World Cup: Best team, best player and biggest disappointment so far
Functional Brazil are the team to beat, Kylian Mbappe could emulate Diego Maradona… but Belgium’s ageing stars belong in a care home! CRAIG HOPE gives his World Cup thoughts so far
- The World Cup has passed the halfway mark in terms of games played in Qatar
- Eighty-one goals have been scored across 32 matches, with two rounds played
- Brazil don’t have the samba skills of yesteryear but they have functionality
- Young stars Kylian Mbappe and Mohammed Kudus have hit the ground running
- But Belgium have gone Dutch and would look more at ease in a care home
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
We have now seen every team twice at the World Cup in Qatar, with 81 goals scored across 32 matches.
It is, in terms of games played, the halfway stage. So, who has caught our eye? And who has hurt our eyes?
Here, Sportsmail’s Craig Hope takes us through his observations from the tournament so far…
We’ve reached the halfway mark of games played at the World Cup, so how are things faring?
Best team
The fact 21 of the 32 teams have already lost – and just three of them have won both matches – makes this section a little easier. Or harder, given the options are so few. Even the trio with a perfect record have not been so perfect in performance. On the whole, international teams are somewhat unimpressive.
France would be most people’s pick for this, but they look so reliant on Kylian Mbappe it would be a reluctant call to label them ‘best team’.
After two rounds of action, Brazil are the team to beat having yet to concede a goal
They lack the samba flair of yesteryear but there is a functionality that will serve them well
Portugal have beaten two decent sides in Ghana and Uruguay, but they were pretty average in the first of those. Whereas an injury to Mbappe would limit France, you suspect the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo might well liberate the Portuguese. Doubts, then, remain about both of those countries.
Rather, my pick after two games is Brazil. They have not conceded in overcoming good European opposition in Serbia and Switzerland and, while this is not the spellbinding Samba dance of old, there is a steely functionality about them that suggests tournament longevity.
A quick nod to Spain, whose 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica ranks as the most devastating display. However, there is a suspicion this talented team could revert to the ‘underachievers’ tag of yesteryear. That was before they won a World Cup and two European Championships in four years, of course…
Best goal, and game, and performance
The goal that drew the biggest smile was undoubtedly Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon, who scooped over the Serbian keeper during Monday’s 3-3 draw. It looked like the Indomitable Lions had called for their very own Ade Akinfenwa when Aboubakar arrived on 55 minutes with Serbia leading 3-1. Within a few minutes the muscle-bound striker had morphed into the slightly more graceful Karel Poborsky with a moment of genius that lost nothing for a VAR delay in awarding the goal.
Vincent Aboubakar can lay claim to goal of the tournament so far with his scoop vs Serbia
Perhaps it was that Aboubakar believing he was offside aided the audacity, but it still takes skill and imagination to execute it. Saying that, the likelihood that Aboubakar was probably just mucking about with the nature of the finish – and in doing so scored what will prove an iconic World Cup goal – makes it all the more wonderful.
Definitely not taking this prize is Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘header’ against Uruguay on Monday. Will FIFA, for the first time, be forced to record the method of goal as ‘halo’?
While we are on, was Aboubakar’s performance the best individual outing so far? It was certainly the most fun. Just moments after his goal he laid on an equaliser and ensured Cameroon’s tournament would go to a final game. He was a joy to watch.
Cameroon’s draw with the Serbs is game of the tournament but Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina is a close second
And while we’re still on, this six-goal thriller (is there any other name for such a result?) was my favourite game to date. Both teams having lost their opener provided real jeopardy and, rather than induce nerves, it served up a cracker that included five goals in a 20-minute period.
Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 win over Argentina is a very close second, while Japan’s victory by the same scoreline against Germany completes my podium of best games.
Best player
There is only one answer, and that is Kylian Mbappe. Three goals and one assist have laid the foundations for what could become his World Cup. The ultimate example of a player taking ownership of this tournament is Diego Maradona with Argentina in 1986. Mbappe could do that here. This feels like a World Cup of fading stars playing on this stage for the last time. Mbappe, by contrast, is burning brighter than ever. He has been sensational.
Kylian Mbappe is the player of the tournament so far and has been in scintillating form
France aren’t as strong as 2018 but Mbappe can emulate Diego Maradona’s effort of 1986
There are others who have caught my eye. Pedri and Gavi of Spain are such an elegant watch and, with Mbappe, are likely to be Ballon d’Or contenders for years to come. Likewise, Germany’s Jamal Musiala. I interviewed German legend Lothar Matthaus before the World Cup and he was crowing about his country taking the attacking midfielder from England. You can see why. He has an electric presence about him and is refreshingly direct. Dare we say it, the sort of player England need.
And one more mention for a young man who will be heading home this week, but Canada’s Alphonso Davies, despite his penalty miss in the opening match, tried everything to drag his country through.
Breakout star
Mohammed Kudus of Ghana. He was brilliant in their opening defeat against Portugal before scoring twice in Monday’s 3-2 win over South Korea. Still only 22, the Ajax midfielder is a bundle of energy and invention. When he has the ball, good things always look like happening.
Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus talked big before the tournament but has backed it up thus far
Kudus seems ready-made for the Premier League given that combination of skill and athleticism. Everton were interested in the summer with a fee of around £15million mooted. You can double that now. World Cup breakout stars have ended up at Goodison Park before, don’t forget. Remember James Rodriguez? Second thoughts, best not.
Biggest disappointment
Before Belgium’s relative success of recent years – they are, somehow, currently ranked second in the world – the Red Devils had long tried to emulate their neighbours Holland. Well, congratulations, because the in-fighting in the Belgian camp right now is so magnificently Dutch.
Like grumpy old men they are arguing about age, a disagreement sparked by Kevin de Bruyne’s claims of them being too long in the tooth to win the World Cup. He is right, of course. Their afternoon kick-off against Morocco ended in a 2-0 defeat. To be fair, Belgium’s aged bunch would usually be having a nap at that time, so little wonder they looked lethargic.
Anything other than a win in their final game against Croatia is likely to see them eliminated. On the evidence so far, Belgium’s time in Qatar is coming to an end. Those old boys have (care) homes to go to.
Belgium’s ageing star look better suited to a care home than the biggest tournament on earth
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