OUR VERDICT? IT WAS OUTOF THIS WORLD
CHRIS SUTTON YOUR ENGLAND VERDICT
No-hopers before a ball was kicked but ended up inspiring the nation. A rookie manager with a gentle, sensible approach made people of all ages fall back in love with the team. Hopefully it makes a young generation want to be the next Harry Kane.
HOW WILL THEY DO AT EURO 2020?
Maturity shown by Harry Maguire and Jordan Pickford bodes well. The right man’s at the helm but keep a lid on expectations.
BEST GOAL
Angel Di Maria v France. A left-foot stonker from 30 yards into the top corner past Hugo Lloris. He has a look before he receives the ball, knows exactly what he wants to do and executes with power and precision.
BEST PLAYER
Raphael Varane. A rock at the back for France, he attacks crosses, reads the game beautifully and has the pace of an Olympic sprinter.
BEST MATCH
Iran 1, Portugal 1. Iran had to win and would have knocked out Portugal. Ricardo Quaresma put Portugal ahead with one of the goals of the World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty to make it 2-0 but Alireza Beiranvand — a former shepherd — saved. Ronaldo threw an arm but VAR bottled it. Iran were awarded a dubious late penalty which they scored. Then, with the hopes of 80 million Iranians on his shoulders, Mehdi Taremi slashed wildly into the side-netting. Portugal scraped through. Iran slumped to their knees.
FUNNIEST INCIDENT
There cannot be a moment in World Cup history that compares to Manuel Neuer playing outfield against South Korea. He was a disgrace. Goalkeepers go up for setpieces when desperation sets in but to play the final five minutes high up on the left wing was outrageous. He went from worldclass keeper to world-class ego. He tried to take on a South Korean defender and was dispossessed. One long punt to Son Heungmin and Germany were out. Epic.
ONE CHANGE FOR QATAR 2022
VAR officials to be banned from dressing up in kit in the studio.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
PICKFORD (England); PAVARD (France), VARANE (France), MAGUIRE (England), HERNANDEZ (France); KANTE (France), MODRIC (Croatia); MBAPPE (France), DE BRUYNE (Belgium), HAZARD (Belgium); GRIEZMANN (France).
TOURNAMENT IN THREE WORDS
Rapturous, rousing, Russia.
MARTIN KEOWN YOUR ENGLAND VERDICT
The moment people fell back in love with the national team — it felt like a huge balloon had popped when they went out.
HOW WILL THEY DO AT EURO 2020?
England will be a scalp now and it will be interesting to see how they handle that. Our players should have more know-how when it comes to handling big occasions.
BEST GOAL
Nacer Chadli v Japan. Having recovered from 2-0 down, Belgium broke from a Japan corner in the last minute and Kevin De Bruyne surged up the pitch. He found Thomas Meunier, who crossed for Romelu Lukaku and the striker let the ball run behind him for Chadli to tap in.
BEST PLAYER
Kylian Mbappe. The French teenager got me out of my seat the most. He’ll be the biggest inspiration for youngsters.
BEST MATCH
England 2 Sweden 0. Such a well-managed performance the result never seemed in danger. What it meant for the nation made it the most enjoyable match I watched.
FUNNIEST INCIDENT
The reaction to my tongue-in-cheek remark during the Sweden match that people who were reading a book instead of watching the game should get a life. For the record, when my two lads were growing up I would read to them every night!
ONE CHANGE FOR QATAR 2022
VAR has been a success but the next step is for fans to hear how decisions are reached.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
SUBASIC (Croatia); MEUNIER (Belgium), VARANE (France), MAGUIRE (England), LAXALT (Uruguay); MODRIC (Croatia), KANTE (France), DE BRUYNE (Belgium); MBAPPE (France), KANE (England), HAZARD (Belgium).
TOURNAMENT IN THREE WORDS
Life-changing experience.
MATT LAWTON YOUR ENGLAND VERDICT
There are regrets — they were 20 minutes away from a World Cup final and it could be some time before England have as good a chance. But the positives far outweigh the negatives. They caught the imagination of the English public and Gareth Southgate was a class act.
HOW WILL THEY DO AT EURO 2020?
A fighting chance, but plenty of good teams haven’t won major tournaments. Look at the Dutch side who were beaten in two World Cup finals in the 1970s. France will be extremely hard to beat.
BEST GOAL
Jesse Lingard v Panama. A beautifully executed move involving Raheem Sterling and a breathtaking finish from Lingard; bent around the defender into the top corner.
