FIFA World Cup 2018: When the 2014 Brazil World Cup ended, football stood between two different stories. On one side was Germany which had reached the pinnacle through years of planning and discipline. On the other side was Lionel Messi who was a few steps away from the trophy. The picture of him staring at the trophy after the defeat at the Maracana was stuck in people’s minds. Cristiano Ronaldo had also won everything in club football but could not leave the same impact in the World Cup. Before 2018, the biggest incomplete story of the world’s two biggest players was still the World Cup.
When technology became part of football
This was the period when technology was ready to change the game. FIFA implemented ‘VAR’ i.e. Video Assistant Referee technology for the first time in this World Cup, which reduced the errors in referee decisions. Russia was given the hosting rights. This was Russia’s first such major sporting event after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Despite initial doubts the event was a great success. Russia won the hearts of the world with its big stadium and modern security arrangements. The official ball of this tournament was ‘Telstar 18’. It was a high-tech version of the original Telstar ball from the 1970s that also included an NFC chip.
Messi and Ronaldo: last chance of career
Before the start of the World Cup, the biggest question was whether Messi and Ronaldo would be able to fill their biggest gap. Both had crossed thirty years. Both had won the Ballon d’Or several times. Both had achieved almost everything in club football but the World Cup was still far away. Many experts felt that this could be the last real chance of his career.
Initially it seemed that both would write history. Ronaldo surprised everyone by scoring a hat-trick in the Portugal-Spain match. His final free-kick goal became one of the most memorable moments of the World Cup. On the other hand, Messi had a weak start. Missed a penalty against Iceland. Argentina seemed to be struggling and the entire team seemed to be dependent only on the personal magic of Messi.
fall of germany
There were many surprising results in the group stage. Defending champion Germany suffered the biggest blow. They were eliminated in the first round after losing to South Korea. For the first time since 1938, a defending champion did not advance beyond the group stage. It became known as the ‘curse of the defending champions’ because it was the fourth consecutive time that a European defending champion had been eliminated in the first round, after France in 2002, Italy in 2010, and Spain in 2014.
Belgium’s golden generation was playing brilliantly. De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku, Courtois, one of the brightest teams. But the most balanced team was France.
Mbappe: a nineteen year old storm
France had experienced names like Griezmann, Pogba, Kante, Varane. But the biggest attraction was a nineteen year old player. Whose speed and courage had attracted everyone’s attention. The name was, Killian Mbappe. Seeing him reminded many people of the young Pele. Explosive pace, a knack for getting past defenders and a hunger to score goals, all in one. Before the tournament, hardly anyone had any idea that he would become a global star so soon.
Argentina vs France: The day a new star bursts forth
The match between Argentina and France in the knockout round became one of the most exciting matches of the tournament. Messi tried his best. But Mbappe was playing at a different level that day. His pace repeatedly broke the Argentine defence. He scored two goals and France won 4–3. In the same match, Benjamin Pavard of France scored an amazing goal floating in the air which was chosen as the ‘best goal’ of the entire tournament. At the age of 19, Mbappe left an impact that many players are unable to leave in their entire career.
After a few days, Ronaldo’s journey also ended. Uruguay defeated Portugal. The two biggest stars were eliminated in the same round, which was a clear indication that a new generation has now arrived on the stage.
Croatia: A country of four million people reaches the final
France continued to get stronger in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Belgium surprised everyone by defeating Brazil but they also lost to France in the semi-finals. On the other hand, Croatia showed great courage. Under the leadership of Luka Modric, they won consecutive tough matches and reached the final for the first time. It was extraordinary in itself for a country with a population of forty lakhs to reach the finals. All three of their knockout matches against Denmark, Russia and England went to extra time and a penalty shootout. His never-say-die spirit became an example for the world.
Final: France’s second crown
15 July 2018. Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow. France vs Croatia match. Croatia had shown fight throughout the tournament. Fans were hopeful that history would be made. But France had more depth and more energy. The match was exciting. Goals were scored. Counter goals were scored. Ultimately France won 4–2.
Mbappé also scored in the final, becoming the youngest player to score a goal in a final since Pelé. France became champion for the second time. Coach Didier Deschamps made history, becoming the third person in the world after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer to win the World Cup as both a player (captain in 1998) and coach (2018).
the one who was to come next
Twenty years after Zidane’s triumph in 1998, a new generation took France back to the top. But Mbappe became the biggest face of this victory, at the age of just nineteen he became one of the biggest stars in the world. Croatia’s Modric received the “Golden Ball” for his tireless fighting play; despite finishing as runner-up, he had the respect of the entire world.
The 2018 World Cup was historic on many levels, showing how a young player can become a global phenomenon overnight, and that individual greatness alone is not enough, a balanced team ultimately wins. Despite the extraordinary talent of Messi and Ronaldo, their teams could not win, it was the collective strength of France that reached the peak.
But perhaps the biggest legacy of 2018 was that it prepared the story of 2022. Messi was now at the last stage of his career, Ronaldo was also facing the effects of age, Mbappe had become the biggest contender of the new generation. And there was a question before the whole world, will Messi ever win the World Cup, will he be able to stand in the same line as Maradona and Pele. Four years later, this question would become the biggest question in football, the World Cup would be held in the Arab world for the first time, Qatar would capture the world’s attention, and a story would be written there that many experts count as one of the greatest stories in World Cup history.
FIFA World Cup 2018 complete story in Hindi, FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 history, how France won 2018 FIFA World Cup, Kylian Mbappe rise in 2018 World Cup, France vs Croatia 2018 World Cup final story, Argentina vs France 4-3 World Cup 2018, Messi and Ronaldo World Cup 2018 journey, why Germany eliminated from World Cup 2018, Croatia journey to World Cup final 2018, Luka Modric Golden Ball 2018 story, VAR first used in FIFA World Cup 2018
