A great World Cup tournament comes to an end on Sunday evening when France beat Croatia 2-4 and was crowned as the new world champions. It was a very intense tournament, full of joy, good football, bad football, goals, fans and many surprises. I can’t tell whether it’s the best tournament ever since I didn’t see the 1982 tournament of the 1974 for example. Since 1990, my first World Cup, this was surely the best one. So all I can left and to give you my elections in several categories:
The best team – France
France was one of the nominees to take the cup, but even they didn’t expect that Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Spain will be eliminated to quickly. At the end they had the best squad, or at least one of the best and coach Didier Deschamps managed to get 200% from them. They didn’t start well, they didn’t convince in group phase but since the knock-out they improved from game to game and were simlpy amazing. They deserved to win, they controlled the match completely, the scored four goals in the final butr they also had a wonderful defense. Griezmann, Mbappe, Lloris, Varane, Umtiti, Kante, Pogbe. True champions!
By far the best of the tournament. France is celebratring its second World Cup trophy
The worst team – Germany
I think it’ll be a consensus here between all of us. The defending champion, Germany, for the first time since 1938 couldn’t pass to the second round. Their group wasn’t easy, yet no one really could imagine that they won’t qualify and not only that, eventually they finished last in their group. while all they needed was a 1-0 victory over South Korea in the last match, they managed to lose it also 0-2 and complete their most disappointed tournament ever. As for coach Joachim Low in case you wonder, he extends his contract until 2022…
The 2014 World champion couldn’t even pass the group stage
The surprising team – Croatia
Who would’ve think before the tournament that Croatia will reach to the final? It was pretty crazy tournament and Croatia indeed is a strong team, yet I think they managed to surprised even themselves. They had the toughest group which they finished top with 100%. But the real deal came in the knock-out stage, where they went to extra time in three matches in a row and finished them as winners. They also were the first team to win two PK shoot-out in the same tournament since Argentina did it in 1990. Even though they were very tired and sometimes with the momentum against them, they showed their character but in the final we could see the difference. Despite all, they deserve all the credit.
Croatia was so close to shock the world
The Best player – Luca Modric’ (Croatia)
Usually the player comes from the winning team (unless your name is Messi) and in France there were several players who could win it, but for me it was Croatia & Real Madrid midfielder. He was the boss of this team, he was the key player in their amazing tournament. He almost became the tragic hero after missing a penalty vs. Denmark 5 minutes from the end of extra time, but luckily Croatia won in shoot-out and Modric’ continued his great form. At the end of the final and despite being chosen as the MVP, you could see how disapoointed he was. A true winner.
Luca Modric’ wins the 2018 FIFA World Cup best player award
The most disappointed player – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Yes I know, without him Argentina most probably wouldn’t even qualify. Yes I know, he cannot do everything by his own. And still, I expected much more from him. Especially when it supposed to be his last World Cup tournament. It’s beyond winning the title. I really didn’t consider Argentina among the favorites to win, you cannot lie for three years in the qualifiers and then being consider as favorite. But Messi really wasn’t in Russia. At least not according his form. A single goal vs, Nigeria and that’s it. He missed a crucial penalty vs. Iceland which complicated Argentina in the group. In the round of 16 vs. France he looked turned off and once again failed to score in a knockout match, his 9th knockout match. Too bad that one of the greatest players ever has to play maybe his last tournament looking like this.
Disappeared along with his national team. Leo Messi
The U-23 best player of the tournament – Kylian Mbappe
What a tournament it was for this 19-year-old superstar. He was one of the main reason that France improved its form since the group stage. He did everything on the field and he was literally unstoppable. Scored two goals vs, Argentina including his amazing run with the ball for almost 60 meters (38 km/h) which ended in a foul on him inside the box. He also scored the last goal of France in the final, how symbolic. Was chosen by FIFA for the best young player of the tournament.
