The first World Cup to use VAR; defending champions Germany crashed out in the group stage while France, led by a teenage Kylian Mbappé, beat Croatia 4–2 in the Final.
The opening match saw Russia demolish Saudi Arabia 5–0 in Moscow, the largest opening-match victory in World Cup history. Denis Cheryshev scored twice off the bench. The tournament was also the first to use Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Source — Wikipedia:
VAR was used to award a penalty for France after a review showed Josh Risdon's challenge on Antoine Griezmann. France won 2–1, with the first VAR-awarded penalty in World Cup history proving decisive. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_C
In their first-ever World Cup match, Iceland drew 1–1 with Argentina. Lionel Messi missed a penalty in the second half, a result that shaped Group D's tight qualification race. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_v_Iceland_(2018_FIFA_World_Cup)
Defending champions Germany lost 1–0 to Mexico in Moscow, with Hirving Lozano scoring the winner. The defeat set the tone for Germany's disastrous campaign and raised immediate questions about their title defense. Source — Wikipedia: )
Sweden defeated South Korea 1–0 via a VAR-awarded penalty from Andreas Granqvist, while Mexico's win over Germany left the group wide open. Sweden's defensive discipline marked them as dark horses. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_F
Croatia thrashed a dismal Argentina 3–0 in Nizhny Novgorod, with Luka Modrić scoring a stunning long-range goal. The defeat left Argentina's qualification hopes hanging by a thread and exposed the dysfunction of Jorge Sampaoli's side. Source — Wikipedia: )
Toni Kroos scored a dramatic free-kick in the 95th minute to give Germany a 2–1 win over Sweden in Sochi. The victory appeared to revive Germany's campaign after their opening defeat to Mexico. Source — Wikipedia: )
In one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history, Germany lost 2–0 to South Korea in Kazan and were eliminated in the group stage, finishing bottom of Group F. Sweden topped the group after a 3–0 win over Mexico. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea_v_Germany_(2018_FIFA_World_Cup)
Marcos Rojo's 86th-minute volley gave Argentina a 2–1 win over Nigeria in Saint Petersburg, sending them through to the knockout stage. Lionel Messi had scored his first goal of the tournament earlier in the match. Source — Wikipedia: )
Colombia beat Senegal 1–0 to top Group H, while Japan advanced over Senegal on fair play points — the first time teams were separated by that tiebreaker. Both Senegal and Japan finished on four points with identical goal difference and goals scored. Source — Wikipedia:
Edinson Cavani scored both goals as Uruguay eliminated Portugal 2–1 in Sochi. Cavani's second was a stunning curling finish, but he limped off injured, a blow that would impact Uruguay's quarterfinal. Cristiano Ronaldo's tournament ended without reaching the last eight. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay_v_Portugal_(2018_FIFA_World_Cup)
Kylian Mbappé scored twice and won a penalty as France beat Argentina 4–3 in a thrilling Round of 16 match in Kazan. At 19, Mbappé became the youngest player to score two goals in a World Cup match since Pelé in 1958. Lionel Messi's World Cup hopes were again dashed. Source — Wikipedia: )
Croatia beat Denmark 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in Nizhny Novgorod. Luka Modrić missed a penalty in extra time but scored in the shootout. Mathias Jørgensen scored after 58 seconds for Denmark; Mario Mandžukić equalized almost immediately. Source — Wikipedia: )
Russia eliminated Spain on penalties after a 1–1 draw in Moscow. Sergei Ignashevich's own goal gave Spain the lead, but Artem Dzyuba equalized from the spot. Russia's defensive discipline and goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's heroics in the shootout sent the hosts through. Source — Wikipedia: )
Brazil comfortably dispatched Mexico 2–0 in Samara, with Neymar scoring and setting up Roberto Firmino's late second. Mexico's tournament ended at the Round of 16 stage for the seventh consecutive World Cup. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_v_Mexico_(2018_FIFA_World_Cup)
Belgium came from 2–0 down to beat Japan 3–2 with a stunning counterattack goal scored by Nacer Chadli in the final seconds of stoppage time. Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui had given Japan a deserved lead before Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini, and Chadli completed the turnaround. Source — Wikipedia: )
England won a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time, beating Colombia 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in Moscow. Harry Kane's penalty gave England the lead before Yerry Mina's 93rd-minute header forced extra time. Jordan Pickford saved Carlos Bacca's penalty, and Eric Dier scored the decisive spot kick. Source — Wikipedia: )
Emil Forsberg's deflected second-half strike gave Sweden a 1–0 win over Switzerland in Saint Petersburg. The match was largely forgettable, but Sweden's organized, pragmatic approach continued to prove effective as they reached a first World Cup quarterfinal since 1994. Source — Wikipedia: )
France advanced to the semifinals with a 2–0 win over Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod. Raphaël Varane headed in the opener and Antoine Griezmann capitalized on a Fernando Muslera error for the second. Uruguay never truly threatened without the injured Edinson Cavani. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_v_Uruguay_(2018_FIFA_World_Cup)
Belgium eliminated Brazil 2–1 in Kazan with a masterful counterattacking performance. Fernandinho's own goal and Kevin De Bruyne's strike gave Belgium a 2–0 lead before Renato Augusto pulled one back. Brazil pushed hard but could not find an equalizer, and Belgium's golden generation reached their first World Cup semifinal since 1986. Source — Wikipedia: )
Croatia edged hosts Russia 4–3 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in Sochi. Denis Cheryshev's stunning opener was cancelled by Andrej Kramarić, and Domagoj Vida's extra-time header looked to win it before Mario Fernandes equalized late. Ivan Rakitić scored the decisive penalty, sending Croatia to their first semifinal since 1998. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_v_Russia_(2018_FIFA_World_Cup)
Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli, both from headers, gave England a comfortable 2–0 win over Sweden in Samara. England reached their first World Cup semifinal since 1990, with Jordan Pickford making several important saves to preserve the clean sheet. Source — Wikipedia: )
Samuel Umtiti's 51st-minute header from a corner gave France a 1–0 win over Belgium in Saint Petersburg. France's defensive solidity frustrated Belgium's attacking talent, and Didier Deschamps' pragmatic approach drew criticism but proved effective. France reached their first World Cup Final since 2006. Source — Wikipedia: )
Croatia came from behind to beat England 2–1 after extra time in Moscow, reaching their first-ever World Cup Final. Kieran Trippier's early free kick gave England the lead, but Ivan Perišić equalized in the second half and Mario Mandžukić scored the winner in the 109th minute. Croatia became the smallest nation by population to reach a World Cup Final since Uruguay in 1950. Source — Wikipedia: )
Belgium secured their best-ever World Cup finish with a 2–0 win over England in Saint Petersburg. Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard scored as Belgium finished third, while England matched their 1990 performance by finishing fourth. It was the second meeting between the two sides in the tournament after their group-stage match. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium_v_England_(2018_FIFA_World_Cup)
France won their second World Cup title, beating Croatia 4–2 in Moscow. Kylian Mbappé became the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup Final. Goals from Griezmann, Pogba, Mbappé, and an own goal by Mandžukić secured the victory. Croatia's valiant run ended in defeat, but Luka Modrić was later awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Source — Wikipedia:
Referee Néstor Pitana used VAR to award France a penalty after reviewing Ivan Perišić's handball in the 38th minute, with France leading 2–1. Antoine Griezmann converted to make it 3–1. The decision was heavily debated, as replays showed the ball struck Perišić's hand from close range with little intent. Source — Wikipedia: