World Cup debrief: Winners and losers of the tourney in Russia
MOSCOW — Savour the thrills, unpredictability and constant drama of this World Cup. Even FIFA accepts the soccer showpiece might never be so engrossing again.
FIFA has yet to definitively rule out adding another 16 teams in time for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but the leap to 48 teams will be happening for certain for the triple-hosted North American tournament in 2026. Welcome to 16 groups, each featuring three teams of which two advance to a round of 32.
Soccer leaders were seduced by the extra cash an expansion tournament would offer, but at the expense of the spectacle itself. Russia vindicated the 2016 internal FIFA briefing document that determined 32-team finals tend to produce the “highest absolute quality” on the field.
Here is a look at the winners and losers of the tournament which ended with France lifting the World Cup on Sunday after beating Croatia 4-2 in the final:
Russia
The lowest-ranked team at the finals, the hosts set the tone for the tournament by thrashing Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opener. It wasn’t a fluke as Stanislav Cherchesov’s side unexpectedly qualified from its group and even eliminated 2010 World Cup winner Spain in the round of 16.
As a tournament organizer, Russia also exceeded expectations. No one doubted Vladimir Putin’s ability to mobilize the resources of the state to ensure operations ran smoothly. But police often adopted a relaxed approach to fans gathering on street corners and drinking in the streets. The hooliganism and racism that has scarred Russian football was absent.
Heavyweights floored
This was a tournament to forget for the top three players at last year’s FIFA awards. Player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo excelled in only one match, scoring a hat trick against Spain, before European champion Portugal was knocked out by Uruguay in the last 16. Lionel Messi managed a solitary strike to help Argentina qualify from its group. And like Portugal it fell at the start of the second round, losing to France 4-3. The world’s most expensive player at least made it a round further. But Neymar was still struggling for fitness after three months out with a broken toe.
Video replays
Expecting perfection was always unrealistic on the debut of video assistant referees. Confusion reigned in the opening days of the tournament. When grappling went unpunished and penalties were not awarded had the referee even consulted the VAR or was he just being lenient? Too many referees dithered over decisions. Take the awarding of the penalty in the final after assessing Croatia midfielder Ivan Perisic’s handball. Ultimately, if the decision is right in the end, soccer might have to put up with delays.
Concussion
FIFA strengthened concussion protocols after the 2014 World Cup regarding when players return to action after head impacts. But there are protocols in place, not hard rules. So Noureddine Amrabat should never have played in the group stage in Russia for Morocco five days after a concussion that left him unable to remember the incident. But Amrabat was allowed to defy the team doctor’s advice.