2018 World Cup talking points: Europe reigns supreme as France show teamwork is key

Richard Jolly highlights five key takeaways from the recently-concluded 2018 World Cup in Russia

The plane carrying the French football team is met with a water cannon salute at Charles de Gaulle airport. Bob Edme / AP Photo

The France football team arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Pascal Rossignol / Reuters

A bus is parked in front of the plane transporting the France's national football team at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. Thomas Samson / AFP

French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris holds the cup as the French football team arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Bob Edme / AP Photo

France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with the trophy, Sports Minister Laura Flessel, defender Raphael Varane, midfielder Paul Pogba, forward Thomas Lemar and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola celebrate at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. Thomas Samson / AFP

France's fans greet France's national football team players as they celebrate on the roof of a bus while they parade down the Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris. AFP / Bertrand GUAY

The Patrouille de France jets perform as they trail smoke in the colours of the national flag fly over the Champs Elysee as supporters welcome players of the French national football team after they won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match in Paris. AFP / Bertrand GUAY

France's team players celebrate on the roof of a bus as they arrive at the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, on July 16, 2018 after winning the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. / AFP / Bertrand GUAY

Supporters gather on the Champs-Elysees avenue near the Arch of Triumph (Arc de Triomphe) in Paris on July 16, 2018 as they wait for the arrival of the French national football team for celebrations after France won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match on the previous night. / AFP / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

Security forces stand guard by supporters waving French national flags and gathering at the Place Charles de Gaulle up the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 16, 2018 as they wait for the arrival of the French national football team for celebrations after France won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match on the previous night. / AFP / Bertrand GUAY

A child holds a placard shaped as a the World cup trophy as he waits with other supporters on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on July 16, 2018, for the arrival of the French national football team for celebrations after France won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match on the previous night. / AFP / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

TOPSHOT - France's national football team players celebrate on the roof of a bus as they parade down the Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris, on July 16, 2018 after winning the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. / AFP / Lucas Barioulet

France's fans greet France's national football team players as they celebrate on the roof of a bus while they parade down the Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris, on July 16, 2018 after winning the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. / AFP / Bertrand GUAY

Well-wishers prepare to cheer the victorious French team parading on the famed Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, France, after their 4-2 victory Sunday over Croatia to capture the trophy in the final of the FIFA World Cup, Monday, July 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

TOPSHOT - France's fans light flares as they greet France's national football team players as they parade on a bus down the Champs-Elysee in Paris, on July 16, 2018 after winning the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. / AFP / Bertrand GUAY

Soccer Football - World Cup - The Croatia team return from the World Cup in Russia - Zagreb, Croatia - July 16, 2018 Croatia fans with flares REUTERS/Marko Djurica

France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (C) smiles and holds the trophy as he arrives with teammates for a reception at the Elysee Presidential Palace on July 16, 2018 in Paris after French players won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. France celebrated their second World Cup win 20 years after their maiden triumph on July 15, 2018, overcoming a passionate Croatia side 4-2 in one of the most gripping finals in recent history. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron pose with France soccer team captain Hugo Lloris holding the trophy, coach Didier Deschamps and players before a reception to honour the France soccer team after their victory in the 2018 Russia Soccer World Cup, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

A woman cheers as people gather for a "heroes' welcome" in tribute to Croatian national football team, after reaching the final at the Russia 2018 World Cup, at the Bana Jelacica Square in Zagreb, on July 16, 2018. / AFP / Dimitar DILKOFF

Isabelle Matuidi, wife of France's soccer player Blaise Matuidi, and their children arrive to attend a reception to honour the France soccer team after their victory in the 2018 Russia Soccer World Cup, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

France's midfielder Corentin Tolisso's girl-friend Sarah (L) and his sister Marine Tolisso, arrive for a reception at the Elysee Presidential Palace on July 16, 2018 in Paris after French players won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. France celebrated their second World Cup win 20 years after their maiden triumph on July 15, 2018, overcoming a passionate Croatia side 4-2 in one of the most gripping finals in recent history. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE

France's midfielder Paul Pogba's girl-friend, Maria Zulay Salaues (L) and the player's mother, Yeo, arrive for a reception at the Elysee Presidential Palace on July 16, 2018 in Paris after French players won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. France celebrated their second World Cup win 20 years after their maiden triumph on July 15, 2018, overcoming a passionate Croatia side 4-2 in one of the most gripping finals in recent history. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE

