The 2018 World Cup was a busy one for Manchester City gamers.
Held between 14 June and 15 July in Russia, the Blues have been nicely represented on the event which featured 32 nations and would ultimately be received by France who noticed off Croatia within the ultimate, whereas Belgium beat England to complete third.
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Here’s how our gamers fared…
Ederson was a part of the Brazil squad however the then 24-year-old didn’t play a single minute.
Defender Danilo did function, however solely in a single recreation whereas Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus would play 5 matches apiece, although none of our Brazilians would discover the web – no less than on the proper finish!
Fernandinho’s personal objective within the quarter-final and one other from membership team-mate Kevin De Bruyne noticed the Red Devils triumph 2-1 and get rid of the Seleção.
There was extra South American disappointment for Argentina who dipped out on the Round of 16 stage.
Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi have been our solely representatives and Aguero’s two targets would bookend La Albiceleste’s event as he scored the opener within the first group recreation towards Iceland (ending 1-1) and his nation’s final objective in a 4-3 loss to France within the knockout spherical.
Otamendi featured in all 4 video games of a marketing campaign that additionally meant Lionel Messi was nonetheless with no World Cup triumph so as to add to his glittering trophy cupboard.
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Belgium
City duo Kevin De Bruyne and Vincent Kompany each performed in Belgium’s wonderful run to the third place play-off stage.
De Bruyne performed two of the three Red Devils’ group matches, whereas Kompany, not absolutely match, would solely play 16 minutes of the Belgium’s first three matches approaching within the latter phases of a 2-1 win over England.
Both City stars performed the complete 90 minutes of a 3-2 Round of 16 win over Japan, and once more in 2-1 quarter-final win over Brazil the place De Bruyne scored his solely objective of the 2018 World Cup.
However, Belgium have been eradicated by France within the semi-finals, with the 2-0 win over England some comfort within the Third Place Play-off – once more the City duo enjoying the complete 90 minutes towards France and England.
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England
In what was one England’s finest performances at a World Cup for a few years, Gareth Southgate’s group would go all the best way to the semi-finals – and lead 1-0 on the mid-point of the second half – earlier than ultimately shedding 2-1 to Croatia.
Our Three Lions quartet would see John Stones, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling play all seven video games, with Fabian Delph enjoying 3 times.
The City spotlight?
Two Stones targets within the second group recreation as England beat Panama 6-1!
There was to be no second World Cup winner’s medal for our sensible playmaker David Silva on the 2018 event.
Silva, a part of La Roja’s triumphant 2010 World Cup squad did his finest within the 4 video games Spain performed, however although they wouldn’t lose a match in regular time, their one win and three attracts – the final one being a penalty shoot-out loss to hosts Russia – noticed them knocked out by the latter on the Round of 16 stage.
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Bernardo Silva adopted an analogous path to David Silva’s Spain, who had shared Portugal’s qualification group.
Bernardo began the 3-3 draw with Spain, and the 1-0 win over Morocco, however was substituted within the second-half of every recreation.
The diminutive attacking midfielder began on the bench within the 1-1 draw with Iran, changing Ricardo Quaresma on 70 minutes.
However, Portugal’s progress – and Bernardo’s, – was ended within the Round of 16 by a 2-1 loss to Uruguay with our future skipper enjoying the complete recreation.
They previous saying ‘never write off Germany’ didn’t apply to the 2018 World Cup because the defending champions have been knocked out on the group stage.
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Our solely consultant was Ilkay Gundogan, who was used sparingly by Joachim Löw.
Gundogan didn’t function within the opening group recreation loss to Mexico however got here on as a sub on 31 minutes of Die Mannschaft’s 2-1 win over Sweden.
Gundo was absent from the ultimate group match towards South Korea the place two added time targets noticed Germany crushed 2-0 to finish considered one of their worst ever World Cup campaigns as they completed backside of the four-team desk.