From shock results, early exits, late drama, VAR and more, it's been a World Cup to remember! With the help of Opta, we take a look at the standout stats from the 21st edition of tournament...

July 1, 2018 was just the second day in which two World Cup games (Spain v Russia, Croatia v Denmark) both went to a penalty shoot-out - the other was June 21, 1986 (France v Brazil, Mexico v Germany).

This was the first ever World Cup to see all competing teams score at least two goals, with Panama being the final team to complete the collection (a goal each against England and Tunisia).

43 per cent of the goals scored at the 2018 World Cup came from set-piece situations (73 of 169), more than at any other edition of the competition since 1966.

There were 22 penalties scored at the 2018 World Cup, the most in any edition of the competition.

There were nine winning goals scored in the 90th minute or later at the 2018 World Cup (excluding extra-time), more than at any other edition of the tournament.

Portugal talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is just the fourth player to score in four different World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018) after Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose. Ronaldo became the first European player in history to score in eight consecutive major tournaments (World Cup and European Championships).

Since 1966, only Grzegorz Lato & Andrzej Szarmach (5 for Poland) and Michael Ballack & Miroslav Klose (5 for Germany) have combined for more World Cup goals than Edinson Cavani & Luis Suarez (4 for Uruguay).

Mexico's Rafael Marquez (39y 139d) became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup knockout match since Stanley Matthews (39y 145d), in 1954 for England v Uruguay.

Essam El-Hadary (45y 161d) broke the record for the oldest player to appear at a World Cup, with the Egyptian goalkeeper aged two years & 158 days older than Colombian Faryd Mondragón, who previously held the record. He also saved a penalty in this match for Egypt.

Against Argentina in the round of 16, France's Kylian Mbappe became the first teenager to score at least twice in a World Cup match since Pele netted twice for Brazil against Sweden in the 1958 final.

Oscar Tabarez became the fifth manager to take charge of the same country at four different World Cup finals (1990, 2010, 2014 and 2018), after Walter Winterbottom (England), Josef Herberger (West Germany), Helmut Schon (West Germany) and Lajos Baroti (Hungary).

Didier Deschamps is the third person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, after Brazil's Mario Zagallo and West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer.

In his first World Cup as manager of Belgium, Roberto Martinez oversaw six wins from seven games; only Luis Felipe Scolari won more matches in his first World Cup as a manager (7 in 2002) than the Spaniard.

23 managers took charge of their first World Cup games at the 2018 tournament, with Croatia's Zlatko Dalic registering the highest finish among this group (runners-up).

Joachim Low became the third consecutive manager of the reigning World Cup champions to see his side eliminated in the group stage, following Vicente Del Bosque in 2014 (Spain) and Marcelo Lippi in 2010 (Italy).

Russia's victory against Saudi Arabia means that the host nation has never lost their opening match in any of the 21 editions of the FIFA World Cup (W16 D6 L0).

In their match against Japan, Belgium became the first team to come from 2+ goals down to win a World Cup knockout round match within 90 minutes since Portugal beat North Korea 5-3 in the 1966 quarter-final.

Mexico have now been eliminated in each of their last eight World Cup knockout matches - the longest ever streak of consecutive knockout eliminations in the competition (QF 1986 + last 16 1994 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 & 2018).

Switzerland have never won a World Cup knockout match; suffering elimination in all seven matches, including their last four round of 16 games (in 1994, 2006, 2014 and 2018).

Croatia became just the second side to progress on a penalty shoot-out in consecutive knockout games in a World Cup tournament after Argentina in 1990 (v Yugoslavia and Italy).

Brazil have been eliminated by a European nation in each of the last four editions of the World Cup (France 2006, Netherlands 2010, Germany 2014 and Belgium 2018).

England scored nine goals from set pieces at the 2018 World Cup - the most by a team in a single World Cup tournament since 1966.

Gareth Southgate's side had six different players score for them in this tournament; their most ever in a single World Cup campaign.

Harry Kane scored six goals for England in the 2018 tournament; the joint-best by an England player in a single World Cup campaign, following Gary Lineker in 1986. Following his goal against Colombia, Kane became the first player to score in six consecutive England appearances since Tommy Lawton did so in 1939.

Kieran Trippier created 24 chances for England at the 2018 World Cup - a record for an England player since 1966, breaking Bobby Charlton's total of 18 in 1966.

Southgate became just the third manager to take England to the semi-final stage of a World Cup tournament, following Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966 and Sir Bobby Robson in 1990.

