Winners and losers from the World Cup group stage

The 2018 World Cup group stage has been exhilarating, but before preparing for the round of 16, let's reflect on the hits and flops so far. Daniel Rouse picks the winners and Gianluca Nesci selects the losers from the opening phase in Russia.

Winner - VAR

Video technology is a winner. Just.

Aside from the fact it still seems it's being trialled - and that shouldn't be the case at a World Cup - and its usage in the match between Iran and Portugal incredibly controversial, it has, on the whole, evened out the playing field in Russia.

There was even an argument in VAR's favour as recently as Thursday, when Davinson Sanchez's excellent last-man tackle thwarted a one-on-one for Senegal against Colombia. It was originally ruled a penalty by referee Milorad Mazic but was then correctly overturned following consultation with the pitchside camera.

Creases need to be ironed out, but there have been more cases for VAR than against it in Russia.

Loser - Germany

What a disaster.

After cheating World Cup death once thanks to a moment of magic from Toni Kroos against Sweden, Germany couldn't escape a second time, suffering a 2-0 loss to South Korea and subsequently becoming the third consecutive reigning champion to get bounced in the group stage of the quadrennial tournament.

The midfield was an immobile disaster, the attack never quite clicked, and manager Joachim Low is now under (even more) intense scrutiny for his puzzling decision to leave Leroy Sane out of the squad.

It turns out that after 22 men kick a ball around for 90 minutes, the Germans don't always win.

Winner - Jack White

Play a different song.

The White Stripes' 2003 release "Seven Nation Army" has been blasted out prior to each kick-off at the competition, rousing those in the ground into a grunting rendition of its iconic riff. Except when Jack White's guitar work tumbles into the song's bridge, the crowd's version drifts onto a whole different tune entirely.

The riff was something he had in his repertoire for some time, but when he conceded he wouldn't be able to use it to soundtrack a James Bond film (he eventually would provide the music for the film series in 2008), he decided to thumb it into a White Stripes song.

The rest is history, and with each play at the World Cup, White is richer.

Loser - Jorge Sampaoli

Shout-out to Argentina for taking a page out of the French playbook.

Despite players refuting reports of a locker room mutiny - what else are they going to say, really? - it certainly seems as though Sampaoli has ceded control of his Argentina side to senior squad members Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano.

The fiery bench boss came into the tournament wanting to implement an uptempo, high-pressing system that favoured workmanlike players such as Enzo Perez and Maximiliano Meza in place of the Albiceleste's more illustrious attacking stars, and it backfired spectacularly in the 3-0 loss to Croatia.

The decisive late win over Nigeria that eventually saved Argentina from a humiliating group stage exit saw Sampaoli - or the players, depending on what you believe - revert to a more traditional lineup, which, according to reports, is what Messi and Mascherano wanted all along.

He may not officially have been fired, but it certainly looks as though Sampaoli is more figurehead than manager. Heck, he may even have to ask his star player's permission to make substitutions at this point.

Winner - Big lads up front

One of the unlikeliest takeaways from the tournament so far is the importance of a bulky frontman. Burnley would've done quite well at this World Cup.

There has been a reprisal of the traditional No. 9; a target man who can act as a focal point while a host of all-action midfielders and inside-forwards busy themselves behind and on either side of him. Artem Dzyuba, who shares dimensions with a portaloo, has enjoyed success for Russia; Diego Costa, the definitive combative striker, spearheads Spain's free-flowing throng; France can't seem to turn its back on Olivier Giroud even though the Chelsea man is yet to tally a shot on target in his first three appearances.

Somewhere, former Bayern Munich and Germany totem pole Carsten Jancker is wishing his career began two decades later.

Loser - African World Cup teams

For the first time since 1982, no African nations have advanced to the round of 16 at the World Cup.

A slew of late goals - many coming from set pieces - saw the African sides suffer heartbreaking defeats in Russia, and the final day of the group stage was probably the cruellest of all.

Senegal, after having played some of the most exciting football in the competition and winning plaudits from across the globe, missed out on a last-16 berth by virtue of the fair play tiebreaker. Nigeria, meanwhile, was eliminated by a spectacular late volley from Marcos Rojo. Egypt had the dark cloud of Mohamed Salah's shoulder injury hanging over the side all tournament long, while Morocco was sent packing after a 95th-minute own goal and a Cristiano Ronaldo header.

Seriously. That's rough.

Sadly, Pele's prediction of Africa tasting World Cup glory continues to go wanting.

Winner - Your average fan

The World Cup group stage has been a riot, with a goal count on course to rival the all-time tournament record of 171 and more drama than your average week of sullen English soap "Eastenders."

Over a quarter of the competition's goals have been shoved into the final sixth of matches, as there have been so many late thrills. Perhaps the best final day of the first phase was in Group B, when VAR and last-gasp goals made for a madcap conclusion, but there will also be calls for Germany's shock elimination to South Korea and Argentina's intense, tournament-saving win over Nigeria.

There has also been political controversy between Switzerland and Serbia, a penalty save from a 45-year-old, and a raft of sublime strikes from players including Aleksandr Golovin, Lionel Messi, Ricardo Quaresma, and Jesse Lingard.

What a tournament so far.

Loser - Neymar's barber

Ramen noodles should never be an inspiration for your hairstyle.

Neymar, after being roasted online for arriving in Russia with a plate of spaghetti sitting atop his head, admitted defeat and went with a new look ahead of the Selecao's second match against Costa Rica.

Sometimes, you just have to accept the L.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)