World Cup 2022 – Modric, Hakimi, Mbappé, Messi: the standard team for the World Cup in Qatar

It’s a small tradition. After each major event, his typical team. Eurosport is no exception to the rule and therefore gives you its ideal eleven after a month of World Cup in Qatar. With three representatives each, Argentina, France and Morocco carve out a choice share. So much so that no player who remained at the quarter-final stage, despite the obvious candidacy of Jude Bellingham in particular, made the cut.

Here is our eleven, in 4-3-1-2:

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50,000 supporters to celebrate the Blues at Place de la Concorde

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Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)

In this position, the competition was fierce as the goalkeepers had an enormous weight in the course of the semi-finalists in Qatar. But its final changes everything else. Author of the most important save of his career against Randal Kolo Muani in the 123rd minute of the final, he alone parasitizes the tricolor penalty shootout to allow Argentina to crown themselves. Voted best goalkeeper of the tournament, he also shone against Australia and the Netherlands. Trashtalker infernaldecisive porter.

The absolutely incredible parade of Emiliano Martinez on Kolo Muani

Credit: Getty Images

Right back: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

This time, no history of pistons but an almost similar activity. Classic right-back of the Moroccan team, the Parisian will have been in the oven and in the mill to bring the surplus on the transitions of his people. Author of a decisive pass, he above all perfectly accompanied Hakim Ziyech in front of him to offer a royal right side to the Atlas Lions. Very solid defensively moreover, while we have often pointed out his difficulties in the field. Indisputable and world reference.

Right central defender: Nicolas Otamendi (Argentina)

Its frankly disturbing finish almost made it disappear from the equation, in particular with the profile of a sometimes brilliant Dayot Upamecano. But, for the rest of the tournament, the Argentinian curmudgeon was one of the strong men of the Albiceleste. Rough, disciplined, often well placed, he never let the Argentinian boat, although accustomed to drowning in previous editions, sink.

Left centre-back: Joško Gvardiol (Croatia)

On this point, no debate. No central defender has been as impactful as Gvardiol in Qatar. Rarely caught out in the duel, often interesting in the relaunch, he alone symbolized this long hermetic Croatia. His exceptional tackle on Romelu Lukaku in the group stage, at a very hot moment, sums up his World Cup. No wonder all of Europe’s biggest clubs are already pooling their savings to buy him at a premium.

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Left-back: Théo Hernandez (France)

This is the position that has caused the most debate because no head really sticks out. Marcos Acuna shared the left lane of the world champions with Nicolas Tagliafico, Noussair Mazraoui missed the end of the World Cup for physical glitches and Borna Sosa completely took on water in the semi-finals. In short, in the landscape, only Theo Hernandez remains, irregular as one pleases. Not helped defensively by the rare folds of Mbappé, the Milanese suffered behind but sometimes delighted in front where his agreement with the tricolor prodigy did damage. His goal in the semi-final weighs heavily when doing the accounts.

Right midfielder: Luka Modric (Croatia)

If only he could be forever… What a treat and what a player. In a World Cup where his Croatia seemed aging and no longer as armed as in 2018, he will have achieved the feat of guiding it again in the last four. Always with impeccable accuracy, tactical intelligence above the norm, he even proved that at 37, he had an almost intact engine. His masterpiece will remain this quarter-final against Brazil where he will have flown over the midfield to completely put the Seleçao to sleep before succeeding in his shot on goal. His place in history will deserve to be studied when he retires. May it be as late as possible.

Luke Modric

Credit: Getty Images

Holding midfielder: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)

One of the first names registered on this team. What a discovery and what a player! Excellent soldier of Fiorentina, Amrabat has changed dimension in this World Cup, transcended by the Moroccan environment. It is a bulldozer on leg, which springs with a lot of authority but above all scratches an incalculable number of balloons. Excellent in the duel, he also shone with his orientations during the delicious Moroccan raises. In short, the idea we have of a modern sentry.

Left midfielder: Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco)

We tried to make room for the crack of this World Cup, voted best young player of this World Cup, Enzo Fernandez. But the Benfica nugget played most of the time as sentinel and the Ounahi revelation was too enticing to pass up. Luis Enrique was right to be surprised at the absolutely delirious level of the Angers player: we had never seen him so strong. But, technically, Ounahi is above the pack and, tactically, his volume of play and his always well-chosen choices participated in Morocco’s clinical counterattacks. With him, the Talent League lives up to its name. To see again very quickly at such height.

Azzedine Ounahi, brilliant with Morocco against Portugal

Credit: Getty Images

Playmaker: Antoine Griezmann (France)

Perhaps the only one who does not play in his position in this team. But, at the same time, what position did he occupy in this World Cup? Alternately second striker, playmaker, right torchbearer, left torchbearer or even almost libero when the Blues suffered, Griezmann again became the brain of these Blues. Is right. His ideological marriage with Deschamps transformed him into a total player, capable of tearing himself away on tackles that even conventional circles would not have done, but also of illuminating the game with his class and his always relevant choices. Sa petite finale should not overshadow everything else: he deserves a place in the pantheon of the greatest players of the France team.

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Right forward: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Who else but him? Voted best player of the tournament, the seven-time Ballon d’Or has never shied away from responsibility. Author of the most important goal of this World against Mexico to free a troop paralyzed by the stake, he has continued to grow in power. Divine against Australia, maradonesque against the Netherlands, immense against Croatia and the Blues, he finished his tournament with seven goals (including four penalties) and three assists. But above all this golden trophy for eternity.

Lionel Messi

Credit: Getty Images

Left striker: Kylian Mbappé (France)

His legendary final would have deserved another award. His legendary tournament, even. Crowned top scorer of this World Cup with 8 goals, a total which had not been reached since Ronaldo in 2002, Kylian Mbappé was the most decisive player in the tricolor course. His double against Denmark reignited the flame of hope in the tricolor camp before his round of 16 placed under the sign of nuclear warheads reminds us that he was made of a different wood. Muzzled in the quarter and semi-finals, he woke up thunderously in this final, when the Blues seemed resigned. At 24, he already has 12 World Cup goals. Miroslav Klose and his 16 pawns can shake. A generational player, perhaps the greatest hope of victory for the Blues for the decade to come.

Special Mentions : Hugo Lloris (France), Yassine Bounou (Morocco), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Dayot Upamecano (France), Romain Saiss (Morocco), Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Jude Bellingham (England), Bukayo Saka (England), Julian Alvarez (Argentina)

Why did Mbappé score 10?

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