Biggest letdowns at the World Cup

It just wouldn't have been the same if the World Cup stayed true to the script.

The 2018 iteration has been yet another showcase of some of the best that football has to offer, but it's been anything but predictable. For all the intrigue that's come out of Russia, there's been an equal amount of disappointment as some of the game's preeminent nations and players have crumbled under the pressure of the world's spotlight.

Here's a collection of the biggest letdowns at the World Cup.

Argentina

Reaching the knockout round eased the backlash that Argentina would have faced had the South American nation failed to progress out of the group. Jorge Sampaoli's men had no business being in the round of 16 given their dismal performances that led to the final group stage match against Nigeria. Marcos Rojo came to the rescue, ensuring a date with World Cup finalist France. Sampaoli's men put up a formidable fight, losing 4-3, but the blame ultimately fell on Sampaoli's shoulders as the 58-year-old refused to shift away from his tactics that were clearly costing the 2014 World Cup runner-up a chance to succeed in Russia.

Maradona

Like Argentina, Diego Maradona won't look back on the 2018 World Cup with fond memories. In short, the legendary footballer came across as a buffoon, as his antics in the VIP sections often shifted attention away from the pitch. From accusations that he made racist gestures toward Asian supporters to flipping off spectators after Rojo's game-winner against Nigeria, Maradona's reputation took a beating before Argentina bowed out.

Related - Look: Maradona flips off the world after Rojo's late goal saves Argentina

Egypt

To say Egypt fell short of expectations in Russia would be putting it kindly. It wasn't the highest ranked African nation, but with Mohamed Salah in the fold, emerging out of Group A wouldn't have surprised anyone. Instead, Egypt finished bottom of what was arguably the most forgiving group of the lot, as the nation never seemed to recover from its opening-match loss to Uruguay. It was a match that Salah was forced to miss through injury, but his return did little to stem the tide as the Pharaohs were knocked out of the World Cup after losing all three matches.

Germany's title defense

The shocker of the tournament remains Germany's dismal World Cup defence. Despite the recent track record of defending champions failing to make it out of the group stage, few would have wagered on Joachim Low's side becoming the third successive title holder to suffer a premature exit. An opening-match loss to Mexico set the tone, as Die Mannschaft had to grind out a late victory against Sweden just to have a chance at deciding its own fate. But, a stunning defeat to South Korea ultimately closed the curtain on Germany's hopes of winning its fifth World Cup, as players such as Jerome Boateng, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller, and Timo Werner failed to live up to expectations.

France vs. Denmark

The first real dud of the World Cup included two teams with barely anything to play for, as France and Denmark entered the final group-stage fixture with their sights already set on their respective round of 16 encounters and avoiding unnecessary injuries. After 36 matches, the pair produced the first goalless draw, which will not live long in memory.

Poland

It was a World Cup to forget for Poland. During what was likely the nation's final World Cup with Robert Lewandowski performing at the peak of his career, Poland fell flat on its face from the get-go with a loss to Senegal, before a decisive defeat to Colombia guaranteed its exit with one match to play.

Defence

Those who prefer tightly contested, low-scoring football matches probably aren't fans of how the 2018 World Cup unfolded. Only Uruguay managed to enter the knockout round without conceding, as a majority of teams struggled to keep the ball out of the back of their nets throughout a tournament that will come close to setting a World Cup goals record. There's a slim chance that the 2018 edition will match the record (171) set during the 1998 and 2014 World Cups unless the third-place match and final can produce a combined 10 goals.

England vs. Belgium (Part I)

Timing was the main issue that robbed football supporters of a chance to see one of the marquee matchups of the group stage. Had England and Belgium met earlier, there was plenty of potential for a memorable show considering the star power that each team boasts. However, it was an encounter that neither side wanted to win as they attempted to maneuver themselves into a position that would make their journey to the final less daunting. But, in the end, we all know how that worked out for both of them; let's just hope they can make up for it Saturday when they battle to finish third.

Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Jesus did more than enough heading into the World Cup to earn his place as Brazil's No. 9. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old Manchester City forward failed to make his mark, unable to find the back of the net when his team needed him most - or at all.

David De Gea

After a season in which David De Gea led the Premier League in clean sheets, the Manchester United goalkeeper couldn't buy a save in Russia during Spain's disappointing World Cup campaign. It was so bad that the 27-year-old matched a record for futility, becoming the first 'keeper since 1966 to make just one save while playing at least three matches.

Lack of breakout stars

Of all the young talent on the cusp of becoming household names, only a select few managed to live up or surpass expectations during a World Cup that's been dominated by some of the highest-paid players. Hirving Lozano was one of the few that delivered, as the Mexico winger announced himself to the world when he scored the winning goal against Germany. Elsewhere, rising stars such as Germany's Kimmich and Timo Werner, France's Ousmane Dembele, England's Marcus Rashford, and Brazil's Gabriel Jesus left a lot to be desired on the grandest stage of them all.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)