And to think that he is only 19 years old…Kylian Mbappe
The best match – France vs. Argentina 4:3 (round of 16)
Not only that it was the best match of this tournament, it was one of the best matches I’ve ever seen in a World Cup tournament. We had it all: Goals, great plays, advantage from side to side, little drama at the end. Argentina shouldn’t meet France so early in the completition, but they barely qualified from the second place and we received this amazing match. The French led after 13 minutes from a PK of Griezmann after Mbappe’s amazing run which ended in a foul inside the box. Argentina didn’t up and turned the score around with two goals by Di Maria (41′) and Mercado (48′) but then fall apart and conceded three goals in 11 minutes. Aguero scored in the last seconds but it was too late and France continued to the quater final.
The best goal – Benjamin Pavard (France) vs. Argentina
In the same match, France’s right-back, Benjamin Pavard, equalised the match to 2-2 at the 57th minute with a magnificent curved shot after reciving a crossed ball from Lucas Hernandez. Just watch it in slow motion, you won’t regret.
The VAR
I must say that at first I was against this whole video thing. I was positive that it’ll be like the American sports like the NBA, 48 minutes of Basketball lasts during three hours. But I was wrong. The VAR helped the referees (in most cases) to fix or to decide the right decision, even if they had the wrong decision first. And this is blessed change of FIFA. Now they just need to organize this rule, when and where should the referee decide to look at the VAR because sometimes it wasn’t clear, for example the false penalty that England received vs. Colombia. If Mark Geiger would check the play, he would see the Kane grab and fould Carlos Sanchez way before he was “fouled” by Sanchez himself. But like I said, in general the decision to use VAR was excellent.
My personal experience
I watch the World Cup tournament since 1990 and it’s my favorite one, especially when Colombia is in it. This time I decided to go to Russia and to feel the excitement from close. So I took my dad, son and brother and travelled to Kazan, where the Colombian national team stayed. Unfortunately I couldn’t go for more than one match but the match that I saw was one of the best when Colombia beat Poland 3-0 at the Kazan Arena. Beside the amazing atmosphere inside the stadium, the Colombian fans ones again proved that they are the best in the world. around 40K arrived to Russia and you could see them everywhere in Kazan. Walking, dancing and singing in the streets with the national team jerseys. And not only them. Other Latin fans were there like Mexicans, Peruvians and Argentines ,sitting in the pubs watching the games together with Germans, Polish and Swedish fans. No fighting, no cursing, no hooligans. Only pure love of football and a lot of beer. At least in Kazan, the restaurants and pubs were less ready for the massive quantity of fans but they did their best. The English language was a bit of a problem, though. Wasn’t easy to communicate with the locals. But when football is the international language, who cares. Wonderful Fan-Fest zone and many sites that this city offers to see. I was only 5 days, like I said I couldn’t stay more but it was wonderful.
And above all, I’ll take two moments from this trip besides the game:
1. A very beautiful girl, Nati Jota from ESPN, came to interview me in Spanish cause she thought I am a Colombian (I wore the jersey). I conrinue to spoke with her in Spanish and she was amazed that I am an Israeli. Then, in the middle of the street full of people and cars she asked me what would I do for the NT. I said like what? And she said, come and dance salsa with me in the middle of the road…It took me 3 seconds to say yes, we danced like 10 seconds before the drivers started to get pissed on us…
2. I’m a huge fan of Colombian sports presenter, Andrea Guerrero, for 13 years now. I never thought that one day I’ll get to meet her but in Kazan it happened so I couldn’t miss the opportunity to take a photo with her. You can tell I was happy…
![[âIMG]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dgb1NiJWAAAnlPA.jpg:large)
The best XI of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Goalkeeper – Jordan Pickford (England)
Right-back – Benjamin Pavard (France)
Center-back – Yerry Mina (Colombia)
Center-back – Raphael Varane (France)
Left-back – Lucas Hernandez (France)
Defensive midfielder – N’golo Kante (France)
Center midfielder – Luca Modric’ (Croatia)
Center midfielder – Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Right-winger – Kylian Mbappe (France)
Left-winger – Antoine Griezmann (France)
Striker – Ivan Perisic’ (Croatia)
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