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The 2018 World Cup has been more exciting and unpredictable than anyone could have guessed. This tournament has treated us to major upsets, devastating blowouts, and even a record-setting number of penalty shoot-outs (currently tied all-tournament record with 4).
Despite all the excitement, the World Cup boils down to the best teams, and a thorough examination of the remaining few will reveal that they each have a distinct quality that has helped them beat the trials of the opening round and first few elimination games. Let us take a look at what qualities have helped these final four teams thrive at the 2018 World Cup.
#1 Experience & Youth
While France have notably crashed out of the World Cup on several occasions, they find themselves back in the Final Four for the 5th time. This French side now boast a balanced mixture of experience and youth, and they seem to have all the pieces in place to come home World Cup champions.
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In their recent transition, France have turned to the likes of Lloris, Varane, Kante, and Matuidi to build a solid foundation through defense and the back of the midfield. On the forefront, Griezmann, Giroud, and Pogba provide hold up play that allows their youth to be creative and make stellar runs. Without these experienced players, France would find themselves very vulnerable and their ability to shut down and frustrate opponents would be lost.
On the other hand, France look to their young stars to grind through defenses with both pace and creativity. At just 19, 21, and 22 respectively, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Benjamin Pavard are the youthful core that gives this French side such high hopes for the future.
However, in recent games, Mbappe has been the one to step up and show why he might be the best young professional on the planet. Having so many experienced players at his back has given Mbappe the chance to show his pace and trickery, and it has worked wonders as France continue to notch goals at an astounding rate.
His ability to break down defenses and swing in dangerous crosses has helped his teammates find incredible scoring chances. If France hope to win this World Cup, you can expect their experience to hold opponents in check while their youthful attacker continues to spark the scoring chances.
#2 Set Piece Threats
Traditionally a team that crashes out of the World Cup in embarrassing style, this England squad have finally found a tool that has boosted them through to the Final Four. In the 2018 World Cup, England have converted 8 of their 11 goals from set pieces (free kicks, corners, or penalties). This clinical ability from spot kicks has proved devastating to their opponents and is their biggest threat as they continue to advance.
This England side are difficult to defend against because their style is both direct and intuitive. At times, the England side are pushing with pace, looking to beat wingers and thread balls into dangerous areas. With the likes of Sterling, Lingard, Trippier, Alli, Rashford, and Young, this attack hits defenses from wide and forces corners that can be converted by Harry Kane, Harry Maguire, and John Stones.
At other times, they utilize Harry Kane's strength to hold up play and earn free-kicks that can be crossed to their aerial threats. In the case where free kicks and corners aren't enough, England resort to getting their attackers in the box where they can be physical and frustrate defenses with their ability to earn penalties that can be smashed home by Kane. It seems a simple enough strategy, but this England side have mastered the ability to get spot kicks and finish where other teams so often squander opportunities.
#3 Counter Attacking Style
After dominating Group G in the opening rounds, Belgium set the stage for one of the biggest comebacks in World Cup history. Just after half-time of their first elimination game, Japan scored 2 goals to put Belgium on the ropes. Then this Belgium side found another gear. They scored goals in the 69th, 74th, and 94th minutes. The most notable goal being their stoppage-time winner that saw Japan launch a corner kick into the box and Belgium counter attacked the length of the field to slot home a winner just before the referee ended regulation. This moment has defined Belgium for what they do best: counter attack with speed and precision.
The ability to counter-attack and relieve pressure for the defense is one tool that many teams try to utilize but fail because they do not have the quality up front to damage their opponents. Not so with Belgium. When this team counter-attack, the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, and Kevin De Bruyne lead the charge. Having just one of these players would be lethal for most teams, but the trio have made an art of their ability to link play when the defense is most vulnerable.
Lukaku's strength and ability to push ahead of defenders makes him a formidable attacker in every scenario. If strength isn't enough, Hazard's pace and shifty play cause defenses to buckle as they fight to avoid fouling in dangerous positions. And if strength and creativity won't cut it, De Bruyne's shots from distance create a deep threat that goalkeepers and defenders must respect. This Belgian side have thrived on the back of these three, and it's no surprise that they battled to a Final Four finish in the 2018 World Cup.
#4 Midfield Mastery
Watching this Croatia side is like watching a chess match. They won't overpower most teams with one massive blow. Instead, they'll break down opponents with dozens of clinical passes, strategic movement, and control of the midfield. This team defines what it means to control the game at a tactical level. We've yet to see this Croatian side in a match where they've been out-witted and that is due in large part to their midfield geniuses, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic.
It is no surprise here that Modric and Rakitic create the backbone of this Croatian team. Similar to many players around the world, these two midfielders come from massive clubs where their presence is overshadowed by bigger names (Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively).
However, when they combine in the middle of the pitch for Croatia, they are one of the best tactical duos at the international level. With their ability to interlink play and finish from distance, they bring an efficiency unrivaled by most. This duo create a dangerous midfield that most teams cannot match and they have helped this Croatian side gain notoriety on the largest stage.
