Qatar 2022 has sent aims, big-killings, and the blockbuster closing a lot of hoped for, with Lionel Messi’s Argentina getting on Kylian Mbappe’s France on Sunday.
But as the curtain prepares to drop and the Earth Cup nears its conclusion, who makes Sky Sports’ team of the tournament?
From the standout performers to breakout stars, we have selected 11 players from Qatar in a 4-3-3 formation and, for excellent measure, bundled a 26-man squad offered the sheer quantity of high quality that has been on screen.
GK: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)
Two clean up sheets in the team stage and encouraged amongst the sticks as Croatia overcame Japan and Brazil on penalties to achieve the semi-finals. The scramble for Dominik Livakovic’s signature publish-Globe Cup tells you just how nicely the 27-12 months-aged done.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
The poster boy of Morocco’s marketing campaign, Achraf Hakimi lived up to his star billing in Qatar. From his robust defensive performances and his audacious ‘Panenka’ penalty, to the heartfelt embraces with his mom all over the event, the Paris Saint-Germain suitable-again embodied Morocco’s fairytale run to the semi-finals.
CB: Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
Lionel Messi has designed the very best defenders of his era look foolish. His tormenting of Josko Gvardiol in the semi-last ought to not detract from what was an influenced match for the Croatia defender, who is still only 20 decades outdated. With Gvardiol anchoring defence, Croatia conceded just one intention in the team phase and just two far more in the past 16 and quarter-finals before Argentina ran riot in the semis.
CB: Harry Maguire (England)
Following his difficulties with Manchester United at the get started of the year, arguably no player arrived at the World Cup with extra stress on their shoulders than Harry Maguire. To conduct as he did beneath this sort of scrutiny, retaining three clean sheets in 5 matches in Qatar, the centre-back deserves substantial credit history.
LB: Marcos Acuna (Argentina)
Argentina’s energy has arrive in unity driving Lionel Messi, and no player typifies that far more than Marcos Acuna. The remaining-back’s flexibility and all-spherical contribution has embodied the Argentine spirit in Qatar, not worried to muck in when desired in attack but also not neglecting his primary career of protecting the objective.
CM: Antoine Griezmann (France)
Though Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud have supplied the plans, Antoine Griezmann has been the motor driving France to successive Globe Cup finals. Griezmann has blossomed into a box-to-box midfielder in Qatar, as adept defending his possess box as he is attacking the opposition’s. Getting run the quarter-remaining victory more than England and semi-remaining triumph in excess of Morocco, the 31-calendar year-previous, who has delivered a few assists, will be essential if France are to keep their crown.
CM: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
If there was a instant that summed up Sofyan Amrabat, it was his crunching tackle on Kylian Mbappe in the semi-last. The French ahead burst past all in his wake, but the Morocco midfielder caught up with him and showed the want and quality to get the ball again off him to quit a counter-attack. Amrabat’s tackling is not the only side of his sport, his calmness in possession rubbed off on his workforce-mates, providing Morocco the assurance they essential to make heritage as they reached the semi-finals.
CM: Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco)
A identify couple of had heard of just before the match but one particular everyone in entire world football understands now. The up-and-coming Angers midfielder introduced himself on the earth stage in Qatar. His performances served inspire Morocco to victories over Spain and Portugal en route to an historic semi-remaining appearance for the Atlas Lions, with previous Spain boss Luis Enrique foremost the plaudits for the 22-calendar year-previous.
RF: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Lionel Messi has solitary-handedly dragged Argentina to the Planet Cup closing with 5 ambitions, 3 helps and a string of talismanic performances. We have witnessed correct footballing greatness from Messi, and his finest second in Qatar may perhaps be yet to come if he can get his hands on the greatest prize of all.
CF: Olivier Giroud (France)
Olivier Giroud has gone from failing to register a shot on target or rating at Russia 2018 to the influential spearhead of France’s attack. 4 years on from drawing a blank, Giroud has the Golden Boot in sight with four plans to his identify, notably the quarter-remaining winner above England.
LF: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Messi could continue to have the closing say in Qatar, but Kylian Mbappe has only strengthened his declare as the undeniable successor to the world’s finest participant crown. The 23-calendar year-old has been unplayable, scoring 5 objectives and registering two helps in a string of masterful performances which have introduced a second World Cup in just access.
Substitutes
Yassine Bounou (Morocco), Hugo Lloris (France), Cristian Romero (Argentina), Nicolas Otamendi (Argentina), Theo Hernandez (France), Jude Bellingham (England), Luka Modric (Croatia), Casemiro (Brazil), Aurelien Tchouameni (France), Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Tyler Adams (United states), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Bukayo Saka (England), Richarlison (Brazil), Julian Alvarez (Argentina).
