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World Cup final word: Why Russia 2018 was the greatest ever

Olivier Giroud leads the France celebrations
Olivier Giroud leads the France celebrations

The end is not near, it’s here.

Russia 2018, the World Cup doomed to fail, greatly exceeded expectations as France emerged victorious from the pile.

It was a tournament full of quality and mistakes, ecstasy and despair and then some. And let’s not forget VAR.

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It pretty much had everything.

From a scintillating start to a breathtaking final, Russia provided one of the most entertaining World Cups in recent memory.

Here are our most memorable moments as we already begin to rue the loss of football.

Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia

Russia’s Denis Cheryshev celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Russia’s Denis Cheryshev celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Russia, the hosts, entered the tournament as the lowest-ranked nation in the World Cup.

It seemed a sham, didn’t it? Host the greatest show on earth and as a result, you get a free pass.

Stanislav Cherchesov and his men were surely there to make up the numbers, right?

Wrong. Russia were one of the delights of the tournament, and they made their mark from the start – smashing Saudi Arabia in the opening match.

Ronaldo’s free kick

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo lines up before scoring his third goal against Spain
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo lines up before scoring his third goal against Spain

Spain played Portugal on match day two and it was the fixture which had everyone salivating.

Often fixtures between top clubs or nations can prove nervy affairs, but oh boy did this derby live up to pre-match expectations.

Nacho scored a stunning first-time half volley which clipped both posts while Diego Costa’s sheer determination left Portugal struggling.

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Indeed, the 2016 European Championship winners were trailing with a couple of minutes of normal time remaining when they won a free kick on the edge of the box.

You know, a classic ‘too close to goal’ one. Cristiano Ronaldo was – of course – the man to step up and take it.

A nation held its collective breath, and their talisman delivered with arguably the best free kick of his career to earn Portugal a share of the spoils.

Aziz Bouhaddouz’s own goal

Morocco’s Younes Belhanda waits at the kick off point after his teammate Aziz Bouhaddouz scored an own goal (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Morocco’s Younes Belhanda waits at the kick off point after his teammate Aziz Bouhaddouz scored an own goal (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

It was truly a tournament which had it all – including a record number of own goals, double the six own goals scored in 1998.

Indeed, it was fitting that Mario Mandzukic slotted into his own net in the final to cap off an enthralling month.

But the man to initiate proceedings was Bouhaddouz. With Morocco inexplicably scoring at the right end after a dominant 90 minutes against Iran, it seemed they would have to settle for a point.

That was, at least, until Bouhaddouz swooped to head a free kick into his near post and leave his nation stunned, and Iran jubilant.

Mexico defeat reigning champions Germany

Hirving Lozano of Mexico celebrates scoring the winner against Germany in their opening Group F game.
Hirving Lozano of Mexico celebrates scoring the winner against Germany in their opening Group F game.

Nothing embodied the World Cup spirit as much as Mexico did during their spell in Russia.

Facing the 2014 World Cup champions Germany in their opening game seemed no mean feat, with the Germans looking as ruthless as ever – even excluding Manchester City’s Leroy Sane from their squad.

Imagine: A team so full of quality that one of the best Premier League players didn’t make the cut.

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Well, as it so happens, that was probably a huge mistake. Germany looked at sixes and sevens as an adventurous but disciplined Mexico looked lethal on the break.

Hirving Lozano finally scored the goal their counter-attacking threat had deserved, and Germany could not find a response.

Carlos Sanchez concedes penalty, sees red inside three minutes

Referee Damir Skomina from Slovenia shows a red card to Colombia’s seated Carlos Sanchez
Referee Damir Skomina from Slovenia shows a red card to Colombia’s seated Carlos Sanchez

James Rodriguez’s Colombia lined up against Japan in their group stage opener, and the South Americans would have been relatively confident of beating their opposition.

Only, those plans were dashed in less than three minutes.

As Japan launched an early counter, a mistake meant Carlos Sanchez – formerly of Aston Villa – was forced to take matters into his own hands and he handled a goal-bound shot inside the box.

He was given his marching orders, Shinji Kagawa converted the penalty and Japan went on to win – albeit conceding a leveller from Juan Quintero first.

Croatia demolish Argentina

Rakitic and Modric celebrate after the team’s third goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Argentina and Croatia. (Getty Images)
Rakitic and Modric celebrate after the team’s third goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Argentina and Croatia. (Getty Images)

The 2014 runners-up, led by Lionel Messi, had unfinished business. They wanted to win the World Cup, and Messi wanted to silence his remaining doubters – although it seems by this point that will probably be impossible.

The problem for Jorge Sampaoli’s men, though, was that they contrived to draw against perennial underdogs Iceland.

Nevermind, then. Beat Croatia and it’s all OK, right?

Not quite. Former Liverpool man Javier Mascherano put in one of the worst performances of his life, goalkeeper Willy Caballero made a howler to gift Croatia the lead before Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric completed the 3-0 rout.

Whoops.

Brazil leave it late to beat Costa Rica

Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring the opening goal in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica in St Petersburg.
Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring the opening goal in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica in St Petersburg.

Ah, Brazil. Speaking of unfinished business, Tite’s men were hell-bent on revenge after crashing out in a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat on their own home turf in 2014.