France's Paul Pogba became the first Manchester United player to score in a World Cup final, and the first Premier League player to do so since Emmanuel Petit in 1998.

Eden Hazard was directly involved in seven goals at the World Cup (three goals, four assists); the joint-best of any Belgium player since 1966 (Jan Ceulemans also with seven).

Excluding own goals, Kevin De Bruyne's strike against Brazil saw him become the 100th different player to score at the 2018 World Cup finals.

Kane scored six goals from six shots on target at the 2018 World Cup - the last player to score as many as six goals at a World Cup tournament while converting 100 per cent of his shots on target was Jairzinho in 1970 for Brazil (7 goals from 7 shots on target).

Dele Alli is the second youngest player to score for England at the World Cup (22y 87d), behind only Michael Owen (18y 190d against Romania in 1998).

Kylian Mbappé (19y 207d) is the second youngest player to score in a World Cup final, after Pele for Brazil in 1958 (17y 249d).

Mario Mandzukic became the first ever player to score an own goal in a World Cup final. Mandzukic is only the second player in World Cup history to score a goal for his team and an own goal in the same match, after the Netherlands' Ernie Brandts against Italy in 1978.

France became the first team to score four goals in a World Cup final since Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in 1970.

This was the highest-scoring World Cup final since England beat West Germany 4-2 back in 1966.

Croatia are the first team to lose in their first ever appearance in a World Cup final since the Netherlands in 1974 (1-2 vs West Germany).</s>Belgium beat England 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup third-place play-off to secure their best ever finish at a World Cup and send Gareth Southgate's side home with a second straight loss.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

France will face Croatia in tomorrow's final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

A fourth-minute goal from Thomas Meunier and an 82nd minute Eden Hazard strike earned Belgium the victory and the third-place, which improves on their previous best performance of a fourth-place finish in 1986.

Read more of our FIFA 2018 coverage:

"It's all about that achievement. I think these players deserve that," said Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.

"What we have seen in this World Cup is that the players did not want to rely on talent anymore, they wanted to rely on working as a team, becoming a group of players that would do anything to achieve results".

England were on top for most of the second half but with captain Harry Kane looking tired, Belgium's greater sharpness in the final third proved decisive.

"This game showed there is still room for improvement," said Kane.

"We're not the finished article, we're still improving and will only get better. We don't want to wait another 20 years to get into the semi-finals and the big matches. We need to improve, we need to get better but that will come," he said.

Belgium's early strike came when Romelu Lukaku swung the ball out left to Nacer Chadli who burst down the wing and slipped the ball across the face of the goal and Meunier confidently slotted past Jordan Pickford.

The goal means Belgium have had 10 different goalscorers at this World Cup -- equalling the record set by France in 1982 and Italy in 2006.

While England manager Gareth Southgate made five changes to the side which lost to Croatia, Martinez made just two switches.

Meunier returned from suspension and Youri Tielemans given a start ahead of Marouane Fellaini in midfield with the Belgians fielding their strong front three of Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard.

De Bruyne should have made it 2-0 in the 12th minute when the ball found him at the back post after a slip-up from John Stones, but his poorly struck shot was easily dealt with by Pickford.

Kane, the tournament's top scorer with six goals, had an opportunity when set up by Raheem Sterling in the 24th minute but was off-balance as he screwed his shot wide.

Southgate brought on Marcus Rashford for Sterling and Jesse Lingard for Danny Rose at the break and the change worked well, with England well on top in the second half.

Toby Alderweireld was forced to clear an Eric Dier effort off his line at full stretch after a neat exchange between the Tottenham midfielder and Rashford ended with a chip over Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois.

Dier and then Harry Maguire both headed wide from promising positions, while at thee other end Meunier went close to a second with a powerful volley that Pickford did well to save.

But the game was wrapped up when De Bruyne burst from midfield and slipped the ball through to Hazard, who glided past Phil Jones and fired into the bottom corner.

-Reuters</s>The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is now into the semifinals after Croatia took down the host nation in penalty kicks. France was the first team to reach the World Cup final after knocking out Belgium, and Croatia joined them with an extra-time win over England.

We have the knockout bracket and schedule for the rest of the tournament below, but first, here's what happened in the group stage.

So what is the optimal bracket for the World Cup Challenge? Visit SportsLine now to see which teams you should be all over in your World Cup brackets, and which upsets are the key to victory, all from the model that's returned an incredible 1800 percent profit on bookmakers' closing odds.

Below you'll find the standings and schedule broken down by each group. Teams in bold have advances to the next round.

