Press play on the unhappy violin soundtrack for some background music, as a result of the World Cup is sort of over.
We’ve had massive names crashing out within the group levels, inner crew drama ( you, Belgium) and a few loopy upsets alongside the way in which.
As the event winds down and it comes into body within the rear-vision mirror, Foxsports.com.au takes a take a look at the person stars of the present in our World Cup Team of the Tournament!
France finish Morocco’s Cinderella run | 01:50
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GK: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)
Croatian gloveman Dominik Livakovic has emerged as one of many standout stars of the World Cup.
The 27-year-old has made the second-most quantity of saves of any glovemen with 23 from 29 photographs confronted.
Livakovic additionally has three clear sheets and has saved 4 penalties up to now, though that does embody penalty shootout saves.
Regardless, he’s been the very best man between the sticks for the month-long competition of soccer and there’s subsequent to no probability he’s at Dinamo Zagreb for for much longer as larger golf equipment circle.
LB: Theo Hernandez (France)
Arrived in Qatar as France’s second-choice left again behind his brother Lucas.
But Lucas tore his ACL after 10 minutes towards the Socceroos and was changed by Theo.
From that second on, the AC Milan star by no means seemed again as he supplied a continuing risk on the flank, along with his attacking forays proving particularly troublesome for the opposition to deal with.
Created 10 possibilities, probably the most out of any defender and solely 4 fewer than a sure Argentinian star.
Don’t assume for a second Hernandez was all about his offensive work, as he gained 11 tackles; the second-most out of the defenders.
Every cloud’s a silver lining, hey?
CB: Romain Saiss (Morocco)
The Moroccan skipper was on the coronary heart of the World Cup’s steeliest backline.
With the second-most clearances of any gamers, Saiss was pivotal to marshalling the Atlas Lions across the park particularly since they employed a method of play that closely relied on absorbing defensive strain and springing to life on the counter.
Was stretchered off towards Portugal within the quarter ultimate and miraculously returned towards France, however ultimately succumbed to damage.
Saiss was a rock for Morocco. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CB: Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
Made six profitable tackles, eight interceptions, and a whopping 43 recoveries – probably the most of any defender.
Also handed the ball at a more-than-healthy 90 per cent and racked up 33 clearances.
The one blemish on an distinctive event was when Lionel Messi danced throughout him to arrange Julian Alvarez for the objective that sealed the semi-final.
Gvardiol isn’t the primary defender Messi has made look foolish, and he gained’t be the final.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
What a event for the Paris Saint-Germain ace.
Hakimi has probably the most tackles of anybody on the World Cup and supplied limitless vitality up and down the suitable flank.
His pace was pivotal to Morocco’s recreation plan and chalked up an help for his troubles.
CM: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
One of a number of breakout stars of the World Cup.
Amrabat clocked an absurd complete operating distance of 70.58km, which equates to 11.76km each recreation.
Add within the reality the 26-year-old hasn’t missed a second on the pitch and it’s actually mind-boggling to assume how giant his gasoline tank is.
Running stats apart, Amrabat was key to Morocco’s defensive efforts and topped the charts with 51 ball recoveries, six greater than the subsequent participant.
You’d must think about Amrabat gained’t be at Serie A outfit Fiorentina for much longer, with Premier League heavyweights Liverpool reportedly in talks a few transfer for him.
CM: Luka Modric (Croatia)
The Modric renaissance is actual.
Four years after his performances on the World Cup helped him win the Ballon d’Or, the primary time in 10 years somebody not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo gained the award, Croatia’s midfield wizard was again at it once more.
The 37-year-old has aged like a high-quality wine and the stats again it up, as Modric recovered the ball 45 occasions (second-most), gained 9 tackles and made eight interceptions.
Unfortunately he couldn’t fairly drag Croatia over the road one ultimate time, however the soccer world should be pleased about one more Modric World Cup masterclass.
Modric has aged like a high-quality wine. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CM: Antoine Griezmann (France)
The key to France’s success – even when he does fly below the radar in comparison with Kylian Mbappe.
Griezmann has now performed 73 straight video games for Les Bleus, smashing the earlier file of Patrick Vieira’s 44.
With Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante lacking with damage, Griezmann has stepped up – or extra precisely, again – into the midfield function.
His conversion from striker into a real midfield playmaker has been revolutionary for France.
LW: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Pace, instinctive creativity, and lethal ending.
