'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABP/aAAgBAQAAAAAwv//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT/2gAIAQIQAAAAT//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT/2gAIAQMQAAAAN//EAB8QAAEEAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMBAgQRBSEAEgYTIv/aAAgBAQABPwDKAhxvFY08bTIeYhIzBX8NpqXapS71yFFxxYQCSMevueNrn9DtrtW6sfP/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAID/9oACAECAQE/AMaipP/EABgRAAMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEDEQAE/9oACAEDAQE/AHdDIDd//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The round 2 of the 2018 World Cup saw a lot more of the big guns earn their full 3 points, while having to fight off more than they would have liked against the underdogs. This round saw a lot more high-profile names live up to their billing, while at the same time we had major disappointments.
Among the teams you would expect to win, it was only Argentina who bit the dust as the others stumbled or cruised (mostly stumbled) their way to victory. England's 6-1 victory over Panama was the closest of the lot, while Germany had to give their everything to salvage a 2-1 win against Sweden.
That said, here is a look at the best players from every group at the end of the fsecond match-week in Russia. Since there can only be one best player, there might be quite some selections you disagree with. Where is the fun in not ruffling a few feathers though?
Trending
Group A
Group A saw the two favorites comfortably get in their 3 points. Russia (who were promoted to favorites after their 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia) beat Egypt by a 3-1 scoreline, while Uruguay once again held their roots in defense and put in a 1-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia.
Uruguay did not really have to do too much against Saudi, and none of the players really stole the show. It was the Russia-Egypt game where things really livened up, and the best of the Russians came from Denis Cheryshev.
After a career that will be forever remembered for knocking Real Madrid out of the Copa del Ray, Cheryshev moved to Villareal without making too much of an impact there. But with Russia, however, the winger looks like an entirely different player.
His two goals in the opening game after coming on a substitute notwithstanding, Cheryshev once again rose to the occasion with a goal against Egypt. After a clever run from Fernandes on the right, he passed the ball back to Cheryshev at the edge of the 6-yard box and he knocked it past the goalkeeper with minimal fuss.
While not being as spectacular and open as the game against Saudi Arabia, Russia did well to cut open a defensively very sound Egypt thanks to Cheryshev and Golovin.
Group B
Group B saw both of its favorites - Spain and Portugal earning identical and hard-fought wins against Iran and Portugal respectively, with 1-0 margins in both the games. Maybe because the earlier 3-3 draws had asked too much of the teams, both Spain and Portugal were not at their usual best and had to squeeze out the results.
The best player from this group belongs to neither of the victors, but to Morocco - the first team to officially get knocked out of this edition of the World Cup. It happens to be Nordin Amrabat, who dominated the entire game for the 86 minutes that followed Ronaldo's opening goal.
After suffering a concussion in the first game, it was not sure whether Amrabat would be fit enough to play. But the coach and the player decided that he indeed was, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions.
After Cristiano Ronaldo was declared the man of the match, fans took to twitter to declare Amrabat as the "real man of the match". While Ziyech was the more creative player for Morocco, it was Amrabat's work rate that really made it possible.
He completed a total of 6 dribbles in the game, and made life difficult for Guerreiro almost the entire game. If only he had pulled back a goal for the team!
Group C
Group C saw the favorites France grind out a 1-0 win against a resilient Peru side, while Denmark were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Australia. The lack of a flurry of goals from the French side meant that N'golo Kante was their best player, but once again he is pipped by a Dane - this time, Christian Eriksen.
This was Christain Eriksen's second contribution for Denmark after assisting their goal against Peru, and what a goal it was! After a brilliant assist from Jorgensen inside the box, Eriksen smashed the ball into the top left corner, and 10 times out of 10, Matt Ryan couldn't have saved it.
The Tottenham midfielder was also the most involved player of the team, operating everywhere from deep in the midfielder to taking corners for the team.
Group D
Group D saw the two favorites Argentina and Croatia clash against one another, but it was not as close as people would have expected. In one of the upsets of the tournament yet, Croatia crushed Argentina 3-0, while Nigeria beat Iceland 2-0 to take the group into a further chaotic final stage.
It was really hard to pick just one player between Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric - as the pair did everything and did everything well. They defended hard, they were not afraid to foul or get fouled, they switched the balls to the flanks like it was second nature, and they both scored to put Argentina to sleep. In the end, it will be unfair to pick just one among them.
Luka Modric's goal was every Real Madrid fan's dream - a banger from 30 yards out, hit with the most precise of curvature and pace on the ball. Rakitic's goal was more of a reflection of Argentina in this tournament - a costly mistake and then defending like they were afraid of touching the ball.
