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After almost a fortnight of non-stop, nerve-jangling action of World Cup games, we're through with the round-robin phase and the knock-out stages are upon us.
The Russian showpiece has lived up to every bit of the billing, as we've witnessed a helluva ride over the course of the 48 games. There have been shocks, thrills, some absolute wow moments that has treated us, and with the elimination rounds looming large, there's definitely more in store.
However, unlike the pre-tournament prognosis and predictions, there are some players who have failed to live up to the expectations so far. Many great things were expected of them in the build considering their stellar club campaign, but it hasn't gone according to the plan for these players, who've either struggled or been downright poor, much to the dismay of the fans who eagerly awaited to witness their magic on the stage.
Here are the 5 such players who've flattered to deceive in the group stages:
#5 Neymar (Brazil)
Yes, he did score against Costa Rica. Yes, he did assist against Serbia. But Neymar's overall gameplay has been disappointing and way below his best. There's absolutely no denying that. The PSG star has clearly toiled to make an impression so far. Apart from a few moments of his trickeries on the ball - really few actually - there has been little about Neymar's performance that was exciting to watch.
The Brazilian is found holding on to the ball for uncharacteristically long whilst his shots have lacked the usual bite. He was largely anonymous against Switzerland and until he scored against Costa Rica (which actually was an offside goal and shouldn't have stood), was comfortably kept at arm's length by their stout defence.
To make matters worse, his theatrics have really exasperated the fans. He broke into an ocean of tears after the second game only to be ignored by his team-mates for a really long time and the 30-yard roll for a feather touch tackle by Adam Ljajic triggered an avalanche of trolls and memes on the social media.
Neymar's World Cup so far has provided everything but a good performance backed by some quality goals. But if Brazil are to go all the way, he needs to get his scoring boots on and start firing again.
#4 Antoine Griezmann (France)
The Atletico Madrid star was touted to be a strong contender for the prestigious Golden Boot, having wrapped up another fine club season. He was also France's talisman at the Euros on home soil with 6 goals. But his time in Russia so far hasn't been anything to write home about.
Griezmann has looked a poor imitation of his rip-roaring self going forward, partly due to lack of service, and partly due to his own struggles in the box. Forget scoring, he's attempted only 9 shots in 3 appearances - 14th in the list and behind even the likes of Wahbi Khazri, Emil Forsberg and Aleksandr Mitrovic - and one of them includes the penalty he dispatched against Australia in the opening game.
But even now, just a day before France's crunch game against Argentina, that spot-kick remains his only meaningful contribution. He had one of the fewest touches on the ball against Peru and Denmark (42 and 48), whilst his attempts have lacked the firepower to cause any real trouble in the opposition box.
France, as a team itself, are yet to click in the tournament. And Griezmann's struggles are nothing but an embodiment of several issues currently ailing this side.
#3 Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)
The PSG star is often quibbled about for failing to replicate his club heroics in international tournaments with Uruguay. And at this point in the 2018 World Cup, it's easy to see why. Cavani has struggled to great extents in front of the goal, failing to either muster enough energy while striking the ball or the composure to make a good first-touch while collecting a pass.
Luis Suarez was struggling too, but he eventually got going and with 2 goals so far, looks to be getting back into his element. The same cannot be said of his strike partner though, unfortunately. He's tried 13 attempts at goal, but only 4 of them could be on target. His shots have lacked conviction or any flair that he otherwise imbues in Parisian colours.
Cavani finally got off the mark in the 3-0 humbling of Russia, but that's the easiest chance he'd ever get, tapping home a loose ball from point-blank range. He was the top scorer in the CONMEBOL zone during the qualifiers with 10 goals, but his performances in the tournament proper have been a far cry from the same.
#2 Thomas Muller (Germany)
Germany's catastrophic World Cup campaign saw several stars gravely underperforming. And Thomas Muller is one of the foremost names in the unwanted list.
Widely touted to surpass Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 goals after having struck 10 times the previous two editions, the Bayern Munich star bowed out of Russia without adding a single strike to that tally! As much bewildering as it may sound, he never really looked like scoring in this World Cup - In 207 minutes, Muller managed a total of zero shots on target! You read that right. Absolutely zilch.
He was an isolated figure down that right wing, struggling to get even a pass inside the box whilst also failing to get to the end of numerous chances. In the first two games, his 114 touches on the ball was the least among any outfield Germany player not named Timo Werner.
Muller was well off the pace and lacked dynamism, encapsulating some of the glaring issues that plagued the German side that managed to score only twice in the campaign.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
When you score 16 times during the qualifiers to finish as the joint top-scorer from all zones combined only to draw a blank in the World Cup finals, you ought to be the most disappointing. Not that we're witnessing a phenomenon like this for the first time - Lewandowski struck just once in Euro 2016 despite finishing as the most prolific in the qualifiers - but he could've only done so much with an apparent lack of proper service.
The Bayern Munich star was eclipsed amid Poland's below-par showings and the added responsibility of captaincy only weighed him down further. He managed just three shots on target despite completing 90 minutes in all three group games but was dispossessed a total of 5 times in that period.
We've seen much better from Lewandowski before, but he was a mere passenger in this Polish jalopy that exited the World Cup with a whimper.
