World Cup team of the tournament: The Independent’s best XI from Qatar 2022

The World Cup is drawing to a close, with 32 teams reduced to two and many players who have secured their place in history as heroes and heartthrobs.

Morocco had a fairy tale run to the semi-finals, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal before falling to defending champions France, who have become the first team to reach back-to-back finals since Brazil – runners-up in 1998 and champions. winners in 2022.

Elsewhere, Croatia came close to matching France’s achievement, four years after losing to Les Bleus in the final, but Luka Modric and his teammates were knocked out in the semis by an inspired Argentina, pushed to a second final in eight years by Lionel. Messi.

But which players impressed the most in Qatar? Did either of them do enough to earn a place in the ‘best XI’ despite perhaps falling out sooner than expected or expected?

Here it is the independentThe team of the World Cup tournament.

Goalie

Dominik Livakovic (Croatia) – Huge on two penalties and made a series of impressive reaction saves to become the tournament’s best stopper.

Defending

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – There is not much debate about how important it has been for the Atlas Lions. Excellent both in defense and at the start, driving the ball and serving the attack.

Romain Saiss (Morocco) – The leader of the rear guard and the most committed of the entire Moroccan line corps brigade. The semi-final was a step too far for him, but it was huge throughout his career.

Josko Gvardiol (Croatia) – Surely the outstanding young player of this World Cup. Positional play beyond age and wild consistency from him throughout. Being shown off by Lionel Messi in relevant last moments is not an embarrassment or a factor.

Theo Hernandez (France): He didn’t start the tournament in the Les Bleus lineup, but he did it in minutes, and he’s been excellent ever since. Assists and semi-final goal on the way to go with his tenacious defensive approach.

Midfield

Antoine Griezmann (France) – Perhaps the reigning champions’ standout candidate to win the Ballon d’Or. Such a relentless work rate, superb appreciation of space and superb technique throughout.

Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco) – He covered his full-backs the width of the pitch, made countless tackles, overcame unrealistic amounts of running and was often impressive in his use of the ball to help provoke attacks.

Jude Bellingham (England) – Another who played beyond his experience, a ball carrier and ball winner in both halves who was exceptional and consistent. The only quarter-finalist for our team and the only player from England.

Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) – Like Hernández, he did not start the tournament in his team’s first XI, but now he seems an immovable and irrepressible part of it. A classy mix of control, creativity and movement in the final third.

Forward

Lionel Messi (Argentina) – What else is there to add? Sensational as a link, ice cold as a finisher, nerfless with big penalties after that early failure in the group stage and seems to be improving as the tournament progresses. His legacy is about to be completed.

Kylian Mbappe (France) – He has been completely electric in flashes, but constantly dangerous at all times. Even in games in which he hasn’t scored, he has helped create the crucial openings with his skill and ability to draw defenders to him.

bank of submarines

Hugo Lloris (France), Nahuel Molina (Argentina), Marquinhos (Brazil), Ibrahim Konate (France), Nathan Ake (Netherlands), Casemiro (Brazil), Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco), Adrien Rabiot (France), Mateo Kovacic ( Croatia) Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), Bruno Fernandes (Portugal), Dani Olmo (Spain), Olivier Giroud (France), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Julian Alvarez (Argentina).