The World Cup produced hundreds of spectacular moments and The Associated Press covered all 104 games over 39 days in the United States, Canada and Mexico from every angle.
Goal of the tournament
Sidny Lopes Cabral stunned defending champion Argentina with a tying goal in extra time of their round of 32 match at Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 3. The Blue Sharks, who entered the tournament ranked 67th, trailed 2-1 in the 103rd minute when Cabral settled a long pass from Yannick Semedo near the left flank with his left foot. The 23-year-old, who plays in Turkey for Trabzonspor, cut past Alexis Mac Allister while playing the ball onto his right foot and from just inside the penalty area curled a shot past goalkeeper Emiliano Mart铆nez and into the upper corner at the far post for his fourth goal in 14 international appearances. .
Upset of the tournament
Eliminated in following its , Germany clinched its group title with wins over and before . Paraguay was in its first World Cup since 2010, began the tournament ranked 41st and advanced as a third-place team, opening with a , and playing a . Julio Enciso put Paraguay ahead in the 42nd minute of the round of 32 match at Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 29 but Kai Havertz tied the score 12 minutes later. Germany, which began the World Cup ranked No. 10, appeared to go ahead on Jonathan Tah鈥檚 header of a corner kick in the 102nd minute but a video review concluded the goal should be disallowed because of a foul by Waldemar Anton on goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Germany won all four of its previous World Cup penalty kick shootouts, succeeding on 17 of 18 kicks 鈥� including 15 in a row. Havertz’s attempt on the opening kick was saved by Gill, who also batted away Nick Woltemade’s effort on Germany’s fourth kick. Tah skied Germany’s sixth kick over the crossbar, Jos茅 Canale beat Manuel Neuer and only to in the round of 16.
Breakout player
Pau Cubars铆, a 19-year-old Barcelona defender, played every minute of every match as Spain won its second title and first since 2010. He had 668 successful passes in 690 attempts, a 96.8% rate that was the second best in the tournament among players with 400 or more attempts, just behind Norway’s Sander Berge at 96.9%. Cubars铆’s total was second to teammate Rodri’s 747. Cubars铆’s 750 minutes tied teammate Marc Cucurella and Mac Allister for the tournament high among outfield players. At 19 years, 178 days he became the seventh youngest to win a World Cup, trailing Pel茅 (17-249), Ronaldo (17-298), Giuseppe Bergomi (18-174), teammate Lamine Yamal and Coutinho (both 19-6) and Marco Antonio (19-135).
Save of the tournament
Vozinha, Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, leapt to his left to slap away Lionel Messi’s quick free kick in the 73rd minute that was headed to the upper corner, keeping the score 1-1.
Blunder of the tournament
Matt Freese had a howler in the that will long be replayed among goalkeeper lowlights. Brandon Mechele played a long ball from deep in his own end and when Charles De Ketelaere burst past American defender Chris Richards, Freese came off his line and about 5 yards outside the penalty area chested the ball, which had taken two hops. The 27-year-old, who became the No. 1 U.S. goalkeeper last year, was about to clear the ball with his left foot, hesitated and tried to pass to his left only for the ball to deflect off a leg of De Ketelaere toward midfield. Hans Vanaken scored from about 30 yards as defender Tim Ream missed his attempt to block the ball.
Worst foul
Qatari midfielder Assim Madibo broke the left tibia and fibula of Canadian midfielder with a tackle from behind in the 51st minute of a June 18 group stage match at Vancouver, British Columbia. Madibo received a red card and a five-game suspension. Kon茅 had surgery and Madibo visited Kon茅 at the hospital.
Fan base of the tournament
Norway’s fans charmed fellow spectators and television viewers when they performed the , chanting 鈥淩o!鈥� while mimicking oarsmen in stadiums and even in the bleachers above the TKTS booth selling Broadway theater tickets in New York’s Times Square. Martin 脴degaard and Erling Haaland led the row celebration on the field following wins. Scotland’s Tartan Army also left indelible memories, and taking an excursion to a baseball games at Fenway Park and in Miami.
Best photo
in the . An image from Associated Press photographer Natacha Pisarenko captured the joy of a player who scored on a header, six years after his career was endangered when he while playing for Wolverhampton in a clash of heads with Arsenal’s David Luiz.
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AP World Cup coverage:
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