Brazil, the five-time champion and host of the 2014 World Cup, suffered a shocking early exit from the tournament. The team faced unexpected defeats against Belgium and Costa Rica, which dashed their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage. Known for their rich footballing history and passionate fans, Brazil's elimination left the footballing world in disbelief.
As the defending champion, Germany entered the 2018 World Cup with high expectations. However, their campaign came to an abrupt end in the group stage. The team's shocking defeat against Mexico, followed by a narrow loss to South Korea, left them languishing at the bottom of their group. This marked the first time in 80 years that Germany failed to advance past the group stage.
Argentina, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, faced a difficult journey in the World Cup. Despite their star-studded lineup, the team struggled to find their rhythm and suffered a heavy defeat against Croatia in the group stage. Their hopes of advancement were kept alive with a late win against Nigeria, but they were ultimately eliminated by France in the Round of 16.
Spain, known for their possession-based style of play, had a disappointing World Cup. The team faced a shock defeat against Russia in the Round of 16, losing in a penalty shootout. Despite dominating possession, Spain failed to convert their chances and were ultimately sent home, marking an unexpected early exit for one of the tournament favorites.
Portugal, led by their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, had a relatively successful World Cup campaign but fell short of expectations. The team advanced to the Round of 16 but were eliminated by Uruguay, with Ronaldo failing to find the back of the net. This marked the end of Portugal's journey, and Ronaldo's hopes of adding a World Cup title to his trophy cabinet were dashed.
Colombia, with their passionate supporters, had high hopes of making a deep run in the tournament. However, they faced a devastating defeat against England in the Round of 16 after a dramatic penalty shootout. Despite their spirited performance, Colombia's journey came to an end, leaving their fans heartbroken and their dreams of a World Cup title shattered.
Two notable absentees from the 2018 World Cup were the Netherlands and Italy, both of whom failed to qualify. The Netherlands, runners-up in the 2010 World Cup, fell short in the qualification stages, while Italy, four-time champions, suffered a shocking defeat against Sweden in the playoffs. The absence of these footballing powerhouses was felt throughout the tournament, as fans missed their renowned style of play and passion on the world's biggest stage.
In conclusion, the 2018 World Cup witnessed the surprising exits of several prominent teams. From Brazil's early exit to Germany's shocking defeat, these upsets demonstrated the unpredictability of football. Though the absence of the Netherlands and Italy further added to the tournament's surprises, fans were treated to thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes, reminding us that in football, anything is possible.
