Heroes And Villains Of The World Cup: Matchday 20

And so down goes Neymar. According to 2017 Ballon d’Or voting, Croatia’s Luka Modric is now the main draw of this event, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that. Will we see a first-time World Cup winner in 2018? The odds are now looking decidedly better. 

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Heroes and Villains of the World Cup: Matchday 20 

Hero: Eden Hazard (Belgium)

You will live a long, healthy life and you will never see this again: one man completed as many dribbles (10) as the entire Brazil national team. Hazard didn’t register a goal or an assist today, but he was essentially unplayable for 90 minutes. 

Eden Hazard's #WorldCup game by numbers:

100% take-ons completed
100% aerial duels won
63 touches
10 take-ons completed
7 fouls won
4 aerial duels won
2 shots

Waltzing into the semi-finals. pic.twitter.com/UNJ2m6suzV

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 6, 2018

The front three of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Hazard were all exceptional, but when Brazil started to exert pressure over the final 30 minutes, Hazard’s ability to take possession and retain it was unreal — Brazil simply couldn’t get it off him.

Honorable mention: Antoine Griezmann (France)

Griezmann had his best performance of the World Cup after scoring a goal and registering an assist in France’s 2-0 win.  

#MundialTelemundo ¡Llegó el primer del encuentro! @raphaelvarane remata de cabeza y pone adelante a #FRA . Así lo narra @sadovnik1965 pic.twitter.com/F4GQc73rIq

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2018

The goal was obviously extremely fortunate, but his delivery from the set piece was indicative of his whole day on the ball. He created a number of chances for his teammates and helped Les Bleus dominate proceedings in the second half.

Villain: Fernando Muslera (Uruguay)

Damn. That hurts. The game just fizzled out right after this.

#MundialTelemundo ¡Vaya error! Muslera pudo hacer mucho más en el disparo de @AntoGriezmann . Aumenta la ventaja para #FRA sobre #URU. Así lo narró @sadovnik1965 pic.twitter.com/XKtevAT1xJ

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2018

It really hurts.

#MundialTelemundo Este pequeño fan de #URU siente que se escapa las semifinales para la "Garra Charrúa" ¿Habrá remontada? pic.twitter.com/X304UNHLld

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2018

Honorable mention: Fernandinho (Brazil)

The loss of Casemiro through yellow card suspension was thought to be entirely mitigated by the introduction of Fernandinho, but the Manchester City midfielder had a nightmare.

First, he put the ball into his own net.

#MundialTelemundo ¡Sorpresa en la Arena Kazan! #BEL ya le gana a #BRA con fortuna. Así lo narró @AndresCantorGOL pic.twitter.com/dqcRoPgZXX

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2018

Next, he got abused by Lukaku’s surging run through the midfield on Belgium’s second.

#MundialTelemundo ¿Definitivo? Zapatazo de @DeBruyneKev y #BEL aumenta la ventaja sobre #BRA . Así lo narró @AndresCantorGOL pic.twitter.com/kcVyHpOwRP

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 6, 2018

His final act was to get booked for tripping Hazard from behind after the Chelsea attacker had skinned him. Casemiro was missed.