2022 World Cup recap!
The 2022 FIFA World Cup came to an end on the 18th of December, 2022 with team Argentina emerging as champions. The World Cup was everything; suspenseful, heartbreaking, tearful, funny, record-breaking, upsetting and mind-blowing (remember that phenomenal overhead kick?).
From Saudi Arabia’s shocking victory against Argentina on the 3rd Matchday of the competition to Japan’s shocking victory over Germany and Spain in their group to the crazy last matchday of the same group E.
Morocco deserves her flowers for an incredible World Cup journey; finishing fourth, becoming the first African Country to ever get to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in its 92-year history, and beating three of Europe’s finest teams in Belgium, Spain and Portugal in the process.
While Spain couldn’t score a single penalty in their shootout against Morocco (Spain, a team that put 7 past Costa Rica in their opening game), Croatia maintained their relevance at the top of the World Cup finishing third just after being runners-up in the 2018 World Cup.
Remember Aboubakar’s instant impact off the bench for Cameroon against Serbia? Or when Belgium couldn’t get the goal they needed to move to the round of 16? Germany was unable to get out of their group for the second World Cup campaign running.
The tears in the South Korean camp when they advanced to the round of 16 won’t be forgotten in a hurry. Goncalo Ramos’s Hat-trick against Switzerland and Richarlison’s phenomenal overhead kick are also noteworthy.
Mbappe’s Hat-trick in the finals and Messi’s brilliance throughout the tournament and eventual crowning as champion were one of our best moments. In the end, Qatar did deliver!
If we were to choose eleven players from the entire tournament to make up our very own SabiTribe team, this is what it would look like:
1. Emi Martinez
A very hard pick seeing as we had to choose between him and Livakovic of Croatia. This Argentine shot-stopper caught the eyes of many during the World Cup, especially during the penalty shootouts against Netherlands and France.
And that 117th-minute save in the final?
2. Achraf Hakimi
The PSG RB is quite an easy pick even though he had the likes of Molina, Juranovic and Kounde to contend with, but these had replacements, Hakimi played every possible minute for Morocco and delivered very well, having so many clean sheets and did not pick up an injury like Saiss and Aguerd.
3. Ivan Perisic
Perisic played a lot of minutes for Croatia, coupled with some clean sheets, switching between attack and defence for them. Such a utility player.
4. Sofyan Amrabat
This guy was exceptional in the middle of the park holding the fort between defence and attack. This one was one of the easiest picks in a particular position.
In fact, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, in the presence of other players, hailed Amrabat for his performance and called him the best midfielder of the tournament.
5. Nicolás Otamendi
Although not exactly young Otamendi is definitely still getting it.
6. Pepe
Like, Otamendi, age has nothing on Pepe.
7. Julian Alvarez
Many World Cup viewers were surprised to learn that he plays for Manchester City. Well, you can’t blame them, that’s what happens when you’re a deputy Haaland.
Alvarez delivered his best for Argentina, he was very involved in the goal.
8. Luka Modric
This legend finally takes a bow–or so we are all thinking. Modric at 38 carried Croatia a lot during the World Cup. While Enzo Fernandez, a centre Midfielder, clinched the Best Young Player award, he didn’t quite do as much as Modric did for his team.
9. Olivier Giroud
Sadly, Giroud is the most underrated striker ever.
10. Lionel Messi
Ever in doubt? We saw him coming.
11. Kylian Mbappe
Just a reminder that at the end of the world cup this man was just still 23.
We have honourable mentions of players that also caught our eyes during the tournament. Argentina’s defender Molina & midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
Morocco’s Yahia Attiyat Allah & Azzedine Ounahi.
Croatia’s goalkeeper, Dominik Livaković and defenders, Joško Gvardiol and Josip Juranović.
France Defender Theo Hernández, midfielder Antoine Griezmann & Attacker Ousmane Dembélé (this guy is so dangerous when he’s injury free).
Portugal’s Defender Diogo Dalot, midfield maestro Bruno Fernandes & Attacker Gonçalo Ramos.
The Netherlands’ defender Denzel Dumfries and Attacker Cody Gakpo.
England attacker Marcus Rashford.
Ecuador’s attacker and captain Enner Valencia.
Now it’s time to go back to an action-packed schedule of club football.
#Sport is a segment that keeps you abreast of everything happening in the world of sports, shares facts, and sometimes also takes you down memory lane to relive some unforgettable sporting moments. In this edition, we recap what went down during the 2022 World Cup.
