2018 Russian World Cup had surprises



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RUSSIA .- Enjoy the emotions, the unpredictability, the constant drama of the World Cup. The own FIFA admits that the maximum rating of football may not become so attractive again.

Russia was able to be the seat of the last world with 32 equipment. Or at least the last without a tight format at the end of the season.

FIFA intends to admit 16 other teams, if not to the next World Cup in Qatar, in 2026 to be shared by the United States, Mexico and Canada. There will be 16 groups of three teams each, two of which will go on to the round of 32.

Football leaders are seduced by the idea of ​​the additional income that an extended tournament can generate, even if that could hurt to show the level. Russia accepted the findings of a 2016 FIFA internal report that indicated that the 32-team world championship was producing the "best quality" of juice.

A look at the winners and losers of Russia 2018, where France took the title after beating Croatia 4-2 in the final.

RUSSIA
Russia, a local team that did not have much hope, set the tone by starting to go 5-0 in Saudi Arabia. He advanced to the second round, gave himself the luxury of eliminating Spain and did not reach the semi-finals by losing a shot-on-goal shot.

As organizers, the Russians have exceeded expectations. No one doubted that Vladimir Putin could mobilize the necessary resources for things to go well. But the police have adopted a relaxed attitude and the incidents among ordinary fans in Russian football have been remarkable by their absence.

Logistically, the tournament was a resounding success, but we will have to wait to see if it reflects the changes in Russia or if it was only a mirage

WEIGHT HEAVY ON CANVAS
Germany was the third team to be eliminated in the group stage after winning the title. His premature departure was a product of self-sufficiency, of not having reached the right balance between youth and experience, and of a dispute over the Turkish origin of Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan.

It was a World Cup for forgetting the three Most players voted in the consultation to choose the player from last year. Cristiano Ronaldo shone in one match, scoring three goals against Spain, and his Portuguese team was eliminated in the second round by Uruguay. Lionel Messi did not have any support in a mediocre Argentine team that barely survived the initial phase to be eliminated by France in the second round, 4-3. Neymar did not reach his best form due to an injury and could prevent Brazil's defeat in the quarterfinals against Belgium.

Egyptian Mohamed Salah did not show too much to play without being completely recovered from an injury to the shoulder. He suffered a few weeks before the World Cup in the final of the Champions League between his club Liverpool and Real Madrid. Egypt did not pbad the first round, but Salah scored twice in two matches

VIDEOARBITRAJE
There was confusion in the early days. When something was not punished or a penalty was not inflicted, many wondered if the referee had consulted the VAR. Some whistles were hesitant. As in the penalty imposed in the final by a Croatian hand Ivan Perisic in the region. Football may have to get used to these delays, but if communications between referees and VAR staff are known, as is the case with rugby, people may have more confidence in the system. Especially when it comes to erasing mistakes.

BALLON DETAINED
The elimination of Spain in the round of 16 could have marked the end of an era. That of tiki-taka. Possession of the ball is useless if it does not translate into goals, as Spain has proved against Russia. Free throws and corners were the most effective tool for achieving the goal. Of the 169 goals scored in Russia, 73 were the result of games with a stopped ball. The VAR helped a bit, reducing foreclosures in the area.

CONMOCIONES
After the 2014 World Cup, FIFA adjusted its protocols in terms of head shots. Protocols, however, are recommendations, not laws that must be followed. Moroccan Noureddine Amrabat should not have been playing in Russia five days after suffering a commotion in which he did not remember what had happened. However, he was allowed to play against the doctor's recommendation of the team.

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