There isn’t any new title on the trophy and plenty of of soccer’s world superstars are taking their closing bow however essentially the most controversial World Cup in historical past will likely be remembered as a match of firsts. The build-up to Qatar was overshadowed by allegations of corruption, mistreatment of migrant staff and criticism of the Gulf state’s human rights file from the second it received the bid in 2010. FIFA president Gianni Infantino made an impassioned defence of the World Cup on the eve of kick-off, blasting the “hypocrisy” of Western critics, however off-field points continued to rumble.
Heavyweights France and Argentina progressed to the ultimate, every trying to win the trophy for a 3rd time after a match filled with shocks and surprises.
4-time winners Germany crashed out on the group stage for the second successive time whereas Argentina have been overwhelmed by Saudi Arabia of their opener in one of many largest shocks within the match’s historical past.
Japan beat Germany and Spain to progress to the final 16 whereas South Korea additionally made it to the knockout rounds in a robust displaying for Asian groups.
However Morocco have been the nation that caught the creativeness — changing into the primary aspect from Africa or the Arab world to succeed in the semi-finals, earlier than shedding 2-0 to defending champions France.
The north African nation beat fancied Belgium within the group stage earlier than eliminating Spain and Portugal within the knockout rounds, with their victories celebrated in Doha and throughout the Arab world.
Walid Regragui’s staff confirmed different African and Arab sides what is feasible, particularly because the growth of the match to 48 groups from 2026 will increase the variety of qualifiers. Africa could have 9 slots whereas Asia could have eight.
“With 9 contributors, we’ll study. In 15, 20 years, I am positive an African staff will win the World Cup as a result of we’ll have discovered,” mentioned Regragui.
No African groups made it past the group stage in Russia 4 years in the past, however this time Senegal additionally reached the final 16 whereas Cameroon turned the primary staff from the continent to defeat Brazil at a World Cup.
Each inhabited continent was represented within the knockout phases, permitting Infantino to have a good time the game “changing into actually world”.
Qatar flop
It was a unique story for Asian champions Qatar, who produced the worst efficiency by a World Cup host — dumped out of the group stage and not using a level and with only one objective.
Different notable milestones included Stephanie Frappart changing into the primary girl to referee a males’s World Cup match.
One other speaking level is that officers have added unprecedented quantities of stoppage time to video games.
“Folks wish to watch soccer, extra soccer. And we, FIFA and IFAB have been requested to do one thing about it for years,” mentioned FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina, referring to soccer’s lawmakers.
The standard of soccer has not suffered from the choice to shift the World Cup to a November and December timeslot — the center of the European season — for the primary time.
There had been seven goalless attracts earlier than the ultimate — up from only one 4 years in the past, however FIFA’s head of soccer improvement Arsene Wenger was adamant that the shorter preparation time had not impacted the match.
A complete of 166 objectives have been scored earlier than Sunday’s showpiece, a mean of two.6 objectives per sport — nearly equivalent to 2018.
Messi’s brilliance
Brazil did not dwell as much as their standing as pre-tournament favourites, eradicated by European opposition earlier than the ultimate at a fifth consecutive World Cup.
Neymar mentioned he was “psychologically destroyed” by the end result, indicating he might give up worldwide soccer.
New heroes emerged — Jude Bellingham shone for England whereas Argentina unearthed a brand new star in Julian Alvarez — however the veterans nonetheless dominated the headlines.
Luka Modric, at 37, and 36-year-old Olivier Giroud stood out, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo — diminished to the position of substitute — and Luis Suarez bowed out in disappointing vogue.
Lionel Messi, at 35 and enjoying at his fifth finals, has arguably been higher than ever for Argentina.
“It has been a match of gamers who’re prepared earlier and earlier in top-level sport and gamers who’ve lasted longer and longer than ever earlier than,” mentioned Wenger.
Rights points
Regardless of the thrill on the pitch, the problems that dominated the build-up to the match by no means solely went away.
Germany’s gamers lined their mouths for the staff picture earlier than their opening match towards Japan in protest at a ban on sporting anti-discrimination armbands in a rustic during which homosexuality is illegitimate.
A Kenyan safety guard died after falling from an higher flooring on the Lusail Stadium, including to the toll since Qatar was awarded the match.
Organisers had mentioned earlier than the most recent fatality that there had been 37 deaths of World Cup staff, however solely three involving “work-related” accidents.
Rights teams says 1000’s of overseas migrant staff have died on development tasks throughout Qatar over the previous decade and have demanded a particular compensation fund.
For Infantino the Qatar World Cup was the “finest ever”. For others, the jury continues to be out.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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