Top 12 goals at the 2018 World Cup

While VAR took a lot of the attention early on in the competition, it's influence and use was reduced drastically by the time we got to the semi-finals. Sadly the referee in the final (rather than VAR itself) made sure it was a talking point as it helped to put France 2-1 up against Croatia.

The 2018 World Cup became one of the highest scoring competitions I've ever watched. I actually went back and took a a look at every goal scored and have picked my top 12, in no particular order.

B. Pavard (FRA vs ARG)

L. Messi (NIG vs ARG)

At first glance this looks like a fairly normal goal, but the way Messi uses his knee to take the ball and the faintest of touches to put it ahead of him in order to strike it is just so good.

T. KROOS (GET vs SWE)

X. SHAQIRI (SER vs SWI)

Shaqiri being here has nothing to do with him signing for Liverpool. It's all about the finish.

H. SON (KOR vs GER)

I was stuck in traffic listening to the game on BBC's Five Live radio station and the commentary was absolutely hilarious. What Manuel Nuer was doing out on the left wing in the opposition's half is anyones guess. Germany were desperate but they had their shorts pulled down. It's great to watch the Korean player run so far to just then tuck it in with a single touch and dump Germany out of the World Cup.

D. MERTENS (BEL vs CRC)

N. CHADLI (BEL vs JAP)

E. CAVANI (URU vs POR)

Edison Cavani set up Suarez for what is almost a carbon copy of the goal 4 years ago against England. This time the roles were reversed but the cross as accurate as it was then.

A. REBIC (ARG vs CRO)

The goal is as good as the mistake that lead to it is bad.

NACHO (POR vs SPA)

J. VERTONGHEN (BEL vs JAP)

E. CAVANI (URU vs POR)