6 Footballers Whose Reputations Took A Battering At World Cup 2018
1. David De Gea
"De Gea pulls off impossible saves, is ever reliable and has incredible reflexes too." Sorry David, might have jinxed you a bit. De Gea never recovered from his shocking fumble in Spain's opening fixture against Portugal, when he allowed a tame Cristiano Ronaldo shot to go through him. He also didn't make a single save in that 3-3 draw either.
In his first World Cup as Spain's number one, the Man Utd keeper has been unrecognisable compared to his club form and some fans may be worried he could bring this shakiness back to Old Trafford.
The most damning indictment came when it was revealed after La Roja's shock exit to hosts Russia that de Gea set a modern day World Cup record low for saves in the tournament - making just one save from seven shots on goal.
He was the man blamed by Spanish media for their country's early tournament exit, described as a "ghost", and it was even suggested he may lose the number 1 jersey.
De Gea had a disastrous World Cup which may haunt him for many years to come and all talk of his projected move to Real Madrid has suddenly gone very quiet indeed.