As every group has completed their first round of fixtures in the FIFA World Cup 2018, there has been quite a few surprises for us. Some high-profile names have been a no-show, some unlikely stars have risen up, and some have performed to their hype. The first round saw some favorites being upset by the minnows, some dark horses fulfilled their billing, and Germany was the only big one to bite the dust. However, two more matches lie in store for every one of them, and fortunes can change quickly around here.
Group A
Group A saw two straight victories, and there were only three names even in consideration – Golovin, Cheryshev, and Gimenez. But by virtue of being the better player when the stats were taken out of consideration, I am going with Aleksandr Golovin on this one.
Group B
Group B witnessed what many believe to be the best game of the WC so far, in Spain’s 3-3 draw against Portugal while Iran and Morocco played out a highly defensive 1-0. Despite Diego Costa ending up scoring twice, he doesn’t take the cake because of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Group C
Group C saw France play out a hard-fought 2-1 win against Australia, while Denmark held out Peru for a 1-0 win and established themselves as the candidates to get out of the group. A lack of attacking from the group means that it has to go to a defensive player, and between Kante and Schmeichel, I have to go with Kasper Schmeichel.
Group D
The “Group of Death” saw favorites Argentina being held to a 1-1 draw by Iceland, while Croatia cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win against Nigeria. It was a toss-up between the two man of the matches, Luka Modric and Halldorson, but when you are responsible for your team’s first ever point in the WC, you deserve to be mentioned. celand’s goalkeeper, Hannes Thor Halldorsson is a part-time film maker, and was even the one who directed Iceland’s WC ad sponsored by Coca-cola. On the field though, he brought a different kind of magic and saved Lionel Messi’s penalty to deny Argentina a win.
Group E
Group E saw favorites to win the World Cup,Brazil held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland, while Serbia managed to pip Costa Rica for an unlikely 1-0 win. If you were expecting this to be Coutinho or Neymar, I am sorry as I choose to go with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Group F
Group F saw the defending champions fall to a surprise 0-1 loss against Mexico, while Sweden pulled off an annoying 1-0 grind against the Korea Republic. This was the easiest pick of all – Joshua Kimmich, who ran the entire length of the pitch a hundred times. Oh, who am I kidding? It was Hirving Lozano.
Group G
Group F saw the favorites pick up wins, one harder than it should have been and the other as easy as it could have been. Belgium defeated Panama in a 3-0 goal-fest while England clawed their way to an injury-time 2-1 win over Tunisia. Despite both Lukaku and Kane getting on the end of two goals, Kane wins on the virtue of carrying his team over the finishing line.
Group H
Group H saw both of the favorites succumb to 1-2 defeats, as Senegal beat Poland and Japan fought their way through 10-man Colombia to leave an already unpredictable group even more chaotic.