This game ensured that Croatia qualified for the RO16, leaving the other three teams to fight it out among themselves on the last day to decide the other contender. After several tournaments of being dark horses, it looks like we will finally see the Croats rise to the occasion.
Group E
Group E saw the favorites Brazil pull off a late win against Costa Rica with a 2-0 margin, while Switzerland pulled off a last-minute heist against Serbia 2-1 in a match that made the news for more than just footballing reasons.
Despite winning, Brazil were almost kept out of the contest by Costa Rica and it wouldn't be just to put their scorers (Neymar and Coutinho) as the player from the group. The credit instead goes to Xherdan Shaqiri, who was responsible for Switzerland's winning goal.
After going down in as early as the 4th minute, the Swiss became the first team in the WC to win after trailing, and thanks to a masterclass from the Stoke player. He could have gotten the winner as early in the 57th minute, but a curler from him only rattled the frame of the goal.
The winner did come after a pass from midfield that released Shaqiri, he ran the whole length of Serbia's half and put it past the keeper to give his team the win. As one would expect from a stoppage-time winner against a country that Shaqiri had political differences with, the shirt came out and with it a lot of controversies.
There are reports that Shaqiri (and Xhaka) might be looking at a 2 match ban for their actions, and if it does happen, it might prove to be costly when they take on Costa Rica to assure their passage to the next round.
Group F
Group F saw both the favorites to get out of the group - Germany and Mexico - get their hands on 2-1 wins over Sweden and the Korea Republic, albeit in contrasting fashion. While Mexico were in the driver's seat for the entirety of their contest, Germany had to be rescued by a last-gasp beauty from Toni Kroos.
The best player of the group came from the best match of the group - maybe even the best match of the tournament so far and was responsible for scoring the opening goal and assisting the second - Marco Reus.
After being left out of the opener in place of Julian Draxler, Reus returned to the team but not in a traditional role. He was moved to the right with Muller playing as the second striker, and Draxler retaining his role on the left.
After it looked like things might turn disastrous for Germany despite them knocking repeatedly on Sweden's door with much futility, respite came in the 48th minute when Reus put the ball into the Sweden net after a lot of pinball in their box.
Just as things looked like heading for a draw, leaving Germany with a lot to do on the final day, Kroos struck home a wonderful free-kick with Reus playing the role of provider. In a well-executed training exercise, Kroos passed the ball to Reus who stopped it at his foot, with Kroos knocking it into the goal with trademark German precision.
With all the teams in the group still capable of going into the next round, the state of things remains highly interesting.
Group G
Group G saw both of its favorites demolish their way to big (very big) wins, as Belgium destroyed Tunisia 5-2, while England made light work of Panama in a 6-1 destruction. A lot of attackers shown in this game, but the "best" player from here was undoubtedly Eden Hazard.
While Kane got 3 goals (2 penalties and one through sheer luck), and Romelu Lukaku got two as well, it was Eden Hazard who stole the limelight during Belgium's performance. The Chelsea midfielder was all over the Tunisian defense and midfield, making loops around the players who had no idea how to stop him.
It also did not help that Tunisia came into the match with an attacking mindset, and whatever plan they had backfired, and spectacularly. After a foul in the box awarded a penalty to Belgium, Hazard calmly finished off the ensuing penalty for Belgium's second goal.
The second goal was created from De Bruyne in midfield, who found Hazard with a delicious lobbed ball, and Hazard fought his way between two defenders, rounded the keeper and then fired into the open net before leaping in joy.
The match between Belgium and England in the final group match will decide the standings, and Roberto Martinez has already informed the press of injuries to some key players.
Will Belgium lose and thereby take an easier path to the finals? Or will they risk their players against England to show the world what they're capable of?
Group H
Group H saw the current leaders, Senegal and Japan play out a highly entertaining 2-2 draw while Colombia held on to their hopes of making it into the next round by beating Poland by a 3-0 margin. Despite a lot of players shining in the first game, it was Colombia's James Rodriguez who really stepped up when it mattered.
After being dropped for the first game against Japan so as not to worsen an illness, James came back into the team and immediately showed the world what Colombia had been missing. In addition to the two assists he put up, his skills were also in full show for the fans who had turned up to support the team.
After setting up Yerry Mina to head home the opener, he found Cuadrado with one of the best passes of the tournament - a curling through ball that was hit with just the right amount of weight, and one that Cuadrado could not have missed if he wanted.
But he did not stop with that. He took some time off to showcase some skill moves on the sidelines and rub some salts into the wounds of the Polish players. With their last game against Senegal, James will have to deliver once more in the biggest stage to take his team into the next round. As we know, it is something he is used to.
