With Qatar 2022 almost upon us, nations around the world are preparing for the start of international football’s grandest tournament. The World Cup has produced some fine moments over the years, and 2018 was no different.
Ronaldo’s hat-trick vs Spain
Still very much at the peak of his powers, Cristiano Ronaldo was in fine form in Russia. Portugal’s captain and star man finished the tournament with five goals, joint-second behind England’s Harry Kane. Ronaldo has 2022 World Cup odds of 14/1 to go one step further in Qatar, although will once again battle it with Kane, who features at the top of England World Cup betting sites at 7/1. The Portuguese may have been awarded his first-ever Golden Boot in 2018 had the Seleçao made it past Uruguay in the round of 16, where they crashed to a 2-1 defeat.
Portugal started their tournament as they ended it – in dramatic fashion. Their opening match came against 2010 winners Spain, against whom they found themselves 2-3 down in the dying embers. An early penalty and a late goal in the first half from Ronaldo were cancelled out by a Diego Costa brace and a 58th-minute Nacho strike. With minutes to, Portugal was awarded a free-kick, needing a goal to avoid a much dreaded opening-day defeat. Up stepped Ronaldo to leather it in the top corner past David De Gea, completing his hat-trick in some style and sending the Portugal fans into raptures.
On this day, exactly 3 years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a memorable hat-trick as Portugal rescued a brilliant 3-3 draw against Spain.
One of the best games in World Cup history. #POR #ESP pic.twitter.com/RrnUuWRf8S
— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) June 15, 2021
Germany crash out
A curious ‘World Cup curse’ has existed since the 2002 edition of the tournament, where the previous winners have gone on to a group stage exit on the following occasion. France was the victim in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014, with Brazil thus far the only nation to avoid such a fate in 2006. Unfortunately for Germany, they were afforded no such luck in 2018.
Opening day defeat against Mexico was redeemed by late drama against Sweden when a stunning Toni Kroos strike earned his side three points in the 95th minute. On the road to recovery, Die Mannschaft slipped to an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to South Korea in their last group match, ending Russia 2018 bottom of Group F. It was to be Joachim Low’s last World Cup in charge of the Germans, which ended in agony and helped reinforce the idea of the cup winners’ curse.
ON THIS DAY: In 2018, South Korea knocked defending champions Germany out of the World Cup with a 2-0 win.
One of the biggest shocks ever! pic.twitter.com/rL65XLq9Cx
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) June 27, 2019
England won on penalties
While this event undoubtedly held more significance for English fans, the breaking of historical tradition is still impressive for neutrals too. Prior to Russia 2018, England had faced seven penalty shootouts at a major tournament. Bar a 4-2 victory at Euro 96 against Spain, the Three Lions had lost all of them. Thus, when a late Yerry Mina equaliser sent their quarter-final against Colombia to extra time and, inevitably, penalties, most England fans feared the worst.
But that moment never came. When Jordan Henderson missed England’s third spot-kick, the writing appeared to be on the wall. However, after Mateus Uribe’s miscued shot hit the crossbar and Jordan Pickford produced heroics against Carlos Bacca, the opportunity fell to Eric Dier to be the hero. The Tottenham defender stepped up and converted, albeit unconvincingly, but that was enough for England to rid them of the curse, only for it returns three years later in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.
“When this hit the back of the net, I ______________”
What did you do when the #ThreeLions beat Colombia on penalties, #OnThisDay in 2018? pic.twitter.com/3ZCamulmsN
— England (@England) July 3, 2020
Russia 2018 was eventually won by Didier Deschamps’ France in a thrilling final against Croatia, however this year the tournament appears to be a lot more open. With its new location and unprecedented time of year, the World Cup truly is up for grabs for the nations set to battle it out in Qatar.
