World Cup 2018: Best Moments

By E. Grieco

The FIFA World Cup is indisputably the world’s major sporting event. The event occurs every four years. This year, Russia was crowned to host this fantastic tournament. This article will explain the top four moments of the 2018 World Cup.

1.     South Korea shock the Champions:
The Germans weren’t performing extraordinarily well at the start of the tournament. However, due to certain events in the championship, they only needed a win against South Korea to get through the group phase.
After Kim Young-Gwon’s goal for South Korea during the game, Germany started to pressure at the front, causing the Korean defence to suffocate. This led the Germans to win many disputes for the ball and therefore shoot many times at the goal. Despite having 28 chances, the Germans were unable to score and for the first time ever, Germany didn’t make their way past the group phase. Definitely a heartbreak for the Germans after a successful 2014 World Cup in Brazil. 

2.    Belgium beats Japan 
The score was 0-0 at halftime, but Belgium was playing incredibly and the opener had to come soon after the break. No one expected Japan to score but, within less than ten minutes after the break, Japan scored the 2-0 up to shock Belgium’s golden generation. 
Belgium began their comeback with an amazing header from Vertonghen, and in the 74th minute, moments after being substituted on to the pitch, Fellaini gets on the end of Eden Hazard’s cross and heads it home. As the tension rose and the match was approaching to the final whistle, Belgium initiate a counter-attack and Chadli scores to make it 3-2 for Belgium. With no time left at all on the timer, Belgium’s golden generation was through to the Quarter-finals.  

3.    England finally won on penalties
England ended up playing with Colombia on round number 16. They played an intense match but at the end, the only way to settle the match was with penalties. Penalties have haunted England for decades. The score was 3-2 for Colombia after Jordan Henderson’s penalty was saved by the Colombian goalkeeper and the feeling of defeat started to creep back into the players,  fortunately for the British, Colombia missed their remaining two penalties. Then steps up Eric Dier. And scores. After decades of disappointment and failure, England had finally won the penalties.

4.    France are crowned World Champions 
Since 2006, France National Football team have been through quite a lot of tough and heartbreaking moments. For example, in the 2008 Euro where they finished last of their group. Also when they cashed out in the Quarterfinals against Spain in the 2012 Euro. Not even to mention their horrendous performance in the 2010 World Cup.

However, France started to re-draft their starting line up and began having more acceptable results with solid performances in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Euro 2016 where they were the favourites, but lost during the final to Portugal. 
France was definitely one of the best teams in the 2018 World Cup and truly deserved the Cup. After 12 years of embarrassment and disappointment, France has won for the second time in its history the greatest prize in world football.