Tonight a group stage has closed that has left several surprises
Bruno Fernandes, Mbappé and Gvardiol have been three of the best players in this group stage of the World Cup
The group stage of this World Cup in Qatar has lowered the blind tonight and has done so leaving some notable surprises. The goodbye of Germany and Belgium is, without a doubt, one of the most forceful news. You don’t win over anyone with the name and that is why other teams such as Australia, Japan or Morocco have managed to make a splash and get into the round of 16. On their own merits, of course.
Now, after this first phase that always leaves surprise, it’s time to take stock and build the eleven type of what we have in the World Cup. There are many players who have left in this group stage and who are left out. But it is that not all can enter. Let’s go with our eleven. A manual 4-3-3.
szczesny
Without a doubt, the goalkeeper who has done the most merits to be here. He has saved two penalties in just three World Cup games and without his presence it would not be understood that Poland would be in the round of 16. He saved Leo Messi from a maximum penalty with a real save. It has been the wall of the Polish team and key so that the few goals produced above had an effect on the results. Poland passed just enough, but without Szczesny they would have stayed in the first round. Definitely.
Achraf Hakimi
Morocco has been one of the surprises getting into the round of 16. Not because they don’t have great players, but because of how balanced the team has been at all times. But in all balance, a pinch of imbalance is needed. It has been played by Ziyech, En-Nesyri and company, but above all it has been played by Achraf Hakimi from the side.
The one from PSG has been a real dagger on the right flank of the Moroccan attack. More offensive than defensive, Hakimi has taken over the entire lane and has shown an impressive imbalance when he gets his bike going. A machine to reach the bottom line and put dangerous centers. He plays where he wants.
Kalidou Koulibaly
A winner of duels as definition. Both in attack, scoring the goal against Ecuador that put Senegal in the round of 16 of the World Cup, and in defense. Koulibaly has been the great boss of the African team in this group stage, acting as the undisputed leader and strong man for Aliou Cissé on the green.
He directs, corrects and spurs his teammates throughout the game. Faced with the loss of Sadio Mané, Koulibaly has taken command of the team and has made it his own. In defence, an insurmountable wall with Abdou Diallo.
Josko Gvardiol
The center of the present and the future. A perfect group stage for a defender who is called to mark an era. He has an exquisite ball output, he is always well positioned, he is expeditious in cutting and, in addition, he is left-footed. Gvardiol, at 20, is an undisputed pillar of Croatia and is already among the best in the world.
He can act both as a center back and as a winger, although Dalic has no plans to move him from the central axis, seeing the good pairing he has built with Lovren. The one from RB Leipzig is the best central defender so far in the World Cup. He does everything right.
antonee robinson
The right-hander is more in the media with Sergiño Dest, but the United States has found a left-back who has excelled and in what way in this World Cup. He has a clear offensive vocation (like the entire US team), rises judiciously and puts up centers that are practically candy. He has combined perfectly with McKennie and Pulisic on the left flank of the American attack. One of the pleasant surprises of this World Cup without a doubt. Fulham have a side for a while.
Declan Rice
Bellingham is the one who gets praise for his elegance, his power and his ability to step on the opposite area with great ease, but let no one forget that for the Dortmund player to arrive, someone must stay. And that’s Rice.
The West Ham pivot, who is aiming for a famous transfer in the summer, has exhibited in this World Cup all the qualities that a modern pivot should have: good ball output, suffocating pressure and always attentive to coverage. He is not as popular as Bellingham, but he is another of the players to watch in England.
Mohammed Kudus
One of the proper names. He had already excelled with Ajax this season, but the truth is that few expected this appearance in an entire World Cup. Quick with the ball at his feet, Constantly creating danger and with the ability to see the goal with ease. His lack of definition between attacking midfielder and striker plays in his favor.
Versatility at the service of a Ghana that has shown potential in Qatar. Iñaki Williams was, perhaps, the one who had gathered the most media noise, but Kudus has taken the reports from the ‘big’ Europeans. He will soon leave Ajax. He is only 22 years old.
Bruno Fernandes
He is called to take the crown of King of Portugal from Cristiano Ronaldo. If he hasn’t already. His letter of introduction in this World Cup group stage has been two tremendously key goals and two assists so that the Portuguese got into the round of 16 without even having to play the third game.
He starts from the playmaker or inside, but moves where he wants, just as he does with Manchester United. He gives rhythm and pause to the games when he plays, although he always has the goal between his eyebrows. He loves to step on area. If Bruno continues at this level, Portugal points to a serious candidate to win the World Cup.
Leo Messi
If Argentina finally got into the round of 16 of the World Cup it was thanks to their great captain. Little can already be said about Leo Messi. When the classification got uglier drawing against Mexico, the ’10’ took a lash out of his sleeve from the edge of the area to say ‘here I am, Argentina’.
He missed a maximum penalty against Poland, but that was the least of it. He is the undisputed leader of the Albiceleste and the one in charge of putting the light on an Argentine game that, for now, is not being too brilliant. In case of doubt, he balls to ’10’.
Cody Gakpo
It is not being a great World Cup in the Netherlands, at least as far as the game is concerned. Frenkie de Jong is playing at a high level, but he lacks partners. They are lacking in the wide zone, because they have quality central defenders behind and, above all, they have a striker who is making a difference: Cody Gakpo.
The PSV player, who is already dwarfed in the Eredivisie, has scored in all three group stage matches of this World Cup and has shown that goals are falling out of his pockets. He started more as a midfielder, but now he is the ‘9’ of the tulips. A born scorer who aims for the Premier.
kylian mbappe
Together with Griezmann, the undisputed leader of France. The PSG striker has been key with his goals to put France in the round of 16 of the World Cup as the first group. When they let him run and serve him balls into space, he’s the best player in the world.
He has understood perfectly with Theo Hernández and has used Giroud’s power of attraction to play more freely behind his back. He starts from the left, but he loves to finish on the inside. The options of France in this World Cup will depend on their level. The collective works so that he marks the differences in the rival area.