The 2018 FIFA World Cup has now come to an end with France as the last team standing. The world’s biggest football event saw plenty of sweat and tears, as well as exciting and emotionally-charged moments that relied heavily on precise timing. This accuracy was crucial from the first kick-off to the last and Hublot were there every step of the way to ensure it.
For the third time, Hublot were the Official Timekeeper for the World Cup and the horology giant took this opportunity to make quite the impression at this event.
They had already made history in 2014 for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when they became the first and only luxury watch brand to redesign the referee boards, transforming them into the shape of the Big Bang watch. And this year was no different; every time there was a substitution or additional minutes added to the clock, Hublot’s name and branding shone.
Hublot and football go hand-in-hand, and the Swiss watchmaker was as much of a winner of this World Cup as France and its fans.
Key Moments of the 2018 World Cup
After 64 matches, 169 goals and 49,651 passes, this World Cup was, undeniably, a whirlwind of emotions, filled with jaw-dropping moments and joyous surprises for its many supporters.
One of the biggest moments of the event has to be, of course, when France was crowned champion at the final. The French team and staff celebrated happily while throwing Didier Deschamps in the air; the manager is only the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a coach. The first two were Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
There were also fewer yellow and red cards at this World Cup (219 and 4, respectively) compared to previous years; in 2012, for instance, there were 261 yellow cards and 17 red cards. Senegal finished the group stage with the same points as Japan but picked up two more yellow cards; in a costly example of Fair Play rules, the Senegalese team had to leave its second World Cup.
This exemplifies just how important sportsmanship, integrity and unity are to FIFA. Hublot champion tradition, team spirit, authenticity and performance, similar values that highlight how much of a match they are with FIFA and how perfect their partnership is.
VAR, or Video Assistant Referee, was also a highlight of the 2018 World Cup and dominated discussions around the world. This was football’s first use of video technology and it allowed referees to reach more correct decisions by reviewing certain plays when needed. This system helped to overturn 17 of 20 wrong decisions this year, so it’s clear that technology such as VAR is shaping the world of football and its future.
Of course, VAR wasn’t the only technological marvel in the 2018 World Cup.
Only 300 Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup RussiaTM watches were released in the UK and, due to their popularity, quickly sold out. However, you can still explore the other Hublot watches we stock at Banks Lyon and view the full Big Bang and Classic Fusion ranges – you can soon be wearing the same timepiece as your favourite footballer or manager.
We stock superb collections that are the epitome of the ‘Art of Fusion’, perfect for football fans or simply for the modern man who is passionate about style, technology and accurate timekeeping.
Contact us to learn more about our wide range of watches and jewellery or find us in Lancaster (01524 38 10 20) and Kendal (01539 73 03 00) to see them for yourself. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay on top of our latest news and arrivals.