Rhian Brewster had a lukewarm start to England's successful World Cup campaign but was at his devastating best in the knock-out stages. The Liverpool forward had only one goal to show for in three matches in the group stage. The floodgates opened in the quarterfinal stages against U.S.A. and Brazil where he scored back-to-back hat-tricks to ensure his team's passage into the final. His goal in the final, his eighth of the tournament, started England's stunning comeback from 2-0 down to win the game 5-2. The former Chelsea youth product took home the Golden Boot with eight goals and provided an assist.
The forward was brought into the fold just days leading into the Africa Cup of Nations in May and has not looked back since. N'Diaye was a constant threat to the opposition back-line, running in behind with his blistering pace to stretch the defence and found himself in front of goal on countless occasions. N'Diaye has scored three goals and could have added more to his name if it wasn't for his wayward finishing; Mali had a total of 85 shots in three group stage matches. He improved his conversion in the Round-of-16 stages against Iraq to lead a goal-scoring fest. His goal in the semifinal was rendered a consolation as Spain was already three goals to the good.
Spain's all-time top-scorer at this level was again on target at the marquee event in India. After missing out in the opening game, Abel Ruiz proved his goal scoring instincts to take Spain through to the knock-out stages behind Brazil. The La Masia product scored in each of Spain's matches to eliminate France, Iran and Mali. His predatory instincts and skills on the ball were matched by his strength which is seen in dearth in Spanish forwards in recent years.
The Germany captain came into the tournament as the EURO Golden Boot winner and gave himself a good reckoning for the top marksman's award until his side's quarterfinal defeat to Brazil. Fiete-Arp mixed his technical ability to good effect with his aerial prowess to lead Germany's charge into the last-eight stages. Of his five goals included a brace against Colombia in a 4-0 rout in the Round-of-16. The Hamburg striker's penalty put his side in front against Brazil but wasn't able to conjure further magic as the South American produced a late comeback win.
The Lyon forward got off to a blistering start in the World Cup scoring in all three matches in the group stages including a couple of braces in France's victories over New Caledonia and Japan. The No. 9 dovetailed with midfielder Yacine Adli to devastating effect, running on to the latter's through balls to finish with aplomb. Unfortunately for Les Blues, Gouri's goal-scoring touch went missing in the elimination stages. The French side scored 14 goals in the tournament — most in the group stages — but went out crashing in the Round-of-16 stage against Spain.
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