Touted by many as the most watchable FIFA World Cup in history, the 2018 trophy was conquered by France after a dominant display against Croatia in the final. Here's a round-up of the football tournament
French football team celebrate their title win, (below) Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. All Pics/ AFP
FIFA World Cup 2018 kicked off to a glamorous start with an opening ceremony highlighted by Robbie Williams' performance, setting the tone for a high-octane World Cup in Russia. Read on as we highlight the best and worst from the tournament.
Hosts kick off FIFA WC 18 in grand fashion
Ranked 70th in June 2018’s FIFA world rankings, not much was expected from the host team Russia heading into the tournament. But they surprised one and all by kick-starting the tournament with an absolute rout, as they hammered Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opener.
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Denis Cheryshev celebrates his goal
The previous highest win by a home team at the FIFA World Cup opener was 3–0 by Sweden against Mexico in the 1958 World Cup. These were early signs that Russia were not in the tournament just to fill up the numbers, they had bigger ambitions.
German engineering goes wrong in the Group Stage
After the opening day goal-fest the first round of group matches resumed and who else to highlight the round but Cristiano Ronaldo! The current Balon d’Or holder was at his absolute best by scoring a hat-trick and single-handedly stealing a point for Portugal against Spain. There were also a few major upsets as Lionel Messi’s Argentina were held to a draw by Iceland, Switzerland managed a point against Neymar’s Brazil, Colombia lost to Japan as well, but the biggest jolt was defending champions Germany’s shock 0-1 defeat to Mexico.
Heading into Matchday 2 of the group stage, Cristiano Ronaldo was again on the mark for Portugal as they bagged three vital points against Morocco, while Argentina suffered another setback with a 0-3 loss against Croatia. Both Brazil and Belgium picked up wins while England displayed flair and attacking prowess to hand Panama a 6-1 drubbing.
Now it was all down to the final Matchday of the group stage with fates of a few hanging in the balance. Group A saw Uruguay and Russia comfortably go through, whereas Spain and Portugal waded off Iran’s challenge in Group B to scrape through to the Round of 16. France and Denmark qualified from Group C, and Marcos Rojo’s last-gasp winner over Nigeria saw Argentina sneak through behind Croatia in Group D.
Brazil and Switzerland finished on top in Group E, but the biggest shock of the group stage came in Group F where Germany became the third defending champions in a row after Italy and Spain in the previous two editions to crash out in the group stage of the World Cup.
A disappointed German team after exiting the 2018 World Cup against South Korea
Putting an end to the group stage, Belgium and England eased through in Group G and while Colombia qualified on top in Group H, there was a deadlock of points, goals and goal difference for the second spot between Japan and Senegal. However, Japan went through by accumulating fewer yellow cards in their three matches.
Goliaths fall to Davids (Round of 16)
It was over to the knockouts now and already some big teams were pitted against each other in the Round of 16.
First up two favorites for the trophy, France and Argentina squared off with Lionel Messi’s quest for World Cup glory still alive. But the attacking force of France, led by a 19-year old Kylian Mbappe smashed four into the Argentine net. Lionel Messi tried his best but could not keep Argentina’s hopes and his hope for the ultimate triumph alive.
On the same night, Ronaldo’s Portugal took on Uruguay for a place in the quarterfinal. All eyes were on Cristiano Ronaldo, but Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani stole the limelight by driving his team to a 2-1 win over Portugal in the Round of 16
Thus ended Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream on the first night of the knockouts.
Neymar starred for Brazil with a goal and an assist against Mexico to sail into the quarterfinal, while Belgium pulled off an epic escape with three goals in the last 20 minutes to break Japanese hearts in the Round of 16.
Russia carried out an upset against Spain in penalty shootouts to continue a dream run at their home World Cup. Croatia’s goalkeeper Danijel Subasic turned hero for the night to pull his team through to the top 8.
Summing up the Round of 16, Sweden edged past Switzerland 1-0 to move into the quarterfinal and England for the first time won a penalty shootout in a World Cup to down Colombia and move into the next round.
Battle of the big guns (Quarterfinals)
As the battle for the throne was heating up a few big guns were going up against each other in the quarterfinals. An Edinson Cavani-less Uruguay took on a high-flying France for a top-four spot, but it was evident from the beginning that Uruguay lacked the finishing touch of Edinson Cavani as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Les Bleus.
Next up it was time for the biggest match of the World Cup with the two favourites Brazil and Belgium going head-on against one another. Belgium took a two-goal lead in the first half to setback Brazil, but Brazil got back in the game with Renato Agusto’s 76th-minute goal. Even after launching attack after attack in the final minutes, Brazil failed to convert as they crashed out of the FIFA World Cup 2018.
Neymar goes down to the ground in pain after a tackle
Russia and Croatia, both had scraped through to the quarterfinals with penalty-shootout thrillers in the Round of 16, so it was anybody’s game as the quarterfinal between Russia and Croatia went into penalties. Croatia’s cool head Danijel Subasic once again came up trumps in goal to take the European underdogs into the top 4.
England became serious contenders for the trophy when they entered the semifinal after beating Sweden in the quarterfinals and back home English fans’ ‘It’s coming home’ chants grew louder and louder.
One step closer, the top 4 (Semi-finals)
Perhaps the two most consistent teams of the tournament, France and Belgium went head-to-head in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2018. In a tightly fought game where both defences had the upper-hand, it took a defender for France to break the deadlock as Samuel Umtiti leapt high and mighty above Fellaini to end Belgium’s World Cup hopes. France beat Belgium 1-0.
Harry Kane and Luka Modric vie for the ball during their clash
England was favourites to make it through to the final as they took on a tired Croatia in the second semi-final. Everything went according to plan for England as Kieran Trippier pulled off a David Beckham with a scorching free-kick into the top corner to take the lead in the 5th minute.
