How would you line up an 11-player all-star team based on the players’ performances 2018 World Cup? Here’s what we came up with.
Thibaut Courtois (goalkeeper) Belgium
We might betalking about Brazil or England if it wasn’t for his saves.
Benjamin Pavard (defender) France
The 22-year-old, whose golazo against Argentina set France onthe path to the title, turned out to be a key late addition to the French backline.
Diego Godin (defender) Uruguay
Chief of the La Celeste defense that gaveup zero goals in the group stage and beat Portugal before falling to the eventual champs.
Raphael Varane (defender) France
Marshaled French central defenseand scored go-ahead goal against Uruguay.
Lucas Hernandez (defender) France
Like Pavard, a 22-year-old late addition to the French backline, also sparkedattacks, setting up goals against Argentina and Croatia.
Paul Pogba (midfielder) France
The world champion’s midfield orchestrator put an exclamation mark onhis performance with a goal in the final that started with his 50-yard pass.
Kevin De Bruyne (midfielder) Belgium
Scored the winner against Brazil and set upthe winning goal against Japan.
Luka Modric (midfielder) Croatia
The playmaker for the most surprising World Cup finalist ever.
EdenHazard (midfielder) Belgium
The creative force behind the third-place finisher.
Kylian Mbappe (winger) France
Most successful teenager ata World Cup since Pele in 1958.
Mario Mandzukic (forward) Croatia
Spearheaded Croatia’s run the final with his winner against England and also struck in bigwin over Argentina.
Here was my starting eleven (4-4-2:
Fwds: Hazard (Bel), Mbappe (Fra)
Mids: Coutinho (Brz), Griezmann (Fra), Modraic (Cro), De Bruyne (Bel)
Def.: Marcelo (Brz), Granqvist (Swe), Varane (Fra), Pavard (Eng)
G/K: Courtois (Bel)
Not much argument from me on any of the selections.
If you didn’t have Godin on your list I really question if you were watching the tournament.