Goal!- FIFA World Cup Part 2

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As I wrote about the proceedings in the FIFA World Cup till the round of sixteen in the previous blog, today, I am going to write about the rest of the tournament.

The round of sixteen was the deciding round. The teams which lose in this round cannot coninue further in the tournament. Incidentally, Messi as well as Ronaldo had exited the World Cup in this round. While Argentina lost in a thrilling match against France, the score reading 4-3 with a brilliant goal by Benjamin Pavard from France, Portugal was overshadowed by the heroics of Edinson Cavani from Uruguay as the "Seleccao das Quinas"(The nickname for the Portugal team ) lost 2-0.

Though Portugal had lost, both France and England had proceeded to the quarter finals. One of the biggest upsets in the tournament happened in the round of sixteen when Russia beat Spain 4-3 on penalties with the match ending on a 1-1 draw!! Spain could have leveled the score when Aspas who aimed the shot right in the centre, hit Akinfeev's(the goalie) leg by chance while he was diving to his right. This meant that Russia would be proceeding to the quarter finals as well.

The quarter finals had thrilling matches such as Brazil versus Belgium. Though Brazil got many chances to hit the net, they were denied by Belgium's brilliant goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. Whereas, Russia's dream run was stopped by Croatia as Croatia won 4-3 by penalties as the match had ended in a 2-2 draw.

I could not wait for the semifinals as both England and France had qualified. In the first semifinal, France won against Belgium as defender Samuel Umititi headed in a brilliant goal. I was jumping up and down with joy as they had qualified for the finals. Sadly England lost to Croatia in penalties.

On the day of the finals, played between France and Croatia, I switched on the televison with a nervous feeling; not knowing what was going to be the result of the game. As the match commenced, we France supporters were treated to an early strike, which was an own goal by Croatian player Mario Mandzukic.`While celebrating in joy, I was suddenly jolted back down to the sofa when Ivan Perisic scored a stunner of goal and leveled the scores. I could finally breath a sigh of relief when Antoinne Greizmann converted a penalty. The lead was further increased when Paul Pogba shot a goal from a deflected attempt. Suddenly, teenage star Kylian Mbappe came out from nowhere and rolled in a low shot that Subasic, the Croation goalkeeper could not stop the ball from caressing the net. This is the first goal scored by a teenager in a World Cup final after the "God of Football" Pele himself. A silly mistake by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris increased Croatia's goal tally to two as he tried to dribble past Madzukic when it deflected onto the Croatian's leg and went rolling into the goal.

As the final whistle blew, I jumped up and started running around the house screaming😁😎. It was the first time France lifted the World Cup since their victory in 1998. A glorious finish to a glorious World Cup.! Belgium and England finished in the third and fourth place respectively.

I would definitely recommend you to watch matches from the FIFA World Cup 2018 as I am sure it will be enough to make you a football lover.😃

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