The world just witnessed the best World Cup to date. The tournament was unpredictable and exciting.
This tournament made football fans love the overall sport more than their teams. They cheered for even the smallest of teams. That mindset pervaded the tournament.
Powerhouse clubs, which were expected to go far in the tournament, took a large step back. Germany, Argentina, Spain, and Brazil didn’t perform as predicted on the big stage.
German National Team: (photo, m.dailyhunt.in)
We saw teams like England, an inexperienced squad, reach the semis. We saw Croatia, a small country, reach the finals. We saw France–a club with many young players–lift the Cup.
From the beginning of the tournament, we saw minor teams lock horns with major teams, standing strong against them. Now every team believes it can make a run at the Cup.
The best players in the world, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, didn’t become star attractions because there were other, more intriguing storylines.
Courtesy: 90min.com
The talented striker Harry Kane was the top scorer with six goals; the Player of the Tournament went to Luka Modric; and the FIFA Young Player Award went to Kylian Mbappe.
We also saw new players rise to the occasion. Those players are now on the watch of big clubs. On the flip side, a few players who were rated highly going to the World Cup now find they have lost value.
Immediately following the tournament, several countries changed managers. Others are seeking new players. Both are being done to improve team chances.
My bet is this: twenty years from now we’ll remember World Cup ’18 as one of the best ever!
