Kylian Mbappe kisses the World Cup trophy Photo: AFP
We can finally sleep again.
The 2018 World Cup wrapped up this morning in the most fitting way - a controversial, error-strewn 4-2 win for France over Croatia.
This was the highest scoring final in 52 years, and the first to feature an own goal, and the first penalty awarded via video technology.
Before the game even took place, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino boasted Russia 2018 had been the best World Cup ever.
And Infantino isn’t alone in his claim - in this era of instant contextualisation, the debate over the tournament’s merits has raged since perhaps the group stage.
In the latest episode of Squeaky Bum Time, RNZ’s World Cup podcast, hosts Emile Donovan and Max Towle, joined by Producer Zen and Mediawatch presenter Colin Peacock, debate where this iteration ranks.
Towle says, while it has certainly been unpredictable, calling it the best would be an exaggeration.
“It was a strange World Cup. There were some great upsets and some great moments, but I’m not sure enough great football has been played. There hasn’t been a truly great team to emerge, either,” he says.
“I think 2006, for instance, was better. Then, there were some incredible goals, incredible games, incredible performances from Pirlo and Zidane, and the most memorable head-butt of all time.”
Producer Zen agrees, and says the way the draw panned out took an edge off the tournament.
“One side was so heavily lopsided with what we perceived to be the stronger teams, it left us wondering what might have been had the four best teams end up in the semi-finals, or the eight best in the quarters,” he says.
“Instead you end up with the likes of Sweden, Russia and England coming close.”
Yet Peacock says it has been the best tournament he can remember.
“The group stages were thrilling and matches featuring teams we might joke about, like Switzerland and Sweden, were great,” he says.
And even the truly bad teams, like Argentina, provided great entertainment.
“Argentina were laughed at and derided, but every game they played was exciting as hell.”
Also in the episode, the panel rate this morning’s final, discuss the biggest storylines of the tournament, and pick their favourite goals, players and matches.
