Already tipped as maybe the greatest World Cup in history, the 2018 Cup is sadly over. Now that it is complete, it is time to review and give out superlatives - good and bad.
Player of the Tournament: Luka Modric - Croatia
The World Cup Final showcased the two best mid-fields of the tourney, both led by the two contenders for Player of the Tournament. Modric gets the nod over France's N'Golo Kante largely because without him Croatia would be nowhere near the Final, while the same probably cannot be said about Kante. His unrelenting performance for 120 minutes against Russia in the Quarterfinals illustrated just how important he is to his country, and his ability to completely orchestrate a midfield. Throw in the fact that many Croatians are actively rooting against (story here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44821343) Modric, the pressure on the captain has never been higher.
Honorable Mention: N'Golo Kante - France
Young player of the tournament: Kylian Mbappe - France
Though the French youngster is not new to the soccer realm, he made sure the whole world remembered his name after his stint in Russia. The 19 year-old lit up the 2018 World Cup, including a dominant two-goal performance against Argentina that sent the great Lionel Messi home and a goal in the Final to sink Croatia. His promise to succeed Messi or Ronaldo as *the* soccer superstar may be coming to fruition.
Honorable Mention: Aleksander Golovin - Russia
Best Goal: Belgium's team goal against Japan
Tied 2-2 in the final minute of extra time with Japan, Belgian goalkeeper and tall-guy Thibaut Courtois collected the ball in his box and rolled it out to Kevin De Bruyne. Two passes later and Belguim was celebrating a game-winning goal and a beautiful counter-attacking work of art. Lukaku's dummy to allow Nacer Chadli to pass the ball into the net was the icing on the hypothetical cake.
Honorable Mention: France's Benjamin Pavard against Argentina
Moment of the Tournament: Shaqiri's Albanian Eagle celebration
What makes the World Cup truly special are the complex histories of the countries that join the teams when they take the pitch. There is no better example of this fact than the group stage meeting between Serbia and Switzerland.
Tension between the countries dates back to the Yugoslav Wars, during which Serb paramilitaries killed thousands of civilians in Kosovo (now Albania). Numerous Swiss players have direct ties to Kosovo, notably Xherdan Shaqiri, who slotted in the late game-winner to defeat Serbia. While celebrating, he tore off his shirt and revealed the symbol of the Albanian Black Eagle to the thousands of Serbian fans in attendance and the millions watching from afar. This chilling and passionate moment is one that only the World Cup can produce.
Honorable Mention: Ronaldo's game-tying free kick against Spain
Upset of the Tournament: Russia over Spain
After a relatively comfortable run in their group, the hosts Russia finally appeared to have met their long-awaited doom in the Round of 16: Spain. The pass-masters clearly were not at the level of the 2010 squad, but still obtained a veteran defense, stacked midfield, and a bruiser at striker. Russia opted to allow Spain to pass as much as they'd like (over 1000 completed passes ) and restrict space closer to goal. The Russian strategy worked, forcing Spain to penalties after a 1-1 draw, and coming out victorious following the dreaded spot-kicks.
Honorable Mention: South Korea over Germany
Biggest Disappointment: Germany
If you want to know how not defend a World Cup title, direct your attention towards Germany. Their performance was shocking, especially for a team loaded with talent at every position. They looked a team disinterested and disjointed, and coach Joachim Low should receive much of the blame, especially due to his role in mismanaging the group the players. If not for a moment of brilliance by Toni Kroos, Germany would have left Russia with one point. Yikes.
Honorable Mention: Argentina & Messi
Player who leaves Russia worse-off: Nicolas Otamendi, Argentina
I have to admit, I had been tricked. After Otamendi's title run with Man City last season, I was duped into thinking he was a becoming an elite defender. His role as Argentina's best (relative term) defender proved that he definitely is not one of the world's best, letting in three or more goals in 2/4 games he played. Not only did he play terribly, but his conduct on the field was also shameful and just plain dirty. He kicked the ball point-blank at a player's head who was defenseless on the ground - twice. Luckily for Otamendi, no one was very special for Argentina this year.
Honorable Mention: Robert Lewandowski
Best 11:
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
Over the course of the tournament, Courtois racked up more saves (27) than any other goalkeeper in the competition. During Belgium's difficult knockout stage run, he was instrumental to their success, coming up with big save after save, including one to deny Neymar late against Brazil. He was not as crucial to his team's run as Pickford or Subasic, but Courtois was the much more consistent, well deserving of the Golden Glove. He is reportedly kind of a jerk though...and apparently very proud of his tallness.
Wing back: Sime Vrsaljko, Croatia
The most consistent player at the position, Vrsaljko was the only true right-back that the Croats brought to Russia. His ability to get up and usher attacks forward while also providing excellent cover in the back helped Croatia make their run to the final.
