Qatar 2022 has delivered targets, giant-killings, and a blockbuster finale to finish all finales, as Lionel Messi led Argentina to World Cup immortality.
From the standout performers to breakout stars, Sky Sports activities have 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 succeed in the semi-finals. The scramble for Dominik Livakovic’s signature post-World Cup tells you simply how properly 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 together 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 one of the best defenders of his technology 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 previous. With Gvardiol anchoring defence, Croatia conceded only one purpose 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 at the beginning 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 beneath such scrutiny, retaining three clear sheets in 5 matches in Qatar, the centre-back deserves enormous credit score.
LB: Marcos Acuna (Argentina)
Argentina’s power has are available unity behind Lionel Messi, and no participant typified that greater than Marcos Acuna. The left-back’s versatility and all-round contribution 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 purpose.
CM: Antoine Griezmann (France)
Whereas Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud equipped the targets, Antoine Griezmann was the engine which drove 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, and ended the event because the most-creative participant.
CM: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
If there was a second that summed up Sofyan Amrabat, it was his crunching sort out 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 just isn’t 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)
No one has scored extra targets or supplied extra assists than Lionel Messi in Qatar. In prepared his workforce to World Cup glory, he confirmed an edge to his recreation that has not all the time been evident. At 35, he’s previous his peak, however he was nonetheless higher than everybody else.
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 had the Golden Boot in sight heading into the ultimate and ending the event with 4 targets to his title, however sadly not a second winners’ medal.
LF: Kylian Mbappe (France)
The winner of the Golden Boot with eight targets, Kylian Mbappe solely strengthened his declare because the simple successor to Messi’s crown of the world’s biggest participant. The 23-year-old turned solely the second participant to attain a hat-trick in a World Cup closing, dragging France to inside a penalty shootout of retaining their crown.
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).