France's forward Kylian Mbappe's father Wilfried Mbappe (L) and brother Ethan Mbappe arrive for a reception at the Elysee Presidential Palace on July 16, 2018 in Paris after French players won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. France celebrated their second World Cup win 20 years after their maiden triumph on July 15, 2018, overcoming a passionate Croatia side 4-2 in one of the most gripping finals in recent history. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE

Camille Tytgat (C), wife of France's defender Raphael Varane, pushes their son Ruben sitting in a stroller, as they arrive for a reception at the Elysee Presidential Palace on July 16, 2018 in Paris after French players won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. France celebrated their second World Cup win 20 years after their maiden triumph on July 15, 2018, overcoming a passionate Croatia side 4-2 in one of the most gripping finals in recent history. / AFP / ludovic MARIN

1. France show teamwork is the key

In a way, it was fitting that Luka Modric won the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player. France had several candidates – Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane, N'Golo Kante – but ultimately prevailed because they were the finest collective. Even though Olivier Giroud failed to score, they were a side with no weak links, with an excellent goalkeeper, perhaps the best defence, a midfield with a variety of attributes and attackers who could score. They will obviously be compared to France's 1998 champions, but they also bear similarities with Italy's 2006 and Germany's 2014 winners, sides who were not defined by a philosophy as much as showing strength in each department, togetherness, organisation and a winning mentality.

Pictures: France beat Croatia in World Cup final 4-2

2. Europe has reigned supreme

European teams have won the past four World Cups. They also tend to fare better in European World Cups. Nevertheless, it was still notable just how well they did: all four semi-finalists, six quarter-finalists, 10 teams in the last 16. With no African side in the knockout stages for the first time since 1982 and Argentina particular disappointments as the South American challenge ended, it suggested some other continents are slipping further behind. Mexico apart, Concacaf’s representatives were poor. At least the Asian sides managed a better record than in 2014, with Japan going 2-0 up against Belgium and Japan beating Colombia, but it was still a World Cup to indicate Europe, whether through its competitive top leagues, infrastructure and coaching schemes or players, has a significant advantage over the rest.

Pictures: See Richard Jolly's team of the tournament

3. Germany succumb to the curse of the holders

It felt like underachievement when the holders Brazil went out of the 2006 World Cup in the quarter-finals. In a way, it was overachievement. Germany’s shock exit – their first departure at the opening hurdle since 1938 – means four of the last five defending champions have failed to get out of the group stage. If a recurring theme is that luck seems to desert the sides who triumphed four years earlier, other common denominators appear to be showing too much faith in their proven winners, an understandable mistake, and a certain complacency. Even Germany were not immune.

Podcast: A look back on the highs and lows of Russia 2018

4. This was the set-piece World Cup

The final number was 73; 73 set-piece goals, or 43 per cent of the 169 goals in the tournament. It seems an absurdly high number and reflects upon several factors. One is the lack of creativity some sides showed in open play and the contrasting way some planned superbly at set-pieces; England were a case in point. VAR clearly had an impact, too, both in terms of the penalties awarded for grappling early on and then, as defenders tried not to concede spot kicks, as unmarked attackers were allowed to finish. It also suggests the way for limited sides to progress in future tournaments is to work on their dead-ball routines.

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Read more:

Report: France win the World Cup with 4-2 victory over Croatia

WATCH: Paris landmarks celebrate France World Cup win

Interactive: How the World Cup's key players rated

Zlatko Dalic tells crestfallen Croatia players 'hold your heads up high'

Comment: Deschamps deserves full credit for steering France to deserved World Cup glory

Gary Meenaghan: Croatia can stand tall after coming up short in World Cup final

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5. A tournament of two halves

When one favourite underperforms, the draw can open up for someone. When two or three do, it radically reshapes a tournament. The failings of Germany, Argentina and Spain afforded everyone else an opportunity that, ultimately, Croatia took to reach the final. There is a case for calling Zlatko Dalic’s side the second best team in the World Cup. An alternative view is that the four finest all ended up in the same half of the draw: France, Belgium, Brazil and Uruguay. Yet that should not detract from Croatia and England’s achievements in going further than virtually anyone had anticipated before the World Cup. They took the sort of chances that do not normally materialise.

Pictures: Croatia team returns home to heroes' welcome