Online Reporter
IT’S been the longest and largest World Cup on record.
Just the 104 games, played in 16 stadiums in three countries.
Unprecedented in scale.
But now the dust has settled, with the final played out last night in the MetLife, Sun Sport brings you our official World Cup awards.
Best player
Only one contender. Even at 39 he single-handedly dragged Argentina to the Final.
The greatest: Lionel Messi.
Best goal
Definitely a few in the mix, moments of genuine quality. But, in the end, our top three were:
1) Sidney Lopes Cabral (Cape Verde v Argentina) – Amazing strike from somewhere in the vicinity of Miami Beach.
2) Vinicius Jr (Brazil v Morocco) – A shimmy, a jink and a finish of pure quality. Brazil’s only highlight.
3) Erling Haaland (Norway v Brazil) – Soaring header after towering above Gabriel. Stay humble.
Best miss that deserved to have been a goal
Michael Olise’s stunning scissor kick from the edge of the box that thumped against the Sweden post in the last 32.
Best save
Australia’s Patrick Beach from Ramy Rabia’s header to earn a shoot-out versus Egypt, then he was subbed off and replacement Mathew Ryan didn’t get a hand on any of them.
Worst keeper blunder
USA’s Matt Freeze against Belgium.
Maybe that’s just footballing karma.
Gianni Infantino prize for appearing everywhere
Winner: David Beckham.
Runner-up: Gianni Infantino.
Best Stadium
Plenty of support for the SoFi in Los Angeles and the AT&T in Dallas, as well as the Azteca.
But the stand-out winner was the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the heart of Atlanta.
Simply gorgeous.
Worst stadium
The MetLife.
Sure it must have been great when it was built.
But it’s time to knock it down and erect something worthy of the Big Apple.
Maybe with some shade.
Most hospitable city
All of them. It was an absolute blast.
Thank you, America and Canada (I didn’t go to Mexico).
Best fans (extended stay)
Norway – you will never forget them: Row!
Best fans (short stay)
Scotland – drank Boston dry with a smile and a stagger.
Best unexpected moment
Curacao briefly equalising against Germany.
Sheer joy
Schadenfreude moment
Germany going out on penalties against Paraguay.
Come on, you HAD to enjoy that.
Biggest disappointment
Thomas Tuchel deciding defence was the best form of defence against Argentina.
It wasn’t.
Biggest disappointment (non-England)
Portugal, closely followed by Uruguay.
Best off-pitch surprise
That Americans can get into “soccer” if they realise how important it is.
Every bar TV screen had the games on (and I went into a lot of bars…..) and the locals wanted to hear about the matches and the stars.
Best match
Just for the drama of it, Portugal 2 Croatia 1.
A second half with four disallowed goals, a VAR penalty, countless chances and utter chaos at the end. Closely followed by the heroic Alamo stand in the Azteca.
Shame England tried to repeat it.
Worst match
England 0 Ghana 0.
Long journey out to the middle of nowhere to watch a game that nearly died of shame.
Best lookalike
Clement Turpin (French ref) /Leandro Trossard (Belgium).
Biggest off-pitch gripe
Realising that when things don’t go as planned, the USA has more Jobsworths per square foot than any other nation on earth.
What happened to showing initiative?
Most maddening experience
Spending an hour to get into the Mercedes Benz Stadium for the England v Argentina semi-final because there was only one security scanner and they then ran out of bag tags.
Swiftly followed by no working WiFi inside.
Apologies to those who read my first edition report.
Shameful moment
Fifa bowing to the demands from the White House to overturn Folarin Balogun’s red card ban.
Utterly disgraceful.
What’s the point in having rules if you can ignore them when your mate picks up the blower? – Sun
