly inspired players. It was not until the last ten minutes of the final game against France that their spirits wilted and their bodies gave in – Domagoj Vida the centre back was still seen infuriatedly urging the team forward – a picture of the passion and the effort that Croatia got to this World Cup. Croatia’s golden generation had definitely delivered the story of the World Cup.