The group stages of the World Cup are drawing to a close so Press Association Sport takes a look at some of the highlights of the tournament so far:
Best game: Portugal 3 Spain 3
Worst game: France 0 Denmark 0
Best goal: Ahmed Musa (Nigeria)
Best team: Croatia
Most disappointing team: Germany
Best fans: Senegal
Hits: Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku
Moment of the Day ?When @England’s Harry Kane netted an injury-time winner on his #WorldCup debut ?
? Highlights ? https://t.co/LOdKDX2Cwn ? TV listings ? https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO pic.twitter.com/wafiZ8XmEz
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 18, 2018
England captain Harry Kane proved the chief inspiration and match-winner for their opening victory over Tunisia and followed that up with a hat-trick against Panama. Five-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo has also come to the party while Romelu Lukaku has shone at the apex of an exciting Belgium attack.
Misses: Timo Werner, Robert Lewandowski and Julen Lopetegui
VAR: The star or a step too far?
Best free-kick: Toni Kroos
Another moment in time. #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/OAxDRvTrff
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 23, 2018
Kroos must have hoped he had salvaged Germany’s campaign with his superb late winner against Sweden. It was not to be, but it was still a moment of sublime quality.
Best pundits: Alex Scott and Ally McCoist shine
Howlers: Silly Willy
Best save: Yann Sommer
Social media highlights
? sorry …
— Mats Hummels (@matshummels) June 27, 2018
Germany’s Mats Hummels summed up his country’s sorrow after their elimination with a simple word – sorry. That was a far cry from Kane’s display of sheer joy after his late winner against Tunisia, which earned him more than 24,000 retweets. Elsewhere, Ian Wright’s stunned reaction to a Lionel Messi penalty miss went viral while Jesse Lingard provided some talking points with his photographs of England team-mates racing unicorns in their hotel pool.
Messi ???? #Worldcup pic.twitter.com/DOvuBeb8c6
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) June 16, 2018
Recovery day, don’t worry @youngy18 , I’ve got you ? ? #JLingzPhotography pic.twitter.com/Lqn4zRNEwz
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) June 19, 2018
The tournament in numbers
1: The world ranking of champions Germany before the event began.
2.6: Average goals per match after 44 games.
24: Penalties awarded in the tournament – a new record and already 11 more than in the whole of the 2014 event.
252: ‘Attacks’ by Germany in their three games, according to FIFA statistics. It came to little avail.
2,089: Passes completed by Spain in their three games.
Team of the tournament (so far):