For complete World Cup standings in Spanish, visit our sister site, CNET.com.</s>Belgium beat England 2-0 to finish third in World Cup

SAINT PETERSBURG: Belgium achieved their best World Cup finish as goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard secured a 2-0 victory over England in Saturday´s third-place playoff in Saint Petersburg.

Meunier, who missed the semi-final loss to France due to suspension, scored after just four minutes before Hazard grabbed a late second as Belgium eclipsed the side that came fourth at the 1986 edition.

Belgium have now defeated England twice in a fortnight, having waited 82 years to beat them before winning 1-0 in their group stage encounter. "It´s all about the achievement, this is Belgium´s best finish at a World Cup. The players deserve that and they wanted to make the country proud," Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said.

Gareth Southgate´s men were forced to settle for England´s joint best performance at a World Cup abroad, matching that of the 1990 generation. "The lads couldn’t have given any more. Belgium are obviously a good team. I can’t fault the lads, we gave everything," said England captain Harry Kane.

The Tottenham striker remains the overwhelming favourite to win the Golden Boot with six goals, although he admitted his frustration at failing to find the net in England´s final three games. "It shows we had a good group stage and scored a lot of goals. Obviously I’m disappointed I couldn’t get a goal in the last few games," he said. "If I win it, it’ll be something I’ll be very proud of."

Paris Saint-Germain defender Meunier made a quick impression by firing Belgium in front following an attack started by Romelu Lukaku.

The Manchester United forward released Nacer Chadli down the left into space behind the England defence, and his cross was turned home by Meunier who stepped in front of a static Rose.

Jordan Pickford readjusted his body superbly to deny Kevin De Bruyne a second time, the Everton goalkeeper clawing away the ball after a sizeable deflection off Kieran Trippier.</s>Belgium beat England 2-0 in the World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday to secure their best ever finish at a World Cup and send Gareth Southgate's side home with a second straight loss.

A fourth-minute goal from Thomas Meunier and an 82nd minute Eden Hazard strike earned Belgium the victory and the third-place, which improves on their previous best performance of a fourth-place finish in 1986.

England were on top for most of the second half but with captain Harry Kane looking tired, Belgium's greater sharpness in the final third proved decisive.

Meunier's goal came after Romelu Lukaku swung the ball out left to Nacer Chadli who burst down the wing and slipped the ball across the face of the goal and the midfielder confidently slotted past Jordan Pickford.

France will face Croatia in Sunday's final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.</s>St. Petersburg, July 13 (IANS) A match that no team wants to be part of — playoff for the third place. Deflated England and Belgium will nonetheless want to end their FIFA World Cup campaign somewhat on a high on Saturday.

England were left in the lurch after a gut-wrenching 1-2 defeat at the hands of Croatia after extra-time.

Aiming a shot at the second World Cup triumph, Gareth Southgate’s wards fell short despite taking a fifth minute lead through Keiran Trippier.

On Saturday, they will take on a side they lost to in the group stages albeit both teams played their second teams.

Roberto Martinez’s Belgium, who were beaten 0-1 by France in the last-four stage, topped Group G ahead of England after an Adnan Januzaj goal proved to be decisive.

England will aim to achieve their best finish since they won the competition in 1966.

For Belgium, who have a collection of world class players, a win would be the nation’s best result at the World Cup. They finished fourth in 1986.

For the record, European teams have claimed the third place in the past nine World Cups.

A sub-plot to the third place tie is the race to be the top-scorer in the tourney.

England skipper Harry Kane is atop the charts with six goals to his name but Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku is just two goals behind him in the race for the Golden Boot.

With one more goal Kane would become the highest scorer in the World Cup since 2002, when Brazil’s Ronaldo struck eight times, including twice in the final, as the South American heavyweights bagged a record fifth title.

The Tottenham Hotspur star forward would be just the second England player to scoop the award, after Gary Lineker was the top scorer in 1986.</s>Both teams were looking to bounce back from the disappointment of narrow semi-final defeats at the Krestovsky Stadium.

Belgium began as the quicker of the two sides and took the lead after four minutes of the game, with the impressive Thomas Meunier opening the scoring.

The full back, crucially suspended for the semi-final loss to France, tapped in at the back post after a left wing cross from Nacer Chadli.

The Belgian team remained the stronger side throughout the duration of the first half, as they looked to secure their best ever finish at the tournament.

England were improved after the break, with Eric Dier going closest to equalising after chipping over Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from close range.

Toby Alderweireld, Dier's team-mate at club level with Tottenham, slid in to clear the ball off the line to preserve Belgium's lead.

