Germany and Belgium depart - giants begin to fall as World Cup group stages reach conclusion

Germany became the biggest giant to fall at the 2022 World Cup on Thursday, when Hansi Flick’s side were eliminated from the competition despite beating Costa Rica 4-2. The European side may have picked up a victory, but just one point from their first two games meant that they were destined to go tumbling out of the competition at the group stages due to Japan’s impressive 2-1 win over Spain. 

Although Germany weren’t considered among the favourites for the tournament, their early demise has undoubtedly sent shockwaves around the world. Indeed, Flick’s squad has a market value of €885 million, which is the fifth highest in the competition. Which goes some way to suggesting that Germany should have, at least, made it to the knock-out stages of the competition. 

However, Germany aren’t the only big upsets that this World Cup has already provided. Prior to Flick’s team being knocked out, Belgium made headlines with a hapless 0-0 draw against Croatia on Wednesday not only knocking them out of the competition at the group stages but also leading to head coach Roberto Martinez resigning immediately after the game. Although the Red Devils couldn’t lay claim to as impressive a squad market value as Germany, Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard & Co. made up the ninth most valuable squad in the competition. 

And it’s unlikely that these two European nations will be the only big hitters to head home before the knock-out rounds have come to a conclusion. Depending on how Friday’s fixtures go, we’re likely to see one of Serbia (12th most valuable) or Switzerland (14th) get knocked out, as well as a potential elimination for tenth-placed Uruguay if results don’t also go their way. 

Musiala and Kimmich head home - Valverde and Vlahović may join them 

These surprising knockouts to some of international football’s most established nations is also well reflected in the list of most valuable players at the tournament as some of the sport’s biggest names now depart the competition earlier than expected. For example, Germany international Jamal Musiala went into the competition as the fourth-most valuable player but now departs far earlier than he would have hoped. His compatriot Joshua Kimmich and Belgium star De Bruyne join him in the top 20 most valuable players in the competition to depart early. However, they may not be the only ones. 

Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde is considered one of football’s most impressive talents with a market value of €100m, but may also be on a flight home if results don’t go Uruguay’s way on Friday. So too could €80m striker Dušan Vlahović, whose Serbia side are also expected to get knocked out before the group stages draw to a conclusion. As such, before the World Cup can even get to the knockout rounds of the competition, fans from around the world may have to contend with the fact that no less than five of the 20 most valuable players at the competition may well not make it past the opening round.