Russia 2018 is being hailed as one of the finest World Cups over the past three decades
It was a Final which had everything — controversial decisions, pitch invasion, own goal, first teenage goal scorer since Pele and a comic goalkeeping error. France beat Croatia 4-2 to be crowned World Champions in a Final that turned out to be the tournament in microcosm. Previous Finals have been low-scoring and tense, but this game equalled the combined total of goals scored in the previous four. The last Final to have more than two goals was in 1998 — the other time that the les Bleus won the World Cup. Also in the night of drama, VAR made it’s presence felt in the Final to award France a penalty. Though football pundits taunted the ridiculous decision by referee Nestor Pitana, Griezmann made it memorable by scoring from the 29th spot kick awarded in the tournament, a record in itself. Not just high penalty conversions, the Cup also scored with the most own goals (12) ever. So, it was only right that the Final had one too! Mario Mandzukic’s header from Griezmann’s free-kick which made it 1-0 for France, made him the unenvious milestone holder of becoming the first player ever to score an own goal in a World Cup Final. The unusual night evoked a different kind of spark too — the rise of new star in world football — 19-year old Kylian Mbappe, only the third teenager to play in a Final and the second to score, after Pele’s double against Sweden in 1958. Mbappe put in electrifying performances with two goals against Argentina which made him the first teenager to score twice in any World Cup game after Pele. The French winger finished with four goals and the Young Player of the Tournament title. However, there was something that didn’t go in France’s favour and that was the bizarre error from captain Hugo lloris that could have cost France the title. Hugo lloris had a ‘hold my beer’ moment when he casually tried to step around Mandzukic who kicked the ball into the French net. It was the biggest mistake of the World Cup, although Germany keeper Manuel Neuer losing the ball 80 yards from goal as South Korea scores as a second. The goal gave Mandzukic claim to fame. He is only the second player to score a goal and an own goal in a World Cup game — and the first in a Final.
The 2018 edition will be remembered for heralding a new generation that leapfrogs the maestros of the game. The next edition is in Qatar, only the second time in Asia after Japan and Korea hosted in 2002. While most football icons, including Neymar, Mbappe and Hazard, will be seen competing for glory, the Russian edition may well have been the last time that the two poster boys of this generation Cristiano Ronaldo and lionel Messi participated in the grand fest. Also the Croatian side that won millions of hearts but unfortunately not the trophy, will bid goodbye to all their veterans who played an amazing part in their rise in Russia. The French side that emerged champions with the second youngest squad in the tourney, will aim to become the only team after Italy and Brazil to win successive World Cup titles, unlike Germany, Spain or Italy, who got crushed in the first round after being crowned champions in the previous occasion.