And after an opening draw with Switzerland – the first of a number of surprising results for the Swiss – Neymar’s men had to win.

Except they found the match goalless after 90 minutes.


Nevertheless, Philippe Coutinho bagged an injury-time winner to kick-start the Brazil campaign.

Neymar, indeed, was so elated by events that he decided to rainbow-flick the ball over an opponent before adding the icing on the cake with a 97th minute second goal.

Kroos beats Sweden

Toni Kroos watches as his stunning free-kick beats the despairing dive of Sweden’s goalkeeper, Robin Olsen, to seal Germany’s victory with almost the last kick of the game.
Toni Kroos watches as his stunning free-kick beats the despairing dive of Sweden’s goalkeeper, Robin Olsen, to seal Germany’s victory with almost the last kick of the game.

Germany were in trouble. After losing to Mexico – see above – they were at serious risk of crashing out of the World Cup when Sweden’s Ola Toivonen opened the scoring in the first half.

Marco Reus put the sides level just after the break, before former Manchester City man Jerome Boateng was sent off with less than ten minutes remaining.

Joachim Low’s men were really up against it, before Toni Kroos scored a beautiful free kick with the last kick of the game to salvage Germany’s World Cup.

Until, you know, they lost to South Korea in the next match.

Messi reignites faltering Argentina

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Nigeria
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Nigeria

If there’s a recurring theme here, I apologise. Argentina were gifted a lifeline when Nigeria decided to arrive at the World Cup by beating Iceland.

It meant a win would see Sampaoli’s side progress.

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Indeed, superstar Messi scored a breathtaking goal on the run to give Argentina the lead and surely set them on their way, before Victor Moses converted a penalty to throw a serious spanner in the works.

With time seriously running out, the ever-reliable Gonzalo Higuain Marcos Rojo slotted home to send Argentina into dreamland.

France stun Argentina

France were truly one of the most bizarre teams in the tournament – without ever truly risking their defensive shape, they were able to clinically cut through teams.

Didier Deschamps’ men faced Argentina in the first match of the knockout phases and what a match ensued.

Angel di Maria and Benjamin Pavard scored breathtaking strikes, before Kylian Mbappe put the game to bed with two goals in four minutes.

For good measure, Sergio Aguero scored with just under two minutes remaining to leave France clinging on to a 4-3 win.

Cavani and Suarez’s scintillating one-two

Cavani celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Portugal
Cavani celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Portugal

Uruguay against Portugal didn’t really whet the appetite in the same fashion France v Argentina did.

Two tactically-astute teams shaping up against each other was set to be a different contest, and PSG star Edinson Cavani proved to be the match-winner as Ronaldo left Russia on the same day as his rival Messi.

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What we didn’t see coming, though, was a remarkable play between Cavani and – that man again – Luis Suarez.

Cavani sprayed a 50-odd yard pass to his compatriot on the left wing, who returned the favour with a delicious cross which Cavani headed into the net to open the scoring for Uruguay.

England put their penalty hoodoo to bed

England finished as group runners-up, meaning they faced Colombia in the knock-outs.
England finished as group runners-up, meaning they faced Colombia in the knock-outs.

For all the chants, for all the songs, there was one moment which every football fan shared an all-too-familiar feeling.

It was about the time Yerry Mina headed home Colombia’s equaliser deep in injury time despite the South Americans barely getting a look-in through the match.

All spectators knew what was coming next; a shaky England display followed by heartbreak on penalties.

And when Jordan Henderson was denied from the spot, it seemed to further confirm that feeling.

But Jordan Pickford pulled off a sublime save, and Eric Dier kept his cool. And England fans rediscovered international football.

Belgium leave it late

Belgium’s Nacer Chadli celebrates after scoring his third side’s goal during the round of 16 match between Belgium and Japan (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Belgium’s Nacer Chadli celebrates after scoring his third side’s goal during the round of 16 match between Belgium and Japan (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Roberto Martinez’s men were in trouble. They found themselves 2-0 down to Japan and time was running out. Fast.

Premier League regulars Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini levelled the tie and seemed to set us on course for extra time.

But with the final kicks of the match, Japan went forward and lost the ball. Manchester City star De Bruyne started the break, and released Thomas Meunier down the right.

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Meunier’s cross was fine, but Romelu Lukaku’s awareness at the near post to leave the ball put a truly spectacular splash on a wonderful goal.

It left Nacer Chadli unmarked in a central position, and he slotted home to send Belgium through with one of the last kicks of the game.

Pogba and Mbappe confirm France as World Cup winners

France’s Antoine Griezmann, points to two stars on his jersey indicating two world cup wins, as he celebrates with Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe
France’s Antoine Griezmann, points to two stars on his jersey indicating two world cup wins, as he celebrates with Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe

France truly grew into their tournament after a somewhat scrappy opening win against Australia.

No-one was more central to that than Mbappe, who performed to his scintillating best at times, particularly against Belgium, and embarrassed defenders for fun.

The PSG youngster, in particular, will be remembered for an array of fine skills – and one breathtaking pass to Olivier Giroud in the semi-final.

But both him and Paul Pogba were pivotal for Deschamps’ men, and both had the tenacity and determination to shoot from range in the final against a defiant Croatia.

Their goals saw France to a 4-1 lead, before a howler from Hugo Lloris allowed Croatia a consolation goal.