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.
Hugo Lloris hoists the World Cup for France who have won the trophy for the second time, following on from their 1998 victory.#RTEsoccerhttps://t.co/6Xl4rm9N4W pic.twitter.com/8L6K1TRbsu
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 15, 2018
Lots and lots of people were quick to pick up on this.
Another iconic #WorldCup trophy lift. 🤦♀️ pic.twitter.com/sueRkSU0FQ
— Paddy McKenna (@PaddyMcKenna) July 15, 2018
TV director ruined the key moment by switching to the wrong camera when Lloris was lifting the trophy
— Tomi Oladipo (@Tomi_Oladipo) July 15, 2018
Well done to the TV company who switched to a camera that had 2 blokes walking in front of the camera the exact moment the trophy was lifted! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #Taxi #WorldCup
— John Hall (@JohnHall1985) July 15, 2018
So some men in suits ruin the TV cameras moment of the tournament as they walk in front of the camera as France is given the trophy.
— Richscottmedia (@richscottmedia) July 15, 2018
The most dragged out #WorldCupFinal trophy presentation in history and the lifting of it was botched by men in suits working in front of the TV Camera. Unbelievable.
— Dee Curran (@DeeCurran1) July 15, 2018
A moment to think about the TV director who just managed to miss the trophy lift. They'll remember that for the rest of their days.
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) July 15, 2018
Rather chaotic presentation, Better to do it in the stands, people in the way of TV cameras just after Lloris lifted that great trophy #WorldCupFinal
— Ian (@Mancman10) July 15, 2018
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.
