Recalling the Global Stage: Manchester City's Footprint in the 2018 World Cup
Brazil's Campaign: A Talented Squad's Unfulfilled Journey
During the 2018 World Cup, several Manchester City players represented Brazil. Goalkeeper Ederson, then 24, was part of the squad but did not see any game time. Defender Danilo featured in a single match, while Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus participated in five games each. Despite their efforts, none of the Brazilian City players managed to score. A crucial moment came in the quarter-finals when an own goal from Fernandinho, coupled with a goal from clubmate Kevin De Bruyne, led to Belgium's 2-1 victory over Brazil, ending their World Cup hopes.
Argentina's Early Exit: A Disappointing Tournament for La Albiceleste
Argentina faced an early departure from the tournament, being eliminated in the Round of 16. Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi were the sole representatives from the club. Aguero was a notable scorer for Argentina, netting the opening goal in their first group match against Iceland (a 1-1 draw) and their final goal in a 4-3 loss to France during the knockout stage. Otamendi played in all four of Argentina's matches. This campaign also meant that Lionel Messi's quest for a World Cup title remained unfulfilled.
Belgium's Remarkable Run: Third Place for the Red Devils
Kevin De Bruyne and Vincent Kompany of Manchester City were integral to Belgium's successful journey to a third-place finish. De Bruyne played in two of Belgium's three group-stage matches. Kompany, despite not being fully fit, made a late appearance in Belgium's 2-1 victory over England during the group stage. Both players featured for the full 90 minutes in Belgium's thrilling 3-2 Round of 16 win against Japan and their subsequent 2-1 quarter-final triumph over Brazil, where De Bruyne scored his only goal of the tournament. Although Belgium was defeated by France in the semi-finals, their 2-0 win over England in the Third Place Play-off provided some consolation, with both City players again completing the full match.
England's Resurgent Performance: A Strong Showing by the Three Lions
England delivered one of their most impressive World Cup performances in years, reaching the semi-finals. Gareth Southgate's squad, featuring Manchester City's John Stones, Kyle Walker, and Raheem Sterling, saw these three players participate in all seven of England's games. Fabian Delph also played in three matches. A significant highlight for City players was John Stones' two goals in England's dominant 6-1 group stage victory over Panama.
Spain's Unexpected Exit: A Disappointing End for David Silva
The 2018 tournament did not bring a second World Cup winner's medal for Manchester City's brilliant playmaker, David Silva. Spain, despite being a strong contender, did not lose a single match in regular time. However, their campaign ended in the Round of 16 with a penalty shootout loss to host nation Russia, after one win and three draws in their matches. Silva, a veteran of Spain's triumphant 2010 World Cup squad, showcased his best efforts throughout their four games.
Portugal's Journey: Bernardo Silva's Contribution to the National Team
Bernardo Silva of Manchester City followed a similar trajectory to David Silva's Spain, as both nations were in the same qualification group. Bernardo started in Portugal's 3-3 draw with Spain and their 1-0 victory over Morocco, being substituted in the second half of both matches. He began on the bench in the 1-1 draw against Iran, coming on as a substitute in the 70th minute. Ultimately, Portugal's progress, and Bernardo's, concluded in the Round of 16 with a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay, a match in which the future City captain played the entire game.
Germany's Shocking Group Stage Elimination: A Rare Early Exit
The common adage, "never write off Germany," did not hold true for the 2018 World Cup as the reigning champions were surprisingly knocked out during the group stage. Manchester City's only representative, Ilkay Gundogan, was used sparingly by coach Joachim Löw. Gundogan did not feature in the opening group game loss to Mexico but came on as a substitute in the 31st minute of Germany's 2-1 win over Sweden. He was absent from the final group match against South Korea, where two added-time goals led to a 2-0 defeat for Germany, marking one of their worst-ever World Cup campaigns as they finished at the bottom of their group.
