A mouthwatering feast of FIFA World cup football, complete with shocking goals, incredible celebrations, and record-breaking feats.The Reuters team of reporters who were covering the tournament selected these ten highlights.
After Lionel Messi converted a penalty kick in the first half, Saudi Arabia dominated Argentina in their first Group C match. Saleh Al-Shehri, on the other hand, scored a low equalizer for the Green Falcons after the break. Five minutes later, Salem Al-Dawsari scored a scorching second to leave Argentina in disbelief and Saudi fans singing “where is Messi?”
The difficult part had just begun for South Korea when Hwang Hee-chan scored a stoppage-time winner in their final Group H match. The Korean players were then forced to spend nearly ten agonizing minutes huddled together in the center circle, looking at their phones, hoping Uruguay would not score against Ghana again. Finally, with their place in the last 16 secured, they raced in large groups toward their exuberant fans.
Such has been the Argentine number 10’s impact in Qatar .
That the seven-time Ballon D’or winner could have multiple entries on the memorable list, regardless of the outcome. READ ALSO However, the 35-year-old’s genius was exemplified by the way he fought off Croatia’s masked defender.
With a penalty kick against Ghana, Portugal’s talisman RONALDO became the first male player to score in five World Cups. However, the 37-year-old was dropped from the starting lineup after that, and he was filmed crying as he walked down the tunnel in the quarterfinal match against Morocco because he was unable to save his team.
Germany’s final Group E match against Costa Rica was overseen by Frenchwoman.
Stephanie Frappart, making her the first woman to serve as a referee at a men’s World Cup.Also read about France and Argentina: How to get to the final JAPAN HIT BACK TO SHOCK GERMANY Prior to the start of their Group E opener, Germany’s players covered their mouths in protest at FIFA’s threat of sanctions against wearing the “OneLove” armband.
They were left speechless at the final whistle when Japan’s substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored a 2-1 comeback victory for the Samurai Blue.
The Samurai Blue’s fans celebrated loudly before taking the litter out of the stadium.
MOROCCO’S FANS Thousands of them descended on the Arabian Gulf to cheer on the Atlas Lions, and their efforts were rewarded when Morocco became the first Arab and African nation to reach the semifinals.
The commotion the red-clad crowds made in the arenas was stunning and arrived at breaking point in the punishment shootout rout of Spain in the last 16 and against Portugal in the quarter-finals when a racket of whistles welcomed each touch by the resistance as Morocco safeguarded their 1-0 lead.
GROUP E FINALE MAYHEM A group that began with Germany losing to Japan and ended with Spain scoring seven goals against Costa Rica almost turned the football world upside down.
Germany had to beat Costa Rica and Spain had to beat Japan to advance as runners-up. At halftime, both of those things happened. Then everything became insane.
The live table showed Japan and Costa Rica in first and second place, with Spain and Germany returning home, for four minutes early in the second half after Japan scored twice and Costa Rica reversed their game against Germany to take the lead.
A hyper bunch stage closed in practically humorous design as Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar scored a stoppage-time victor against a generally qualified Brazil, took his shirt off, and was promptly given a subsequent yellow card by a sorry ref who shook the player’s hand.