Highs and lows of the World Cup group stages so far

The group stages of the World Cup are drawing to a close.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at some of the highlights of the tournament so far.

Best game: Portugal 3 Spain 3

Worst game: France 0 Denmark 0

France's meeting with Denmark was not a classic — France’s meeting with Denmark was not a classic (Tim Goode/Empics)

Best goal: Ahmed Musa (Nigeria)

Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa was outstanding against Iceland (AP)

Best team: Croatia

Most disappointing team: Poland

Best fans: Senegal

Senegal fans have brought a lot to the World Cup party (Adam Davy/Empics)

Hits: Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku

Moment of the Day ?When @England’s Harry Kane netted an injury-time winner on his #WorldCup debut ?

? Highlights ? https://t.co/LOdKDX2Cwn ? TV listings ? https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO pic.twitter.com/wafiZ8XmEz

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 18, 2018

England captain Kane proved the chief inspiration and match-winner for their opening victory over Tunisia and followed up with a hat-trick against Panama. Five-time world player of the year Ronaldo has also come to the party while Lukaku has shone at the apex of an exciting Belgium attack.

Misses: Robert Lewandowski, Jorge Sampaoli and Julen Lopetegui

Argentina v Croatia – FIFA World Cup 2018 – Group D – Nizhny Novgorod Stadium — Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli has been under fire

VAR – the star or a step too far?

The VAR system has been a big talking point in Russia (John Walton/Empics)

Best free-kick:

Another moment in time. #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/OAxDRvTrff

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 23, 2018

When it comes to star players delivering when their teams need them most, Ronaldo’s free-kick against Spain takes some beating – but Germany’s Toni Kroos eclipsed him when he curled home his brilliant last-gasp winner against Sweden from a set-piece.

Best pundits:

Former England international Alex Scott has been part of the BBC's team in Russia — Former England international Alex Scott has been part of the BBC’s team in Russia (Tim Goode/PA)

Howlers:

Willy Caballero had a game to forget against Croatia (AP)

Best save:

Manuel Neuer kept Germany in their crucial game with Sweden (AP)

Social media highlights:

Messi ???? #Worldcup pic.twitter.com/DOvuBeb8c6

— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) June 16, 2018

Ian Wright’s stunned reaction to a Lionel Messi penalty miss went viral while Jesse Lingard provided some talking points with his photographs of England team-mates racing unicorns in their hotel pool. Iceland’s Alfred Finnbogason showed his sense of humour by referring to the midges in Volgograd while Harry Kane’s display of sheer joy after netting his late winner against Tunisia earned him more than 24,000 retweets.

Just arrived in Volgograd, well prepared after watching England’s game pic.twitter.com/gKKj9crgq2

— Alfreð Finnbogason (@A_Finnbogason) June 20, 2018

The tournament in numbers:

0: Shots by Iran in the second half of their clash against Morocco – but they still won, courtesy of a late own goal.

2.6: Average goals per match after 40 games.

22: Penalties awarded in the tournament – a new record and already nine more than in the whole of the 2014 event.

28: Shots by Peru before they registered their first goal.

2,089: Passes completed by Spain in their three games.