FIFA World Cup 2022: Team of the tournament

After nearly a month of soccer extravaganza, the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar ended on Sunday, December 18, as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties to clinch its third title.

The first winter World Cup in historical past, the event noticed 172 objectives, yet another than the 2018 version in Russia.

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Over the course of the 64 matches performed within the quadrennial occasion, a number of gamers stepped as much as the event, shining for his or her respective groups.

Following is Sportstar’s crew of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez gained the ‘Golden Glove’ award after the ultimate in opposition to France. Martinez’s contribution to Argentina’s profitable run has been essential. He has stored three clear sheets in seven matches, making seven saves and conceding eight objectives.

Out of the 2 penalty shootouts Argentina confronted, he made two saves in opposition to the Netherlands within the quarterfinal and one in opposition to France within the closing.

Apart from shootouts, he made essential saves from the photographs of Garang Kuol of Australia and Randal Kolo Muani of France within the closing.

Right-back

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

Achraf Hakimi was an enormous motive behind Morocco’s historic run within the FIFA World Cup 2022, the place it turned the primary African crew to achieve the semifinal levels within the event’s historical past.

Defensively, Hakimi was strong all through the event, making 46 recoveries and profitable 17 tackles. Offensively, he was sharp, and together with Hakim Ziyech on the best, he continually badgered the opposition along with his overlapping play.

He created six probabilities within the event and even acquired an help.

Centre-back

Romain Saiss (Morocco)

Morocco conceded only one aim on its highway to the semifinal the place it misplaced 2-0 to France. Atlas Lions captain Romain Saiss had an enormous position to play on this defensive compactness. He shaped a strong partnership with Jawad El Yamiq on the again, which proved powerful for opponents to interrupt down.

Saiss displayed a superb efficiency in opposition to Portugal within the quarterfinal. Throughout the event, Saiss made 28 recoveries. Such was his significance, that his harm fully dismantled Morocco’s backline because it conceded two in opposition to France.

Centre-back

Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)

Croatia’s 20-year-old left-footed centre-back Josko Gvardiol has been one of many revelations of the event.

Playing each minute of his nation’s World Cup marketing campaign, Gvardiol had 44 recoveries- a tournament-leading determine. He had eight interceptions and ranks second behind Netherland’s Jurrien Timber, who has 10.

Gvardiol was equally environment friendly in aerial and floor tackling. This, alongside along with his glorious understanding of positioning, allowed him to anticipate attacking threats from the opposition. 

He additionally scored a aim in Croatia’s 2-1 win in opposition to Morocco within the third-place match, the place he scored the primary aim with a diving header, changing into his nation’s youngest-ever World Cup scorer at 20 years and 328 days.

Left-back

Theo Hernandez (France)

What makes Theo Hernandez such a harmful fullback is his immense work charge. His brother, Lucas, was dominated out for the event, however Theo proved to be an important side in France’s setup- each in defence and assault.

He created 10 probabilities, together with bagging a aim and an help within the event. In reality, Hernandez’s aim in opposition to Morocco was the primary one Morocco conceded from an opposition participant within the Qatar World Cup.

Defensively, he gained 13 tackles and made 30 recoveries, that are good numbers for a fullback.

Midfielder

Aurelien Tchouameni (France)

Aurelien Tchouameni of France missed his penalty within the closing shootout in opposition to Argentina, nevertheless it doesn’t take away the good event he had for his nation.

Up to the ultimate, defensively, the midfielder has probably the most interceptions within the World Cup (12) – based on Opta – adopted by Declan Rice (11) and Jurrien Timber (10).

He scored a superb aim from distance in opposition to England within the quarterfinal to open the scoring for France in its 2-1 win in opposition to the Three Lions.

With Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante’s absence, Tchouameni got here into the event with a variety of expectations, and it’s protected to say that he lived as much as them, regardless of failing to cross the ultimate hurdle.

Midfielder

Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)

Sofyan Amrabat was a rock for Morocco in the midst of the park and a significant motive behind nipping opposition assaults within the bud.

Amrabat had a move proportion of 85% in 660 minutes of playtime and created two probabilities from open play. But his essential job was snatching the ball from the opposition, and he did very effectively, racking up 57 recoveries all through the event and profitable 10 tackles.

Amrabat was an enormous motive behind Morocco having such a stellar defensive document.

Left-wing

Kylian Mbappe (France)

Kylian Mbappe gained his first World Cup for France when he was simply 18 and reached his second successive closing on the age of 23. He is touted as the subsequent huge factor, and there’s not even a shred of exaggeration in that.

Mbappe completed because the Golden Boot winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with eight objectives and scored a hat-trick within the closing in opposition to Argentina, changing into simply the second participant to take action in a World Cup closing after Geoff Hurst for England in opposition to West Germany in 1966.

Apart from the eight objectives, Mbappe had two assists within the marketing campaign. He can be simply the fifth man to attain in a number of World Cup finals and the second to attain in back-to-back finals.  

Central-attacking midfielder

Antoine Griezmann (France)

Antoine Griezmann was one of many huge the reason why France was such an attacking menace within the World Cup. Often underrated, he is without doubt one of the most hardworking gamers on the crew. Despite having a bland season with Atletico Madrid earlier than the World Cup, for France, he was immaculate.

He created 9 probabilities for France from open play and offered three assists for the Les Blues, two of which got here in opposition to England within the quarterfinal. With 28 assists, he broke the joint document of 26 assists set by Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane.

He was additionally essential for France within the defensive section of play as he snatched the ball from the opposition. He has eight interceptions and 34 recoveries on this World Cup.

Right-wing

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Lionel Messi lastly accomplished his trophy cupboard after profitable his World Cup after beating France within the World Cup closing.

Also Read | Messi and Argentina’s World Cup wait ends with dramatic closing win over France

Winner of the Golden Ball, Messi was essential in Argentina’s run to the ultimate. He scored seven objectives for Argentina and bagged three assists. In the knockout rounds, he scored 5 objectives, together with two within the closing. Messi additionally created seventeen probabilities for the Albiceleste from open play.

He gained 5 ‘Man of the Match’ awards, probably the most gained by any participant in a single version of a event.

Striker

Julian Alvarez (Argentina)

Julian Alvarez began the World Cup from the bench however rapidly made his manner into the beginning lineup after impressing head coach Lionel Scaloni.

Alvarez scored 4 objectives for Argentina within the World Cup, together with knockout objectives in opposition to Australia and Croatia. His link-up play with Messi was an enormous motive behind Argentina’s attacking menace.

Lautaro Martinez’s underperformance was the explanation why Alvarez began, however after this World Cup, Argentina may have its new No. 9 for its long-term future.

How the crew would form up (4-2-3-1)