What if: The crucial moments from the last 3 World Cup finals were a little different?

Russia 2018 has been an exciting tournament not only for the passionate and ardent football fans but also for those football spectators who watch the beautiful game occasionally.

The tournament has certainly provided its fair share of surprises with none of the game's most successful teams being part of the semi-final set up. France and England are the only teams to have won a World Cup before and that too only once.

Both Belgium and Croatia would love to bring home the biggest prize on the planet for the first time in their history. The tournament has now entered a point where every move of each player on the pitch would be monitored in detail.

Players are not robots and with the weight of their entire nation on their shoulders, there are times where even the best falter in such moments. There is no such stage bigger than the World Cup Final and in the past, it has been observed that the difference between success and heartbreaking failure can be an inch in a literal sense.

In this World Cup, let us take a look at one of those defining moments in arguably the biggest game of the quarterfinal round which was between the dark horses Belgium and the favourites Brazil.

It was the 8th minute of the match and Brazil had earned a corner. Neymar put in a great ball in the box which was met by Thiago Silva. However, the PSG defender failed to connect the ball well and it agonizingly hit the post allowing Courtois to gather it. It may have been the 7th minute and too early in the game to be able to make a difference.

But the reason that miss was crucial was that of the fact that Brazil had never been behind in a football game for 392 days. It is an incredible statistic and also proof of the fact that the Selecao know how to defend a lead when they get one. Had Brazil scored at that moment, it could have very much put the game in their favour and tested the resolve of a Belgium squad yet to make an impression on the world stage.

After the Fernandinho own goal in the 13th minute, the game was perfectly set up for Belgium who looked to counter-attack with the likes of Hazard, Lukaku and De Bruyne whenever Brazil lost the ball.

With the World Cup Final less than a week away, let us now look at 1 defining moment in each of the last 3 World Cup Finals that could have changed the course of the match and potentially the winner of the tournament.

Germany 2006: Zidane's Headbutt on Materazzi

French midfielder Zinedine Zidane (C) walks away after receiving a Red Card

Zidane was the man of the match in the 1998 World Cup Final in France helping the Les Blues to win their first ever World Cup. He was equally instrumental in helping France to reach the final of the 2006 World Cup in Germany which was his last tournament as a professional. There is a famous saying "Äll's Well That Ends Well". Perhaps, that saying would not do justice to the playing career of one of the world's best midfielders that is Zinedine Zidane.

It could have been the perfect ending for one of the World's most decorated players. In fact, it even started in a perfect fashion where Zidane gave an early lead to the French with a cool Panenka penalty.

The score, though, ended 1-1 in normal time with the game very much in the balance. However, It was in the 108th minute of extra time that all hell broke loose. In reaction to an unwanted verbal exchange with the Italian centre-back Materazzi, who apparently abused his sister, Zidane headbutted him and earned a red card for the same.

The French were stunned and most importantly, with penalties looming, they had lost their captain and their most reliable penalty taker. It was difficult to choose what was a better contribution by Materazzi in that final. Was it the goal he scored earlier in the game or the unethical conduct that he delineated with Zidane which probably derailed the French to an extent?

The game as expected went into penalties where France lost the game 5-3 and Zidane lost the perfect opportunity to end his career on an impressive high. However, had Zidane stayed on the pitch, would France have won their second World Cup? Who knows?

South Africa 2010: Robben misses one on one against Casillas

Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas (R) saves Robben's Strike

Apart from Real Madrid, where he was not at his prolific best, he was certainly revered for his contributions at Bayern Munich, Chelsea and PSV Eindhoven. His exploits with his country will never be forgotten with the Bayern Munich winger at his influential best in taking his country to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup and the final of the 2010 World Cup. Perhaps, it is unfair to state that Arjen Robben is a big game bottler. The Dutch winger has been one of the most consistent players for both his clubs and his country in the last decade.

However, the fact that he earned his big game bottler tag was due to his miss against Casillas in the 2010 World Cup Final. It has often been said that in the big games, for a forward, the ideal scenario is when he has the least time to think about what he has to do next.

Hence, in the 62nd minute, when Sneijder put Robben through with an exquisite pass, maybe, he had too much time to think about what to do next. To be fair, he was facing one of the best goalkeepers at that time Iker Casillas and the Spanish goalkeeper did the right thing by not committing too early.

Robben sent Casillas the wrong way but the then Real Madrid captain was able to divert the ball with his legs. Chance missed and Robben was in agony.

In fact, 20 minutes later, Van Persie's header put through Robben again, although this time it was his pace against Puyol that helped him reach the ball first ahead of the former Barcelona man. This was not as clear-cut as the earlier chance because Puyol made sure he was never comfortable on the ball so as to put away a shot.

All Robben had to do was fall as a result of the excessive force used by Puyol and that would have given the Spanish defender the marching orders and a free kick for the Dutch. Maybe, just, maybe, in the heat of the moment, Robben, so often mocked for his diving, wanted to compensate for his earlier miss.

The game went into extra time with Iniesta then giving Spain their first ever World Cup victory with a sublime finish. Robben may have had his revenge in 2014 with the iconic image of him teasing Casillas for Netherland's 5th goal etched into the memory of football fans. But nothing would compensate for a World Cup victory, would it?

Brazil 2014: Higuain fluffs his chance against Neuer

FIFA World Cup 2014 - FINAL - Germany v Argentina

The reaction of Higuain when, a few minutes later, he thought he had scored a goal (ruled out for offside) definitely showed how much he needed that to redeem himself. However, it was not to be and the game went into extra time.It was the 21st minute of the game and Kroos inexplicably headed the ball perfectly into Higuain's path. It could be argued that the Argentinian forward's eyes certainly lit up for a moment or too but unfortunately he lacked the composure so very much needed at that moment. The fact that he dragged his shot and failed to even hit the target is a testament to that. Much like his former Real Madrid teammate, Higuain has also often been criticized for his lack of finishing ability in the so-called big games. Nothing gets bigger than the World Cup Final and Higuain was definitely the scapegoat of the recurring habit of fans to constantly over exaggerate moments in such games.

Although the moment arrived in a relatively early stage in the match, in a game with chances coming few and far in between, it may have given a different direction altogether. Unlike the 2018 World Cup squad, the Argentinian defence then was definitely more solid and would have believed to defend that 1-0 lead. They had not conceded a goal in the knock out stage till then.

The fact that their next best chance fell to Palacio in extra time shows how they were at a premium for the South American nation.

In fact, in the 22nd minute of extra time, it was the 22-year-old Mario Gotze that scored the winning goal after finishing a good move started by the then Chelsea winger Schurrle. Argentina missed their chance and Lionel Messi only had the consolation of a Golden Ball winner.