World Cup 2018 Day 8: Google Doodle celebrates teams playing in today's FIFA tournament

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The Google Doodle for Thursday, June 21, celebrates the eighth day of the World Cup 2018 tournament.

Today’s Doodle collects the thoughts and illustrations of artists from Denmark, Australia, France, Peru, Argentina and Croatia, ahead of the Group C and Group D clashes.

The World Cup-themed Google Doodle looks to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of the 32 countries taking part in the tournament in Russia, with illustrators from every country discussing what football means to them and their nation, and putting it down into art.

Google Doodle for Thursday, June 21 celebrates the eighth day of the World Cup 2018 tournament

It’s a critical day for many of the teams playing, with Argentina’s World Cup hopes already hanging in the balance, following their disappointing draw with Iceland. 

A loss against a tough Croatia team seeking to secure passage through to the last-16 would be a devastating blow for Lionel Messi and company.

France too, while sitting atop of Group C, failed to inspire much confidence during their win over a surprisingly resilient Australia team. Tougher matches against Peru and Denmark will give a clearer indication of whether this French team is made of champions.

Group C's Australia plays Denmark in the first game of the eight day of the World Cup 2018

World Cup Google Doodle - Day 7

The idea of champions is something that will forever be in the minds of French fans. As the country’s illustrator said: ‘For the majority in France, football is something we have in our heart since childhood (whether it's through fuss-ball, collecting cards of players, playing together in the mud even if it's raining, video games, TV etc).’

It's an opportunity for people to gather to either play or cheer for their team. Football in France will always echo to the World Cup victory of 1998 and the color blue! Allez les bleus!'

France face Peru in the second Group C game, which will then be followed by Argentina vs Croatia

The Doodle reflects the 360 effect of football, showing kids playing table football, football in the yard and simply watching the French national team.

France’s opposition today is Peru, a country for which, according to Peruvian illustrator Andrea Galecio, football means ‘joy with passion. Maximum emotion. A united nation’. 

The Peru Google Doodle shows Peruvians in traditional headdress watching their national football team play, with the mountains in the background.

The Peru Google Doodle shows Peruvians in traditional headdress watching their national football team play

The other Group C clash is between Denmark and Australia. According to Danish artist Rune Fisker, football is the ‘joy and excitement that we Danes feel for football (and our bikes!).’ He hopes the Denmark World Cup Google Doodle reflects the nation’s passion for both.

Australia’s Google Doodle was created by Helen Li and shows football fans eat ice cream and play football with a koala bear in goal.

Argentina's World Cup 2018 hopes are hanging by a thread following their disappointing draw against Iceland

The final game of the day is the Group D clash between Argentina and Croatia. Gaston Pacheco, an Argentinian illustrator, says: ‘Football is the most popular sport in our country and the one that people are most passionate about.

‘There're plenty of rituals around it, traditions, and even cábalas. It brings lots of expectations and excitement to the air and it's also a way to bring people together.’

Croatia can go through to the last-16 of the tournament if they manage to beat Argentina today

Meanwhile, Croatia’s Vedran Klemens hopes that people take this away from his Google Doodle: ‘I wish it cheers them up to see the summer beauty of Croatia and to be reminded of the captivating joy of the game’.

What is a Google Doodle? 

Google Doodles are daily celebrations of culturally significant events and people. They are reflected in the Google logo on the search engine's homepage.  

The very first Google Doodle was made in 1998, when Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page went to that year’s Burning Man Festival. 

The Doodle was simply that of a stick man standing behind the second ‘O’ in Google.

After becoming a popular feature, a team of Doodlers - illustrators and animators - was hired to make artistic changes to the logo on the search engine’s homepage.

Recent Google Doodles include celebrations of World Cup Days Five, Six and Seven, as well as occasions such as the Dragon Boat Festival and artists like Fureya Koral.