BEST PLAYER
Kylian Mbappe. Super-fast but also superskilful, there are echoes of the Brazilian Ronaldo when he was at his peak.
BEST MATCH
England 1 Colombia 1. For the sheer drama of it. The World Cup at its gut-wrenching best, and an epic night for English football.
FUNNIEST INCIDENT
A colleague said he was more than ready to face an England player in a three-dart challenge. ‘I’ve been throwing seventies and eighties,’ he said. With the cameras on him, however, he missed the board three times.
ONE CHANGE FOR QATAR 2022
Scrap the third-place play-off.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
PICKFORD (England); GODIN (Uruguay), STONES (England), MAGUIRE (England); TRIPPIER (England), KANTE (France), HERNANDEZ (France); COUTINHO (Brazil), MODRIC (Croatia), PERISIC (Croatia); MBAPPE (France).
TOURNAMENT IN THREE WORDS
An absolute blast.
IAN LADYMAN YOUR ENGLAND VERDICT
Progress, when an England team finally began to add up to the sum of their parts. England were not one of the best four teams but they were just about as good as they could be. That’s encouraging.
HOW WILL THEY DO AT EURO 2020?
They’re not one of the favourites but they should be confident they can win games when it really matters.
BEST GOAL
Nacer Chadli v Japan. Belgium could have settled for extra time but, sensing Japan had committed too many men forward, they countered to knock them out.
BEST PLAYER
Luka Modric. As soon as he scored against Argentina, he seemed to take it upon himself to drag Croatia where he wanted them to go. Not just his work with the ball but the energy of his pressing and tackling.
BEST MATCH
France 1 Belgium 0. The semi-final had only one goal but it was an absorbing contrast of styles between one team playing on the front foot and another on the counter. England wouldn’t have lived with either.
FUNNIEST INCIDENT
Hearing the Colombia players attempt to take the moral high ground after they tried and failed to kick England out. It was pathetic and funny at the same time.
ONE CHANGE FOR QATAR 2022
Fewer teams. The World Cup is no longer an elite competition at the group stages. Panama would have lost to Ipswich.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
AKINFEEV (Russia); PAVARD (France), MAGUIRE (England), THIAGO SILVA (Brazil), AUGUSTINSSON (Sweden); KANTE (France) WITSEL (Belgium); MBAPPE (France), MODRIC (Croatia), COUTINHO (Brazil); RONALDO (Portugal).
TOURNAMENT IN THREE WORDS
Refreshing, energising, long.
IAN HERBERT YOUR ENGLAND VERDICT
A youthful side, led by an intelligent and articulate manager, played exciting, progressive football and who were so likeable. The campaign’s two late defeats delivered a reality check but there is a reason why Russian people were walking round Moscow wearing the Three Lions.
HOW WILL ENGLAND DO AT EURO 2020?
Beating an elite opponent at Wembley, at the business end of that competition, is achievable, and they can be semi-finalists or finalists. The players and Gareth Southgate now know how it feels to be 20 minutes away from a major final yet fail. Sometimes you need to lose one to win one.
BEST GOAL
Lionel Messi v Nigeria. The sublime throughball on to his left thigh by Ever Banega, the No 10’s two touches to bring it under control, then the right-foot shot into the net. It also came when nothing less than a win would do. Grace under pressure.
BEST PLAYER
N’Golo Kante. The sentinel of the France team, beating heart of the side. He repelled all invaders, freed Paul Pogba and sometimes created himself. Yet still modest.
BEST MATCH
Brazil 1 Belgium 2. A transfixing meeting of opposites: Belgium swarming forward with counter-attacking verve; Brazil throwing four forwards into a mission to recover a 2-0 deficit, pulling one back and yet missing two at the death. A night to take your breath away.
FUNNIEST INCIDENT
A portly Russian police officer making a beeline for an Argentine wearing blueand-white Native American head-dress in a heaving, noisy throng at a St Petersburg Metro station and asking him for a selfie. This was the same Russian police we were told might frown on fans congregating in large numbers in public spaces.
ONE CHANGE FOR QATAR 2022
End the scandal of the ‘Fifa family’ hoovering up freebie tickets for the best seats.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
SUBASIC (Croatia); TRIPPIER (England), UMTITI (France), VARANE (France), HERNANDEZ (France); KANTE (France), DE BRUYNE (Belgium); CHERYSHEV (Russia), MODRIC (Croatia), HAZARD
(Belgium); MBAPPE (France).
TOURNAMENT IN THREE WORDS
Summer of love.
