Fifa World Cup 2018 Russia Unforgettable Moments

The 2018 FIFA World Cup, held in Russia from June 14 to July 15, was the 21st edition of the premier international football tournament. It marked the first time that the World Cup was held in Russia and the first time it was hosted in Eastern Europe. The tournament featured 32 national teams from around the world, competing in 64 matches across 12 venues located in 11 cities.

Key highlights and aspects of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia include:

1. **Opening Ceremony:** The tournament's opening ceremony took place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, featuring a colorful and vibrant display of Russian culture, music, and dance performances.

2. **Venues:** The matches were played in state-of-the-art stadiums spread across Russia, showcasing the country's infrastructure and architectural prowess. The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow served as the main venue for the final match.

3. **Teams:** The participating teams represented a diverse range of nations from different continents. The competition featured a mix of traditional football powerhouses and emerging football nations, contributing to a high level of competition and excitement.

4. **Matches:** A total of 64 matches were played over the course of the tournament, with teams competing in a round-robin group stage followed by knockout rounds leading to the final.

5. **Surprises and Upsets:** The tournament witnessed several surprising outcomes and upsets, with some traditionally strong teams failing to progress past the group stage, while other less-favored teams exceeded expectations.

6. **Goal-scoring:** The tournament featured thrilling and high-scoring matches, with a total of 169 goals scored in the group stage alone, averaging over 2.5 goals per match.

7. **Individual Performances:** Several players stood out with exceptional performances, including Harry Kane (England), Antoine Griezmann (France), Luka Modrić (Croatia), and Kylian Mbappé (France), among others.

8. **VAR (Video Assistant Referee):** The 2018 World Cup marked the first time that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was officially used in the tournament. VAR was introduced to assist referees in making critical decisions, such as goals, penalties, and red card incidents.

9. **Final Match:** The final match was held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, 2018. France emerged victorious, defeating Croatia 4-2 to claim their second World Cup title. The match was marked by thrilling goals, with Mario Mandžukić (Croatia) scoring an own goal, Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, and Kylian Mbappé finding the net for France, and Ivan Perišić and Mario Mandžukić scoring for Croatia.

10. **Golden Boot and Awards:** England's Harry Kane won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer, while Luka Modrić of Croatia received the Golden Ball award for the best player of the tournament.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia was a memorable event that showcased the spirit of international football, cultural diversity, and the passion of fans from around the world. It provided thrilling moments, dramatic matches, and celebrated the beautiful game on a global stage.