The highlights of a beautiful World Cup that we will never forget

MOSCOW – No matter where the champion or the number of goals scored or shots on goal, a World Cup always leaves lasting memories. Some tournaments behave more than others; this four-week wonder in Russia offered a disproportionate harvest.

Here are a few that stand out:

>> A competition that began with the presentation of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah midway Luka Modric, Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe. Harry Kane scored as many goals as Argentina. Neymar alternated between football phenomenon and budding actor

>> Invited by Mbappe to become the first teenager to score in the World Cup final, Pele, 77, tweeted: "If Kylian continues to …" to equal my records like that, I

>> Football does not come home, but it took some big vesting steps towards England before changing course and crossing the cbad to his deserving home.

>> The last two champions returned home early. Spain has abandoned his Real Madrid coach on the eve of the tournament, has never regained pace and, at that time, is still pbading the ball from one side to the other. other, thinking that it will unlock the Russian resistance.Germany has not managed to cross the first round for the first time e times in 80 years.

>> Operating in a cloud of suspicion as a result of an Olympic doping scandal, Russia has used smart tactics and has run a wave of nationalism to compensate for capacity and advance to quarterfinals. At a press conference after the 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia, coach Stanislav Cherchesov withdrew to take a call. On return, he explained that "it was the head of state."

>> The final table of Belgium's final victory over Japan in the tournament's eighth-final goal. Third place Belgian also provided an almost perfect half of football by eliminating Brazil.

>> The superb volley of Frenchman Benjamin Pavard against Argentina was the best shot of the event, although there are several in the running, as is the attack late Toni Kroos against Sweden who temporarily saved Germany.

>> A former Homeless Shepherd from Iran thwarted Ronaldo's penalty kick. An aspiring filmmaker from Iceland has blocked Messi's penalty offer. The Egyptian Essem Al Hadary, 45, stopped a penalty in Saudi Arabia

>> Croatia inspired small countries all the way to the final, but it was not a team in tatters with unknown players. The training included starters from Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus and Inter Milan

>> Nigeria's uniforms and warm-up jerseys from South Korea were very bright. 19659014] >> Senegalese fans cleaned up in the dance competition, then stayed to clean their seating areas. Japanese fans have also picked up their garbage. And despite a brutal defeat in Belgium, the Japanese team has left a flawless cloakroom and a thank you note.

>> The first World Cup with Video Assistant Referee was a success. Most. It corrected missed or erroneous calls and warned players that low hits would not go unnoticed. That said, there were complaints about the time it took in some cases to reach a verdict; about when it was used; and, like the penalty kick in the final, if the video has been correctly interpreted.

>> Singer Robbie Williams gave the major to the television audience at opening ceremonies, degenerate Diego Maradona did the same for Nigerian fans, and Russian punk rockers Pussy Riot l & rsquo; Figuratively made President Vladimir Putin by orchestrating a ground invasion during the final.

>> Panama did not win a match but won our hearts with a proud and tearful singing of the national anthem and an unbridled celebration after scoring its first World Cup goal at of a defeat against England.

>> Belgian Michy Batshuayi celebrated the most painful goal of the tournament by recovering the ball from the net and inadvertently intercepting it and out of his head.

>> While this head shot has made laugh, FIFA still does not seem to grasp the seriousness of concussions. Several teams put the players back into action without proper evaluation.

>> Best celebration: French players collapse press conference of coach Didier Deschamps after the championship game, singing in his honor, dancing on the table and spraying the boss and the media [19659020] >> Senegal failed to qualify for the round of 16 because, after the exhaustion of all normal par ties, Japan had a superior disciplinary record.

>> The US team was not there, but an American presence was. Nearly 100,000 banknotes – the largest number of foreign countries – were purchased by US households, presumably by supporters supporting Latin American teams. And before the start of the tournament, a North American coalition won the right to host the 2026 World Cup. Sixty of the 80 matches will take place in the United States, 32 years after the competition organized by the United States will have broken attendance records.

>> Speaking of Latin American countries, none has reached the semifinals. , Peru, Brazil and Argentina – not the neighboring European nations. The most neutral Brazilians and Argentinians have witnessed more recent matches than those supporting the European teams.

>> For his World Cup debut against Argentina, Iceland recorded a 99.6 TV share, almost all filming was listening to the cover of RUV 1-1 draw. (This year's Super Bowl got 68 shares.) So who was looking at something else? We guess that some Russian fans have rushed out of their homes before turning off the TVs tuned to other channels.

>> Artificial and natural light has figured prominently in the fan experience. For those who were in Moscow, Nikolskaya Street and other pedestrian boulevards set off into enchanting corridors. In St. Petersburg, which is at about the same latitude as Juneau, Alaska, the summer solstice brought almost endless days and White Nights celebrations. Blackout curtains were as important as match tickets.

>> Visitors have discovered the wonders of Georgian cuisine, and we are not talking about ripe peaches and Chick-fil-A. Khinkali (meatballs) and khachapuri (cheese bread) have changed lives forever. Honorable Mention: Russian Borscht and Vodka

>> Good times have been experienced by almost all and Russians in general have left a very positive impression on their guests, but it remains difficult to reconcile these experiences with the interference government in American affairs, the annexation of Crimea and human rights issues. Putin's VIP suite for the final included several scoundrels, including Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The relationship between sport and politics will remain complicated.

>> Politics appeared on the pitch as two Swiss scorers with family ties to Kosovo made two-armed eagle gestures during a win against Serbia. A Croatian defender paid tribute to Ukraine after contributing to the elimination of Russia.

>> Next stop: Qatar. Bring an extra sunscreen.