With the 2018 World Cup Round of 16 complete, now is a great time to look at some of the top performers at the tournament. The strikers and creative players often get most of the attention but goalkeepers always play a very significant role in games.
The 2018 World Cup has seen some fantastic performances from goalkeepers while some of the big-name keepers have struggled.
Perhaps the biggest casualty of the Round of 16 was Spain’s goalkeeper, David De Gea. The Manchester United man was seen by some as the major reason why Spain were eliminated from the tournament by Russia. The former Atletico Madrid number one left the tournament with the worst statistics of any goalkeeper since 1952.
There were seven shots on Spain’s goal during the whole tournament and six of them ended up in the back of the net. De Gea got close to some of Russia’s penalties in their Round of 16 shootout, but didn’t manage to save any of them. To say it was a poor tournament for arguably the best goalkeeper in the world is an understatement.
Another great goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, also endured a tough World Cup. The German made a total of 11 saves in the tournament but was left hugely embarrassed at the end of their final group game against South Korea.
With Germany losing 1-0, Neuer decided to take things into his own hands and played out on the left side of midfield. The Bayern Munich keeper was found wanting and out of position as South Korea went down the other end of the pitch to score in an open goal and send the Germans crashing out.
With two of the top names failing to perform, some of the lesser lights have been given a chance to shine and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa has been superb. The Mexican keeper has made more saves than any other player up to and including the Round of 16. Despite making some excellent stops against Brazil, including a fantastic save from Willian, Ochoa will be heading home with Mexico but could be on the radar of some top European clubs this summer.
Another man who left the tournament at the Round of 16 stage is Kasper Schmeichel. The Leicester City goalkeeper made 21 saves at the 2018 World Cup and kept the French out in a 0-0 draw during the group stage. Schmeichel saved a penalty against Croatia in extra-time and two of their penalties during the shootout at the end of the game.
Denmark may have lost the match on penalties but Schmeichel gained many admirers for his performances in Russia and is reportedly being chased by Chelsea and Liverpool.
With the quarter-finals onwards still to come, another goalkeeper may emerge but as things stand, both Ochoa and Schmeichel are in the running for the best goalkeeper award at the 2018 World Cup.