World Cup 2018: Five other winners from the tournament in Russia

World Cup 2018: Five other winners from the tournament in Russia

France celebrates their victory in the World Cup 2018

France put on a thrilling show to win the World Cup final.

But their victory (which I predicted) in the final against Croatia was not the only triumph.

Here are some other winners from the tournament.

The World Cup itself

Image: This was a victory for the World Cup itself

The ultimate rejoinder to anyone who tells you international football no longer matters, or that the sport itself is boring.


The highest-scoring final since England's 4-2 victory in 1966 was the icing on a sumptuous cake of entertainment and unpredictability.

Unlikely heroics from Iran, South Korea and Russia; early exits for Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Portugal; and wonderful football at various times from Mexico, Belgium and the runners-up Croatia.

Kylian Mbappe

Image: Kylian Mbappe has launched himself onto the world stage

An appropriate World Cup Final hero.

A 19-year-old product of the wrong side of the Parisian tracks, with searing pace, an explosive shot and the world at his feet.

Keeping those feet on the ground may be his only problem now. Already the subject of a £166m transfer from Monaco to Paris St Germain, he will need excellent guidance to ensure he is in position again to deliver for France on the next big stage, the 2020 European Championships.

The Russian People

Image: Russian football fans celebrating the World Cup

Similarly in some ways to Germany in 2006, the world's football fans came to Russia and found it surprisingly pleasant.

Many stayed away (or went late) because of the poisonings in Salisbury or the Russian ultras who brought terror to the 2016 European Championships in France.

Neither threat has gone away, but on this occasion the extraordinarily generous Russian hospitality held sway, not to mention the country's spectacular cities.

VAR (video assistant referees)

Image: A general view of the Video Assistant Referee's (VAR) room

World Cup Final referee Nestor Pitana was a terrible advert, using it incorrectly when it mattered most to deal Croatia a damaging blow.

But this competition showed the system can work.

Significant decisions were corrected, and foul play was reduced: with the prospect of misdemeanours being immediately costly, players committed fewer red and yellow card offences.

Premier League clubs have voted not to use VAR yet; as the final showed, there is scope for improvement in its application, but it is surely here to stay.

Gareth Southgate

Image: Gareth Southgate is the one

(Allowed to sneak in for an English audience).

Never mind the waistcoat froth, harmless fun though it was.

It's about being decent, honest, firm and fair.

But more than that, it's about good coaching, management and leadership.

It's still the case that no team has won the World Cup with a foreign coach.

Restoring English faith in English coaching - and, credit where it's due - in the modernised system based on the FA's centre of excellence at St George's Park, is as important as the achievements of the Kane gang in Russia.