Mbappe is sort of merely each defender’s nightmare.
Level within the golden boot race with 5 targets already, the 23-year-old seems to be hungrier than ever to do his bit.
RW: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Five Budweiser Player of the Match awards says all of it about Messi’s greatness in Qatar.
Despite having walked for 30km throughout all of Argentina’s video games, the 35-year-old celebrity has confirmed to be lethal when it issues most with 5 targets and three assists to his title which ought to got here as no shock given he’s created probably the most possibilities of anybody in Qatar with 14.
His most up-to-date help was maybe his most particular when he turned Gvardiol right into a pretzel en path to placing it on a platter for Julian Alvarez to attain.
Messi has finished all of it for Argentina. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ST: Olivier Giroud (France)
One of the nice redemption tales of this World Cup.
Written off as too outdated and too sluggish to play within the Premier League, Giroud in Qatar has surpassed the nice Thierry Henry as France’s all-time high scorer.
If reigning Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema’s absence was meant to wreck France’s possibilities, Giroud proved he was greater than able to step up – as he has so many occasions down the years.
Manager: Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Regragui took over as Morocco boss on August 31 this 12 months and kicked off his reign with a 1-0 pleasant win over fellow African aspect Madagascar in September.
Ten video games later and Regragui has damaged a number of information as Morocco supervisor.
The Atlas Lions grew to become the primary African, Arab and Muslim nation to make the semi finals of the World Cup, conceded one objective earlier than the semi finals (which was an personal objective) and gained the hearts and minds of followers throughout the globe.
Not unhealthy for a bloke nicknamed ‘avocado head’ when he was first appointed and a simple selection to guide our Team of the Tournament.
Regragui is the mastermind behind Morocco’s unbelievable run in Qatar. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Harry Maguire (ENG)
Been kicked from pillar to publish such has been his nightmare kind for membership aspect Manchester United.
But Maguire reminded the world of his true potential as a defender in Qatar, placing in a number of robust performances for the Three Lions.
Harry Souttar (AUS)
Not many gamers could have boosted their switch worth as a lot as Souttar has based mostly on his particular person event.
Had a shaky begin within the first recreation towards France, however performed a significant half in Aussie soccer historical past because the Socceroos stored their first clear sheet at a World Cup towards Tunisia after which did the identical towards Denmark.
Could actually make this record alone solely for that slide sort out towards Tunisia.
Wojciech Szczesny (POL)
Szczesny was a standout between the sticks for Poland and have become the third goalkeeper in 56 years to save lots of two penalties outdoors of a shootout at a single World Cup.
The Juventus gloveman additionally saved 24 of the 29 photographs he confronted for a save proportion of .828 p.c.
Jamal Musiala (GER)
A shining diamond in a German crew that crashed and burned within the group levels.
Remarkably didn’t rating any targets regardless of an xG of 1.92, however his dribbling abilities have been on present for all to see.
One of the very best youngsters on the World Cup and might be a celebrity within the years to return.
The future is vivid for Musiala. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Jude Bellingham (ENG)
The boy from the Brum scored England’s first objective in Qatar and began each recreation for Gareth Southgate’s aspect.
Despite being simply 19, he displayed a maturity past his years by being the primary and solely participant to offer Harry Kane a hug after lacking his penalty.
Also gained probably the most tackles of anybody with a whopping 15.
Marcelo Brozovic (CRO)
Very simply might have put the Croatian midfield trio into the beginning crew due to how good they have been.
Brozovic was the deepest of the three and hasn’t ever been the kind of participant to place his title up in lights, however boy was he spectacular.
Was equal-second with Modric for probably the most recoveries of any participant with 45 and made the second-most passes in Qatar with 509, second to solely Spain’s Rodri who had 676.
Julian Alvarez (ARG)
One of the breakout stars of this World Cup.
Just 22 years of age, Alvarez has 4 targets to his title in Qatar which features a beautiful solo effort — albeit due to some calamitous Croatian defending — and has linked up impressively properly with Messi.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is little doubt rubbing his palms collectively on the prospect of getting this type of Alvarez again on the Etihad for the rest of the Premier League season.
Didier Deschamps (FRA)
After a disastrous Euro 2020 through which Les Bleus crashed out on penalties within the Round of 16, Deschamps galvanised his squad even with out a number of stars who have been out with damage.
Now stands probability of main France to back-to-back World Cup titles, a feat not achieved in 60 years.