While England increased the pressure as the match progressed, they continued to look vulnerable to Belgium on the counter attack.

One such flowing attack led to Jordan Pickford saving impressively from a powerful Meunier volley, before the English goalkeeper saved smartly from Kevin de Bruyne.

Belgium's victory was sealed with eight minutes remaining as their captain Eden Hazard escaped Phil Jones in the area, before slotting past Pickford.

Victory saw Belgium surpass their previous best World Cup result, a fourth place finish at Mexico 1986.

England equalled their best finish since winning the tournament in 1966, having also ended fourth at Italy 1990.

It looks increasingly likely that England's Harry Kane will secure the tournament's golden boot on six goals, with Belgium's Romelu Lukaku unable to close the gap in the race to be the top goalscorer today.

Attention now turns to the World Cup Final between 1998 winners France and Croatia, who are looking to win the tournament for the first time.

The match will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow tomorrow.</s>ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Belgium and England both leave the World Cup happy to have reached the semifinals. Belgium may be a little happier, though.

The Belgians earned their highest World Cup finish by beating England 2-0 in the third-place match on Saturday. Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard scored a goal each.

“These players didn’t want to rely on talent anymore, wanted to work as a team,” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said. “Their standards have been magnificent. They wanted to make the country proud, every single Red Devils fan proud.”

France and Croatia will play in the final Sunday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The French beat Belgium on Tuesday in the semifinals, while the Croats defeated England on Wednesday.

Meunier’s early goal matched a World Cup record for Belgium by having 10 different players score in a tournament, something only done before by France in 1982 and Italy in 2006.

Both Belgium and England were playing for the seventh time in 26 days, but the Belgians entered the match with an extra day of rest.

Meunier scored in the fourth minute, knocking a cross from Nacer Chadli past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Hazard added the other off a pass from Kevin De Bruyne in the 82nd.

Toby Alderweireld denied England’s best chance of the game, sliding on the goal line to clear a shot from Eric Dier.

England matched its best World Cup result — fourth in 1990 — since winning the tournament for the only time in 1966.

“Today shows there’s room for improvement. We’re not the finished article. We’re still learning. We’re still getting better,” England striker Harry Kane said. “We don’t want to wait another 20-odd years to get into another major semifinal.”

Belgium’s previous best finish at the World Cup was fourth, but the team outplayed England in the midfield to go one better this time.

The Belgians could easily have scored more, with Pickford making a good save to stop a shot from De Bruyne in the 11th and Alderweireld volleying narrowly over the bar in the 35th.

England made set pieces the cornerstone of its run to the World Cup semifinals and created chances for Harry Maguire and Dier in the second half. Neither hit the target with their headers.

It was the second time England and Belgium met in this year’s tournament. In the group stage, both teams had already qualified before Belgium’s 1-0 win in Kaliningrad.

England coach Gareth Southgate made five changes to face Belgium, but Danny Rose and Fabian Delph made little impact while Dier started slowly but threatened in the second half.

Phil Jones failed to intercept the pass which led to Hazard’s goal.

The two replacements in Belgium’s lineup were more effective. Meunier scored and Youri Tielemans dominated the midfield.

Kane is still placed to win the Golden Boot with a tournament-leading six goals ahead of Sunday’s final.

Kane last scored in England’s win over Colombia in the round of 16. On Saturday, he slipped as he shot wide in the first half, then failed to make contact with Jesse Lingard’s cross early in the second.

Romelu Lukaku couldn’t add to his four goals for Belgium and was substituted shortly after misjudging a through ball by De Bruyne.</s>Belgium beat England in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday to ensure their best-ever finish as tournament top scorer Harry Kane admitted his side need to improve if they are to end their long trophy drought.

Goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard secured a deserved 2-0 victory in Saint Petersburg and meant Belgium bettered their performance at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where they finished fourth.

Belgium, who suffered a painful 1-0 defeat to France in the semi-finals, also beat Gareth Southgate's England in the first round in Russia on their way to topping the group before beating Japan and Brazil.

"It's all about the achievement. This is Belgium's best finish at a World Cup. The players deserve that and they wanted to make the country proud," said coach Roberto Martinez said.

Southgate's men were forced to settle for England's joint-best performance at a World Cup abroad, matching that of the 1990 generation in Italy.

Tottenham's Kane remains the overwhelming favourite to win the Golden Boot with six goals, although he admitted his frustration at failing to find the net in England's final three games.

He said despite England's run to the semi-finals, where they were beaten by Croatia, the young team are still not the finished article.