After suffering a knee injury against Russia, it was doubtful that Vrsaljko would appear versus England. Miraculously, he securing his place in the starting 11 and put on another stellar performance, containing the speedy Sterling and Rashford. He also looks exactly like Adrien Brody. So there's that.
Center-back: Diego Godin, Uruguay
The list of center-backs better than Godin is a very short one, and he confirmed it at the World Cup. Godin was the rock of the Uruguayan defense that did not allow a goal until the Round of 16, doing much of the dirty work so that Suarez and Cavani could score goals up top. The Atleti talisman also consistently brought the ball up, breaking into the opposition defense once the Uruguayan attack had run out of ideas. Uruguay was bounced in the Quarters by eventual winners France, however Godin and co. walked off the field with pride.
Center-back: Raphael Varane, France
Winning the Champions League and the World Cup in the same year ain't so bad, and all at only 25 years of age. Varane was the best defender on the best team at the World Cup, and showcased his abilities during France's Semi-final win over Belgium's loaded attack of Lukaku, Hazard, and De Bruyne. Others on France's World Cup winning squad will get more praise, but Varane was just as crucial as Kante, Mbappe, and Pogba.
Wing back: Kieran Trippier, England
Until this past season, Trippier was not even a starter at Spurs. Fastforward to the 2018 World Cup, and the man from Bury was the primary free-kick specialist for the Three Lions. His picture-perfect free kick to put England ahead in the Semi-final was nearly the winner, but was not enough to bring the Cup home. No player encapsulated the new-look England squad like Trippier.
Midfielder: N'Golo Kante, France
There's only one thing that the little Frenchman loves more than riding bikes (look it up), and that is quietly dominating midfields. This is precisely what Kante - widely thought of as the best defensive midfielder in the world - did at this year's World Cup in Russia, leading the French to the trophy. His knack for disrupting opposition attacks and intercepting passes did not show up in the final, but his body of work speaks for itself. Most importantly, the dirty work he supplied in the midfield allowed Pogba to create going forward. Following the Final, video surfaced of Kante being too shy to ask for the Trophy, until teammate Steven N'Zonzi went and retrieved it for him. Good luck finding a nicer and more humble footballer.
Midfielder: Luka Modric, Croatia
Appearing in his final World Cup, Modric lead his nation all the way to the final and brought home the Golden Ball, awarded to the tourney's best player. His role in Croatia's 3-0 group win over Messi's Argentina highlighted just how skilled Modric is, and his goal late in the game was something special. During the knockout stages he came back down to earth, however his ability to nail penalties (in extra time) illustrated his leadership.
Midfielder: Paul Pogba, France
Say what you want about Pogba's form since his big-money move to Manchester, but the charismatic Frenchman was easily one of the best players in Russia.
Alongside Kante he bullied opposing teams defensively and was the maestro in the attack - best displayed in the World Cup Final. His masterful cross-field pass started the move for France's third goal, and the big man finished the move with a perfect shot past Subasic. Pogba appears to have turned a new leaf, and as soccer viewers we will hopefully reap the benefits.
Forward: Eden Hazard, Belgium
De Bruyne received the most attention heading into the tournament, and Romelu Lukaku bagged the most goals, but Eden Hazard finished as Belgium's best - and most important - player. Few players in the world are as consistently dangerous around the box as Hazard, and he proved this time and time again in Russia. He was stellar against Tunisia, France, and especially in the third-place game versus England, where he looked a class above most of his Premier League colleagues.
Forward: Kylian Mbappe, France
If you haven't heard, Mbappe is pretty good. He backed it up yet again in the World Cup Final, scoring France's final goal and winning the award for the tournament's best young player. Becoming the first teenager since Pele to score in a Final was the icing on the cake for a player who used Russia as his personal announcement party. The young man also graciously donated all of his winnings to charity, adding to his rapid popularity. His glorious run and subsequent goals versus Argentina will be remembered for a very long time.
Foward: Ivan Perisic, Croatia
Croatia's pacey and skillful playmaker is one of the more underrated players in the world, though he leaves Russia with much higher stock. Perisic's presence was best felt in the semi-final battle with England, leading Croatia's second-half comeback with a goal and an assist. He beautifully finished off a set-piece goal in the Final to give the Croats a breath of life, but unfortunately found himself a victim of VAR later to give France a penalty. The rumors linking him to Manchester United might actually catch fire this summer.
Honorable Mentions: Pickford (England), Subasic (Croatia), Lloris (France), Umtiti (France), Gimenez (Uruguay), Granqvist (Sweden), Lovren (Croatia), Maguire (England), Hernandez (France), Augustinsson (Sweden), Golovin (Russia), Cherashev (Russia), De Bruyne (Belguim), Coutinho (Brazil), Isco (Spain), Dzyuba (Russia), Cavani (Uruguay), Griezmann (France), Kane (England), Lukaku (Belgium), Ronaldo (Portugal), Mandzukic (Croatia)
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