What a time they had in Russia! Fans the length and breadth of France are still celebrating after their heroes won World Cup 2018 with plenty of Gallic flair.
It’s the first time the proud French have triumphed in the tournament away from home, having first become world champions in France in 1998. But Moscow was awash with Les Bleus as a typically swashbuckling display took the Jules Rimet trophy back to France.
But who were the best representatives of Ligue 1 on their travels to Russia?
Didier Deschamps only had two domestic league players in his winning team: Lyon’s Nabil Fekir, who looked lively whenever he appeared and is still being watched by Liverpool and, of course, the breathtaking talent of Kylian Mbappe.
Kylian Mbappe, France
Where else do you start than with the best young player of the tournament and the first teenager to score in a final since the Brazil legend Pele? Nineteen-year-old Kylian Mbappe went to Russia with a fast-growing reputation and returned as a celebrated world star.
Didier Deschamps has since said that PSG’s wonder kid is better than Thierry Henry. That is high praise indeed, but I’m sure many defenders the young player tormented in Russia won’t disagree. Particularly Argentina, as he destroyed them with his electrifying pace and clinical finishing. His run from the edge of his own box to the opposition territory terrified the Argentine defence. In fact, Marcus Rojo deserves a lot of credit for getting close enough to foul him and concede a penalty!
Mbappe went on to score twice as France eventually ran out 4-3 winners, and it’s a frightening thought for coaches around the world that this new world star will be just 23 years old in Qatar.
This boy was the biggest World Cup 2018 news of all, and these are surely exciting times for Les Bleus.
Edinson Cavani, Uruguay
As part of the most feared strike partnership in world football, Edinson Cavani put in some superb performances at the World Cup. Having top-scored in Ligue 1 last season with 28 and taken Uruguay to Russia with his attacking flair, he carried on seamlessly in front of an admiring worldwide audience.
We love a goal scorer with a killer instinct here at SBOBET, and Cavani showed that he is exactly that; his fantastic double against Portugal summed up what he’s about. For his first goal, he linked up brilliantly with partner Luis Suarez before planting a header home. The second was a piece of individual genius: a beautifully curled shot into the far corner.
Defeat to France in the quarter-finals cut Cavani’s World Cup short, but if the Charruas had won that game, they would have had plenty of backing to go all the way. And then we may just have seen a different Golden Boot winner.
Ramadel Falcao, Colombia
He’s been around the block, but the Monaco star rolled back the years in Russia with a hunger for success, having missed out on Brazil 2014 through injury. And a typically clinical goal in Colombia’s 3-0 win over a fancied Poland side was a highlight. With the match finely balanced, he burst through to fire a low shot into the corner and hand Colombia a crucial win.
Colombia won Group H, but a knockout game against England was a step too far. Although Falcao and his team-mates showed the tough side to their game, and a willingness to step over to the dark side in an attempt to unsettle the young Lions.
Falcao is a goal scorer and a fighter.
The World Cup 2018 odds hadn’t really given Colombia a chance, starting out at odds of 34.00 to lift the trophy. But had they beaten England in the Round-of-16 penalty shootout, with the imminent return of star man James Rodriguez, the route to the final wouldn’t have looked too daunting.
Thomas Meunier, Belgium
Since arriving in Paris two years ago, Thomas Meunier has established himself as an attacking right-back with an eye for goal. The PSG man had a superb tournament and rounded it off by scoring the first goal in the third place play-off against England.
He’s a creator more than a scorer and brilliantly put Romelu Lukaku through to net in the group win against Tunisia. He was also the man on the wing to supply Nacer Chadli with his dramatic last-gasp goal against Japan. He was suspended for the semi-final, and was sorely missed, but returned with a vengeance against England.
The Red Devils played some of the best football at Russia 2018 and Meunier was an integral part of their success, fully deserving his goal as Belgium grabbed third place.
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