"We closed it for sure (the gap to the top teams)," he said. "But today shows, and some other games show, that there is still room for improvement."

"Obviously I'm disappointed I couldn't get a goal in the last few games," added the Tottenham Hotspur striker, who is aiming to become just the second England player after Gary Lineker in 1986 to win the Golden Boot.

"Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it doesn't. But if I win it, it'll be something I'll be very proud of."

Didier Deschamps' France are firm favourites to win Sunday's showpiece in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium and become world champions for the second time -- 20 years after their first triumph in 1998.

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said they are shutting out the mounting excitement at home as they focus on one final push against Croatia.

Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of Paris following Tuesday's semi-final win over Belgium and confidence is high that Deschamps' team can match the achievement of the 1998 winners.

L'Equipe's Saturday magazine supplement even came with a front cover photo of crowds on the Champs-Elysees avenue. "See you tomorrow," read the caption.

"To be honest with you, we are in our bubble," said goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris.

"Of course we know what's happening in France, all the more so after seeing all the images after the Belgium game.

"But tomorrow we will be coming up against opponents of great quality. They deserve to be in the final just as much as us. They have demonstrated their worth and that they have the physical and mental resources to go and win it."

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic is prepared to make changes if some of his players have not recovered from their exertions in reaching football's biggest game.

Dalic's men have been forced to go through three periods of extra-time against Denmark, Russia and England to become the smallest country in 68 years to make the final.

"One thing that brings me happiness is that all my players tell me if they are not 100 percent fit," he said.

"They will concede they are not fit. They know what is at stake, but if they are unable to give their all they will tell us. They have such an attitude."

Ivan Perisic, who scored and set up Mario Mandzukic's winner in the semi-final win over England, was among five Croatian players to miss training on Friday.

"We need relaxation and rest to gain freshness for tomorrow," Dalic said. "We have some minor injuries, minor problems, and I hope my players will be ready. If not, I have great players on the bench who will be raring to go."</s>World Cup third place play-off: Belgium too good for England

SAINT PETERSBURG: Belgium achieved their best World Cup finish as goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard secured a 2-0 victory over England in Saturday’s third-place playoff in Saint Petersburg.

Meunier, who missed the semi-final loss to France due to suspension, scored after just four minutes before Hazard grabbed a late second as Belgium eclipsed the side that came fourth at the 1986 edition.

Belgium have now defeated England twice in a fortnight, having waited 82 years to beat them before winning 1-0 in their group stage encounter.

Gareth Southgate’s men were forced to settle for England’s joint best performance at a World Cup abroad, matching that of the 1990 generation.

He made five changes to the team beaten 2-1 by Croatia in the last four, as England fielded their youngest World Cup line-up in history — with an average age of 25 years and 174 days.

Phil Jones, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all came into the side, while Belgium boss Roberto Martinez recalled Meunier and handed a start to Youri Tielemans. Paris Saint-Germain defender Meunier made a quick impression by firing Belgium in front following an attack started by Romelu Lukaku.

The Manchester United forward released Nacer Chadli down the right into space behind the England defence, and his cross was turned home by Meunier who stepped in front of a static Rose. Jordan Pickford readjusted his body superbly to deny Kevin De Bruyne a second time, the Everton goalkeeper clawing away the ball after a sizeable deflection off Kieran Trippier.

Eden Hazard sought to exploit the spaces at every opportunity, the Belgium captain linked up intelligently with Tielemans on the edge of the area but was blocked off as he tried to pull the trigger. England slowly worked their way into the contest as Loftus-Cheek headed straight at Thibaut Courtois on 15 minutes.

Harry Kane blew a terrific chance to add to his six goals in Russia, the favourite for the Golden Boot scuffing harmlessly wide after an inviting lay-off from Raheem Sterling.

Toby Alderweireld, one of six Tottenham players on the pitch, then hooked just over after a mishit Tielemans shot dropped to the Belgium defender at a corner.

Belgium lost Chadli to a hamstring injury before half-time, while Southgate introduced Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard at the break for Sterling and Rose.

Their pace and directness gave England renewed vigour, with Lingard volleying across goal just out of the reach of a lunging Kane.

They received a let-off when Lukaku failed to control a defence-splitting pass from De Bruyne, allowing Pickford to charge off his line to smother.

And it looked as though Dier was going to draw England level when he lifted the ball over Courtois, only for Alderweireld to race back to clear off the line.
Belgium defeats England 2–0 to finish at third place—its best ever result at a World Cup.