Roundtable: Heroes and villains of the 2018 Football World Cup

  • 16/07/2018

Before they collapse in a quivering, sleep-deprived heap, Newshub's football tragics reflect back on a Football World Cup that many have described as the best ever.

BEST PLAYER

Andrew Gourdie (Newshub sport presenter): Luka Modric

From the moment he eviscerated Argentina with a beautiful strike in the group stage, he has been the man for Croatia. Calm, in control, he runs the show.

Also showed great mental fortitude to step up and slot a penalty in the shootout, moments after missing a spot-kick late in extra time against Denmark. He has proved he is world class at the World Cup.

Brad Lewis (Newshub sport digital producer): Luka Modric

Not really challenged after Ronaldo fell away two games in. Exceptional player who is often forgotten among names like Ronaldo, Neymar and Messi, but every bit as influential, if not more.

Michael O'Keeffe (Newshub sports reporter): Luka Modric

Croatia's talisman

Henry Rounce (Newshub sports reporter): Luka Modric
An absolute genius, who makes the game look so easy. 

Luka Modric
Luka Modric at World Cup. Photo credit: Photosport/Panoramic

Ben Francis (Newshub digital sports producer): Danijel Subasic

Team performance got Croatia to the final, but Subasic stood up when needed most in the playoffs.

Against Demark, everyone thought Kasper Schmeichel would be the hero, but in the shootout, Subasic proved the difference. He did the same (while injured) against Russia and after conceding early against England, he held his nerve.

Had a few off moments on the final, but by no means a poor performance.

Chris Forster (Newshub sports reporter): Luka Modric/Eden Hazard

Hard to split these two brilliant players, neither of whom played for France. Both were captains.

Modric was the midfield maestro during Croatia's inspired and dramatic run to the final, which included two penalty shootouts and extra time to beat England.

Hazard's electric speed and incisive running almost got Belgium past France in the semi-final, and was brilliant, as they took down the Boys from Brazil in the quarters.

 

BEST GAME

O'Keeffe: France vs Argentina

Included probably the goal of the tournament as well from Benjamin Pavard. Enthralling match.

Gourdie: Belgium vs Japan

Certainly the best second half! What a thrilling comeback from the Red Devils in the round of 16. 

Lewis: Spain vs Portugal

A forgotten match that set the tone for what would be a fantastic tournament. Ronaldo proved his class, singlehandedly pulling Portugal to a draw against a Spanish side in disarray.

Japan score against Belgium
Japan score against Belgium. Photo credit: Photosport.

Francis: Croatia vs Russia

It was hard not to pick Spain vs Portugal, but I loved this quarter-final clash that went the distance. It was great to see Russia push themselves against one of the world's best.

Croatia thought the game was theirs, but Russia scored late to give them a glimmer of hope. Not to forget a dramatic finish that ended in penalties.

Rounce: Spain vs Portugal

It had everything, including Ronaldo's brilliant free-kick and one of the sweetest strikes of the tournament from Nacho 

Forster: Belgium vs Japan

Exhilarating second half.  Two stunning strikes fired Japan to the brink of a mighty upset, but that only sparked the Belgians into a mighty comeback, including a lightning-quick counterattack to snatch victory in injury-time.

 

SURPRISE TEAM

Lewis: Russia

Hard to look past the hosts. England and Croatia were both strong candidates, but Russia's quarter-final appearance was more surprising than the other two.

Worst team in history to play in the last eight.

Francis: England

Not many people predicted them to make it as far as they did, especially when you compare this team to the all-star rosters of the past. They worked the set-piece to perfection, scoring nine of their 12 goals from dead-ball positions.

They may have missed a golden chance to break the curse, but hey, fourth is coming home!

Rounce: Russia

An epic fairy-tale run for the hosts. 

Gourdie: England

They were my pick to be the surprise team before the tournament started, but they even went a step further than my quarter-final prediction. 

O'Keeffe: Russia

Put Croatia to the side, because no-one saw Russia making out of their group, let alone to a quarter-final. Knocked out Spain in the process.

Team Russia
Team Russia at the World Cup. Photo credit: Photosport.

Forster: Japan

Asia's best team, although brave Iran almost knocked Portugal out of Group B.

The 'Blue Samurai' played a neat, fast-paced passing game that worried all the teams in a highly competitive group. Then they punched well above their weight in that firecracker against Belgium.

 

TEAM FLOP

Rounce: Germany

No-one saw their collapse coming. 

Gourdie: Argentina

It’s hard to go past Germany, but I’ll go for Argentina.

What a dismal failure from a gifted generation of players, who simply have not been able to deliver their country the title their collective talent should have.

O'Keeffe: Germany

Enough said.

Sebastian Rudy injured
German Sebastian Rudy injured against Sweden. Photo credit: Photosport.

Lewis: Germany

That was unexpected. The Germans proved to be inept on attack, bar a Toni Kroos screamer in with the last kick of the game against Sweden.

Their worst tournament performance in memory.

Francis: Argentina

Yes, I know, Germany didn't make it out of the group stages, but Argentina didn't deserve to.

They barely made it to Russia and then were far from impressive, as their star players failed to fire a shot, aside from a 20-minute spell against France.

Forster: Argentina

The heavyweights were too reliant on Lionel Messi, who still managed to score one of the best goals of the tournament.

Lucky to get past Nigeria and out of Group D, then capitulated to the eventual champions in the Round of 16.

 

PLAYER FLOP

Lewis: Manuel Neuer (Germany)

The best goal-keeper in world football was quite frankly awful and underdone. Probably shouldn't have been playing, given his injury woes throughout the season.

Francis: Neymar (Brazil)

Need I say more?

Gourdie: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Sad way to exit the international game for one of the greatest players of all time.

Rounce: Timo Werner (Germany)

Meant to be Germany's next big striker, but was virtually anonymous, failing to score and only managing one shot on target. 

O'Keeffe: Neymar

Literally, the biggest flop of the tournament.

Forster: Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

He was the top scorer in qualifying and is a talisman for European giants Bayern Munich, but the lanky striker was toothless, as the Poles went out with a whimper in group play.

Like Messi, he seemed to struggle with the burden of trying to spark an under-performing side.

 

BREAKOUT STAR

Gourdie: Kylian Mbappe (France)

First teenager to score two goals in a World Cup game since Pele. Pele!

Backed it up in against Croatia, as the second-youngest scorer ever in a final, behind you know who.

One to watch in the coming years.

O'Keeffe: Kieran Trippier (England)

Will be a name people look out for in this year's English Premier League.

Rounce: Benjamin Pavard (France)

Fizzed home an absolute banger of a goal against Argentina and offered a steady presence throughout the tournament. A move from Stuttgart is surely inevitable. 

Lewis: Harry Maguire (England)

Look for this guy to become the highest-paid English defender in the Premier League.

Announced himself onto the world stage as a calm defender with on the ball ability. Good defender too, which is kind of important.

Gareth Southgate
England manager Gareth Southgate. Photo credit: Photosport.

Francis: Gareth Southgate (England)

No, he wasn't on the field, but he was the main reason why England reached the semi-finals for the first time in 28 years. 

His style of leadership brought them together, as they ended their shoot-out hoodoo.

Forster: Ivan Perisic (Croatia)

A man possessed, and the catalyst and executioner in the comeback semi-final win over England.  Scored with a kung-fu kick, hit the post, then set up the winner for Mandzukic.

Rifled in the equaliser against France in the final, and almost lifted the underdogs once again. The 29-year-old currently plays for Inter Milan in Italy, and is sure to be targeted elsewhere in England and Europe.

Newshub.