The 2018 FIFA World Cup has provided football lovers with very exciting games so far, as teams battle out for honors in Russia.
Already halfway through the Round of 16 stage, big-name teams – some considered favourites to lift the coveted trophy – have packed their bags already as others not seen as title challengers continue to represent their countries.
Defending champions Germany lead the way in the teams that were eliminated early on in the tournament, as they failed to make it past the Group stage.
Germany finished last in Group F, losing two games and winning just one. They scored only two goals in the tournament.
Star-studded Argentina – which came to Russia considered to be one of the favourites – narrowly squeezed past the Group stage, beating Nigeria in their final group game to progress as runners up. The Argentines were however outplayed by France in the Round of 16, losing 3-4 to cap yet another disappointing international outing for five-time Balon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
Soon after Argentina’s elimination on Saturday, Portugal came up against Uruguay. The European champions suffered a similar fate at the hands of the South Americans, losing 2-1 to render the other five-time Balon d’Or winner – Cristiano Ronaldo, without a single World Cup success, just like Messi.
Still in the Round of 16, Spain came up against the host nation on Sunday, seen as clear favourites to progress. Russia had other ideas however, forcing a 1-1 draw in normal and extra time, before bundling the 2010 winners out of the tournament through a penalty shootout.
From the three Round of 16 games played so far, France, Uruguay and Russia have made it into the last 8.
Africa’s disappointment
Africans hoped for a better outing from their teams in the 2018 World Cup, but all they got was disappointment.
All five teams from the continent; Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia failed to make it past the Group stage.
Analysts are already pointing out that this failure may actually mean that the continent’s football is on the decline. And yes, African teams will have to wait longer for that first semi-final appearance.
VAR
Already, the Video Assistant Referee technology has caused loads of controversy. While some players and fans have expressed satisfaction with the technology, others have rebuked its introduction in football.
One match in which the VAR came under close scrutiny include Spain vs Morocco, where La Roja scored a late equalizer as Morocco threatened to snatch a 2-1 win. A late Iago Aspas goal was allowed to stand amid calls for an offside. The referee however, after reviewing the footage, allowed the goal to stand. After the game, Morocco’s Nordin Amrabat seemed to slam the technology on a television camera, an action that prompted FIFA to issue him a warning.
Another game was the one that pit Portugal vs Iran. At one point as Portugal tried to force a win, Cristiano Ronaldo used his arm to block off an Iranian player from the ball, earning himself a yellow card. The referee reviewed the footage before issuing the card. Some people however thought the action deserved a straight send-off, especially after the referee saw it again on video.
Penalties galore
The 2018 World Cup has had 26 penalties so far. Yes, 26.
The 2014 World Cup saw only 13 penalties awarded in the entire period. Now with the luxury of reviewing footage, the 2018 tournament has seen a doubling of that figure already, and with the tournament barely in the Round of 16 stage.
Many more are expected to come as teams continue battling out for glory in Russia.
