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With France winning their second World Cup trophy after defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final, there are many sensational stories to tell from one of the most entertaining World Cups in history. Spectacular players, efficient team play and work, and a bunch of superb goals scored and controversial decisions highlighted this World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar arrived in Russia to enter the World Cup pantheon of greats to have won the competition history. However, it wasn't to be as football's favourites superstars bowed out of the tournament relatively early considered their rich history.
The final contested two Europeans teams, France and Croatia, who had stellar tournaments with a good bunch of players performing at the highest level, which helped their teams to get closest to the most prestigious trophy in the world of football.
The 21st World Cup in history delivered some great moments by established superstars and displayed young talents on a giant platform who shocked the world with their tremendous ability and determination to perform on the biggest stage.
Harry Kane took the award for the most goals scored by a single player and Belgian Thibaut Courtois was praised as the best goalkeeper in the tournament. But here we look at the three teams with a unique record of losing three matches in the World Cup joint worst record.
#3 Egypt
Luis Suarez celebrated his 100th international appearance with a goal against Saudi Arabia that helped Uruguay reach the round of 16 and ended the chances of Saudi Arabia and Egypt advancing at the World Cup. All five African teams were eliminated at the group stages, managing just three wins out of 15 matches.
The performance, which was Africa’s worst since 1982 was quite dramatic as the Egyptians with star player Mohamed Salah who was not fully fit that affected the mood in the camp and on the field. Egypt was rolled over by Saudi Arabia, Russia and that was set up by the cruel opening game defeat in injury time to Uruguay.
There was no link between the team's defensive players and attacking players, as the midfielder was constantly overrun in all three games in the group stages. A disappointing World Cup in the end for the Africans, Salah and co are a relatively young squad who could feature again in four years.
#2 Panama
Panama's World Cup debut has brought home multiple lessons. The technical and tactical inefficiencies of the Panama side have been brutally exposed; the first 45 minutes against Belgium, when the Central Americans were able to stifle the opposition, seems like a consolation victory now. Another key factor in their dismal campaign has been their discipline, which has been key to Panama’s costly errors and early exclusion.
However, this World Cup has also been an opportunity to learn more about the country and its people and its avid football fan base. The supporters have stood out for their vociferous chanting, their disarming cheeriness even when things have gone terribly wrong as they lost all three of their group matches.
Panama’s fans, joyous even in defeat, had a couple of genuine moments to release their cheerfulness throughout their stay in Russia when the team scored its two goals of the tournament against England and Tunisia. All-in-all a great learning experience for a small country on the international stage.
#1 England
England flew back home, having lost three games in the World Cup, two of which were very big football matches but knowing they have recaptured hearts and minds of fans. They will go home as heroes to a nation that has fallen back in love with its national team.
Gareth Southgate's side reached the semi-final of the tournament losing to Belgium in the group but finished second and advanced to face Columbia who they beat on penalties. A victory against Sweden in the quarter-finals, set up a clash against Croatia where they went down 2-1 in extra time.
In their third-place match, the team came up against the team that beat them in the group stages, in Belgium. This time starting a stronger more experienced side against Belgium, England still went down 2-0 to the golden generation of stars comprising the Belgian team that finished third and meant England ended up losing three games and still finished fourth.
