Qatar 2022 has delivered objectives, giant-killings, and the blockbuster remaining many hoped for, with Lionel Messi’s Argentina taking over Kylian Mbappe’s France on Sunday.
However because the curtain prepares to fall and the World Cup nears its conclusion, who makes Sky Sports activities’ group of the event?
From the standout performers to breakout stars, we have now chosen 11 gamers from Qatar in a 4-3-3 formation and, for good measure, included a 26-man squad given the sheer quantity of high quality that has been on show.
GK: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)
Two clear sheets within the group stage and impressed between the sticks as Croatia overcame Japan and Brazil on penalties to achieve the semi-finals. The scramble for Dominik Livakovic’s signature post-World Cup tells you simply how nicely the 27-year-old carried out.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
The poster boy of Morocco’s marketing campaign, Achraf Hakimi lived as much as his star billing in Qatar. From his strong defensive performances and his audacious ‘Panenka’ penalty, to the heartfelt embraces along with his mom all through the event, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back embodied Morocco’s fairytale run to the semi-finals.
CB: Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
Lionel Messi has made the very best defenders of his era look foolish. His tormenting of Josko Gvardiol within the semi-final shouldn’t detract from what was an impressed event for the Croatia defender, who remains to be solely 20 years outdated. With Gvardiol anchoring defence, Croatia conceded only one objective within the group stage and simply two extra within the final 16 and quarter-finals earlier than Argentina ran riot within the semis.
CB: Harry Maguire (England)
After his troubles with Manchester United firstly of the season, arguably no participant arrived on the World Cup with extra strain on their shoulders than Harry Maguire. To carry out as he did below such scrutiny, maintaining three clear sheets in 5 matches in Qatar, the centre-back deserves big credit score.
LB: Marcos Acuna (Argentina)
Argentina’s energy has are available in unity behind Lionel Messi, and no participant typifies that greater than Marcos Acuna. The left-back’s versatility and vary has embodied the Argentine spirit in Qatar, not afraid to muck in when wanted in assault but additionally not neglecting his major job of defending the objective.
CM: Antoine Griezmann (France)
Whereas Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud have equipped the objectives, Antoine Griezmann has been the engine driving France to successive World Cup finals. Griezmann has blossomed right into a box-to-box midfielder in Qatar, as adept defending his personal field as he’s attacking the opposition’s. Having run the quarter-final victory over England and semi-final overcome Morocco, the 31-year-old would be the key element if France are to retain their crown.
CM: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
If there was a second that summed up Sofyan Amrabat, it was his crunching deal with on Kylian Mbappe within the semi-final. The French ahead burst previous all in his wake, however the Morocco midfielder caught up with him and confirmed the need and high quality to win the ball again off him to cease a counter-attack. Amrabat’s tackling shouldn’t be the one facet of his recreation, his calmness in possession rubbed off on his team-mates, giving Morocco the boldness they required to make historical past as they reached the semi-finals.
CM: Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco)
A reputation few had heard of earlier than the event however one everybody in world soccer is aware of now. The up-and-coming Angers midfielder introduced himself on the world stage in Qatar. His performances helped encourage Morocco to victories over Spain and Portugal en path to an historic semi-final look for the Atlas Lions, with former Spain boss Luis Enrique main the plaudits for the 22-year-old.
RF: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Lionel Messi has single-handedly dragged Argentina to the World Cup remaining with 5 objectives, three assists and a string of talismanic performances. We have now witnessed true footballing greatness from Messi, and his most interesting second in Qatar could also be but to come back if he can get his palms on the best prize of all.
CF: Olivier Giroud (France)
Olivier Giroud has gone from failing to register a shot heading in the right direction or rating at Russia 2018 to the influential spearhead of France’s assault. 4 years on from drawing a clean, Giroud has the Golden Boot in sight with 4 objectives to his identify, notably the quarter-final winner over England.
LF: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Messi may nonetheless have the ultimate say in Qatar, however Kylian Mbappe has solely strengthened his declare because the simple successor to the world’s best participant crown. The 23-year-old has been unplayable, scoring 5 objectives and registering two assists in a string of masterful performances which have introduced a second World Cup inside attain.
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 (USA), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Bukayo Saka (England), Richarlison (Brazil), Julian Alvarez (Argentina).