Ivan Perisic hit back for Croatia with an equalizer and the inevitable happened for Luka Modric’s men when the match went into extra time. Although penalty shootouts were not needed this time as Mario Mandzukic scored the winner and took off for wild celebrations in the 109th minute.
Claim to the throne (Final)
After overthrowing 30 teams, playing 63 matches and scoring goals by the dozen, only two challengers remained in contention for the ultimate throne - France and Croatia. The world was watching and millions of emotions were on display as France took the lead with an unfortunate own goal by Mario Mandzukic.
Ivan Perisic got Croatia back into the game with an equalizer, but it took only a few minutes for Ivan Perisic to go from hero to zero as a handball from him gave France a penalty. Antoine Griezmann converted the penalty and France closed the door on Croatia. Paul Pogba then bent the ball into the net with his left foot to extend France’s lead. FIFA World Cup 2018’s most talked about player Kylian Mbappe put the final nail in Croatia’s coffin with a low right-footer into the net. Croatia got a second goal from a Hugo Lloris howler but it was too little too late as France won the game 4-2 to lift the 2018 FIFA World Cup and their second title.
France football team lift the trophy
When VAR took the Spotlight!
FIFA World Cup 2018 introduced the VAR (Virtual Assistant Referee) for the first time at football’s biggest stage and boy did it make an impact! We take a look at a few instances where VAR changed the course of the game.
France 2-1 Australia (Group C)
France were the first beneficiaries of the VAR in a World Cup when it was used to award France a penalty which was earlier turned down by the on-field referee. Antoine Griezmann converted from the spot and France went on to win the match 2-1.
Brazil 2-0 Costa Rica (Group E)
VAR came into play in the game between Brazil and Costa Rica when Neymar went to ground inside the Costa Rican box and was awarded a penalty. After VAR’s intervention, on-field referee Bjorn Kuipers watched the replays and reversed his decision leaving Neymar red-faced. Brazil, however, went on to win the game 2-0
Iran 1-1 Portugal (Group B)
VAR enabled the referee to award a penalty to Portugal after initially waving play on when Ronaldo was brought down in the Iranian box. Ronaldo, however, failed to score from the penalty kick. The VAR came into play one more time in the same match when it was used to award Iran a penalty in extra time to level the score.
Spain 2-2 Morocco (Group B)
The VAR came to Spain’s rescue when Iago Aspas’s equalizer was ruled out by the offside flag, but replays convinced the on-field referee to overturn the offside and award the goal to Spain, helping them finish on top of Group B.
France 4-2 Croatia (World Cup final)
VAR played an important role in turning the course of the final in Moscow. Amidst appeals by the France players for a handball, Ivan Perisic looked to have cleared the ball from the Croatian box off a French corner. Although replays revealed that the ball clearly hit Ivan Perisic’s outstretched arms. VAR brought the same to the on-field referee’s attention and after having a closer look, the referee awarded a penalty to France. There was no way back from there on for Les Bleus as Antoine Griezmann scored the penalty to give them a 2-1 lead.
Records set at the FIFA World Cup 2018
Most FIFA World Cup tournaments scored in by a player: In Portugal’s opening game versus Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo equalled the record jointly held by Uwe Seller, Pele and Miroslav Klose of scoring in four FIFA World Cups. The Portuguese legend who scored a hat-trick against Spain, thus scored in each of the World Cups - 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
Oldest player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo broke another record in the game versus Spain, the forward at 33 years and 130 days became ‘ Oldest player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup’
Smallest country (by population) to play in the FIFA World Cup:
Iceland claimed the record with 337,669 people residing in the country.
Oldest player to score on FIFA World Cup debut: 
Panama’s Felipe Baloy broke the record at 37 years and 120 days when he scored the lone goal for Panama in his team’s 1-6 defeat to England in a Group G fixture.
Most own goals scored during a FIFA World Cup (overall):
This year’s World Cup saw 12 own goals, doubling the record of six. Countries that scored own goals included both finalists Croatia and France.
First own goal scored in a FIFA World Cup final: 
Croatian supporters were rooting for Mario Mandzukic to score for Croatia in the World Cup final which he did, but what they did not know was that Mario Mandzukic will also score the first own goal ever in a World Cup final!
Most goals scored in the FIFA World Cup as captain:
England’s captain Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo have written their names alongside the great Diego Maradona with six goals as captain in the World Cup. Though Diego Maradona had scored six goals as captain between 1986-1994, Harry Kane has equalled the record in just one World Cup, while Ronaldo took 3 to achieve the feat.
Oldest player in a FIFA World Cup:
Egypt’s goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary took a record home from Russia; at 45 years 161 days he became the oldest player in a FIFA World Cup, beating the previous record by more than two years.
Most penalty shoot-out saves in the FIFA World Cup:
Croatia goalkeeper and World Cup hero with the gloves Danijel Subasic’s saves in shoot-outs against Denmark and Russia during his team's run to the final meant he finished the World Cup with four saves, matching the achievements of West Germany's Harald Schumacher from 1982 and 1986 and Argentine Sergio Goycochea in 1990. Apart from penalty-shootouts he also put on an all-round performance for Croatia throughout the 2018 FIFA World Cup with crucial saves.
Most FIFA World Cup finals goals by a team:
Neymar’s Brazil may have left the World Cup without a medal but they did not leave empty-handed. Brazil’s all-time goals record now stand at 229 goals between 1934-2018, topping Germany who ended FIFA World Cup 2018 with 226 goals.
Over to Qatar now who will host the next edition of FIFA World Cup in 2022, the Gulf nation will have to up their game to match Russia's standards.
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