MATT BARLOW YOUR ENGLAND VERDICT
A PR triumph and penalty fears conquered . . . meets a fan base desperately starved of success and on the brink of giving up.
HOW WILL THEY DO AT EURO 2020?
A young, ambitious squad with some exciting individuals who seem happy and united in their desire to do well for England and an intelligent manager who understands the international process. Plenty of hope.
BEST GOAL
Kevin De Bruyne v Brazil. Ultra- sweet connection by the Belgian at a key point in a thrilling quarter-final.
BEST PLAYER
Luka Modric. From the destruction of Argentina in the group stage through his courage from the spot against Denmark in the last 16 to the fightback against England, he has been an inspiration.
BESTMATCH
BEST MATCH Spain 3 Portugal 3. Even in chaos the Spanish passed with bewildering pace and precision but Cristiano Ronaldo hit back with a hat-trick, sealed with a late free-kick and a massive pose-down.
FUNNIEST INCIDENT
The Uruguay team bursting en masse from their dressing room into the media interview area with big smiles and folk music blaring from portable speakers after beating Portugal.
ONE CHANGE FOR QATAR 2022
Something to address the pathetic exaggeration of injuries would certainly be nice.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
PICKFORD (England); VRSALJKO (Croatia), VARANE (France), GODIN (Uruguay), HERNANDEZ (France); MODRIC (Croatia), KANTE (France), RAKITIC (Croatia); MBAPPE (France), KANE (England), CHERYSHEV (Russia).
TOURNAMENT IN THREE WORDS
VAR and Peace.
CHARLES SALE YOUR ENGLAND VERDICT
For the first time in years, this was an upbeat England campaign that far exceeded expectations, when the FA’s ambition was to win one knockout game.
HOW WILL THEY DO AT EURO 2020?
The expectation will be off the scale with several of England’s matches due to be played at Wembley. That tournament, rather than Qatar 2022, has always looked the most likely for England, especially if Gareth Southgate can keep the feelgood factor going.
BEST GOAL
Jesse Lingard v Panama. One to savour as it wasn’t from a set-piece.
BEST PLAYER
Luka Modric. Even well into his thirties, he dominates midfield with his passing range. Oh for England to have a player with such sublime skills and tenacity to go with it.
BEST MATCH
England 1 Colombia 1. The coiled tension after Colombia equalised was similar to England v Argentina in 1998. The winning penalty shootout will be the stuff of legend as England had a plan for a change thanks to Southgate’s forensic preparation.
FUNNIEST INCIDENT
The chief security guy from South Africa’s special forces, introduced by media tour operator BAC Sport as the toughest of the tough who would keep us safe in all circumstances, falling on his face after a night out and having to be helped to his room.
ONE CHANGE FOR QATAR 2022
Scrap the bronze-medal match. Unfortunately it is already in the schedule.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
PICKFORD P (England); TRIPPIER (England), VARANE V (France), MAGUIRE (England), MARCELO (Brazil); PERISIC (Croatia), KANTE (France), MODRIC (Croatia); HAZARD (Belgium), MBAPPE (France) GRIEZMANN (France).
TOURNAMENT IN THREE WORDS
Arduous, exhilarating, unexpected.
SAMI MOKBEL YOUR ENGLAND VERDICT
A campaign that propelled them back to elite status. No longer will they go into tournaments fearing the worst. Hope is renewed, which is far more than we predicted.
HOW WILL THEY DO AT EURO 2020?
They have a squad capable of mounting a serious tilt at it. Harrowing semi-final loss will leave them in good stead.
BEST GOAL
Ricardo Quaresma v Iran. It must be hard being an attacking player for Portugal, overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo. But Quaresma stole the limelight with his sublime effort.
BEST PLAYER
Luka Modric. Almost single-handedly dragged Croatia to the final.
BEST MATCH
England 1 Colombia 1. A watershed moment for English football. The impact the result had — and will have — on the national team will be felt for years to come.
FUNNIEST INCIDENT
The pure concentration on the face of
Charles Sale as he played darts against Gary Cahill at the England media centre was quite a picture.
Sports Agenda’s ONE CHANGE FOR QATAR 2022
More of a continuation, but the clampdown on grappling by defenders in the box has been one of the biggest plus points.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
PICKFORD (England); TRIPPIER (England), STONES (England), VARANE (France), HERNANDEZ (France); KANTE (France), MODRIC (Croatia), POGBA (France); HAZARD (Belgium), GRIEZMANN (France); MBAPPE (France). TOURNAMENT IN THREE WORDS England are back.