Ladies and Gentlemen, bow your heads for a moment of quiet reflection.
Not for the fact that the 2018 World Cup is over, but for the poor bastard TV director who managed to miss the most important shot of the entire tournament. France defeated Croatia 4-2 in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday afternoon to seal their second World Cup. Sadly though, many watching their crowning moment had their view obstructed.
In the driving Moscow rain, a last-second change of camera angle saw many miss the moment Hugo Lloris lifted the trophy, their view almost entirely blocked by a couple of important-looking men in suits.
Here, look.
https://twitter.com/RTEsoccer/status/1018549985070084096
Lots and lots of people were quick to pick up on this.
https://twitter.com/PaddyMcKenna/status/1018549247556358144
https://twitter.com/Tomi_Oladipo/status/1018549655485939713
https://twitter.com/JohnHall1985/status/1018549587387314177
https://twitter.com/richscottmedia/status/1018549417509470208
https://twitter.com/DeeCurran1/status/1018549392293408768
https://twitter.com/SmnLlyd5/status/1018549317018189824
https://twitter.com/Mancman10/status/1018549251587047424
Ah well.
An own goal from Mario Mandzukic gave France the lead before the 20 minute mark in Moscow, only for Ivan Perisic to equalise ten minutes later. However, a VAR review saw a penalty awarded to France before half-time, allowing Antoine Griezmann to put them 2-1 up at half-time.
Goals from Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe put the game out of sight, although Mandzukic did pull one back for Croatia thanks to Hugo Lloris' blunder.
The game was up though, and France closed the game out. A second World Cup following their victory on their own soil 20 years ago - one which current manager Didier Deschamps won as a player.
