At time of writing, there is one game left at the 2022 World Cup. The final between France and Argentina is a fitting finale for what has been a fantastic tournament, filled with upsets, drama and plenty of magic moments.
This should not serve as some kind of vindication for staging it in Qatar, with everything from the host nation’s pitiful performances on the pitch to the lifeless atmospheres and half-empty stadiums showing what a poor choice they were (and that’s only from a sporting perspective) but there were clearly some benefits to staging it in the middle of the season, with star players still at the peak of their form.
This tournament has also shown us that the traditional footballing hierarchy is growing less and less prominent, with teams all over the world now able to compete on a tactical and physical level. There were more teams from Asia in the knockout stages than South America and the heroic Moroccans were the first ever African semi-finalist.
With so much to discuss, here are my picks for the best eleven of the tournament, with a few honourable mentions thrown in:
GK- Yassine Bounou (Morocco)
Spoiler, this is not the first Moroccan in this team. The North Africans have surely been the team of the tournament, topping a difficult group and then beating Spain and Portugal on their way to the last four. And that magic run has been built on the sturdiest of defences. Bounou has the joint-most clean sheets in the tournament and has made key saves in their games, whilst his heroics in the penalty shoot-out against Spain will go down in his country’s history.
Honourable Mentions: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia); Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)
RB- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Hakimi has not only been a crucial part of the aforementioned watertight Moroccan defence but is also such a massive part of their offensive strategy. His blistering pace down the right-flank is such a weapon and at times he was their most advanced player. His performances have perhaps marked him out as the best right-back in the world at this moment in time.
Honourable Mentions: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands); Nahuel Molina (Argentina)
CB- Romain Saiss (Morocco)
I promise this is not just the Moroccan team but one of my favourite things about the World Cup is seeing a player I had thought to be totally average turn into an international superstar. Saiss played like John Terry or Carlos Puyol at this tournament, throwing his body in front of everything and winning every header anytime the ball came into his box. And on top of that, he seemed to be playing with a constant hamstring injury. Had he not been restricted by the injury in the final games, Morocco may have gone even further.
Honourable Mentions: John Stones (England); Pepe (Portugal)
CB- Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
One of the most obvious picks and for good reason. Gvardiol was highly thought of before, but has emerged as the best young centre-half in World football after his performances at the World Cup. He’s built like a s***house, lighting quick and good on the ball. He’ll not be short of suitors in the summer.
Honourable Mentions: Thiago Silva (Brazil); Cristian Romero (Argentina)
LB- Theo Hernandez (France)
This was probably the hardest position to pick as I don’t think there was an obvious standout left-back in the tournament. Hernandez gets it on the basis of his one goal and two assists. Considering he only came into the team because of an injury to his brother, Lucas, that’s not bad going. How he copes with a certain Lionel Messi tomorrow is a different matter entirely.
Honourable Mentions: Luke Shaw (England); Daley Blind (Netherlands)
CDM- Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
There are always break-out stars at a World Cup and this time there have been none bigger than Sofyan Amrabat. He plays his club football away from the spotlight for mid-table Serie A side Fiorentina, but he has been absolutely world-class for his country. That tackle on Mbappe is a tournament highlight.
Honourable Mentions: Aurelien Tchouameni (France); Casemiro (Brazil)
CM- Jude Bellingham (England)
Maybe there’s a bit of bias here and there are certainly other contenders for the spot, but Bellingham has just been so, so good. He can quite literally do everything: tackle, dribble, run in-behind, assist, score headers. The lot. England are lucky to have him and if he lives up to his astronomic potential, they might have a genuine world-leading player on their hands.
Honourable Mentions: Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco); Mateo Kovacic (Croatia)
CM- Antoine Griezmann (France)
I think Griezmann has been one of the most underrated players of his generation. And its testament to what a good player he is that he has undergone a complete transformation in position and role within this French team. From being their central striker and main goal-getter at Euro 2016 to something more akin to a creative midfielder now, at times just as impressive defensively as offensively. He deserves more respect and this tournament might finally have earned him that.
Honourable Mentions: Luka Modric (Croatia); Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
RW- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Do I even need to write anything on this one? The greatest footballer of all time. Putting on one final show at surely his last ever world cup. Maybe not the constant force he once was, but still capable of moments that no other player can match. It feels written that he finally gets to lift the trophy that has eluded him. I am among those wishing he does.
Honourable Mentions: Hakim Ziyech (Morocco); Bukayo Saka (England)
ST- Olivier Giroud (France)
Similar to Griezmann, Giroud firmly belongs in the ‘criminally underrated’ category. In fact, he might actually be the most underrated player ever. He’s basically won it all, he scores big goals and his link-up play has always been flawless. And at 36, he’s still doing it at the highest level. Deservedly now France’s record goal-scorer, he’s another who has had one hell of a last dance.
Honourable Mentions: Julian Alvarez (Argentina); Richarlison (Brazil)
LW- Kylian Mbappe (France)
I find myself wanting to dislike Mbappe. The ridiculous saga over the summer was further evidence that he is very much an indulged superstar who has an ego similar to Cristiano Ronaldo. But f*** me, he is good. And when he’s at this best, as he has been at times in Qatar, he’s unstoppable. Electric pace, lighting quick feet and lethal finishing. He’s the obvious heir apparent to Messi and Ronaldo as the best player in the world.
Honourable Mentions: Cody Gakpo (Netherlands); Ivan Perisic (Croatia)
And now for some traditional and not-so-traditional awards to celebrate the best and worst of the tournament…
Best Player- Lionel Messi
It’s a toss-up between him and Mbappe but Messi plays in a weaker team and has dragged them through single-handedly at times.
Best Young Player- Josko Gvardiol
Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez are contenders, but Gvardiol just about edges it for overall importance to his team’s performances.
Surprise Package- Japan
I know it’s Morocco really, but I’ve talked enough about them already. Japan have been my favourite team to watch this tournament with their fearless attacking football a real joy. Their victories over Germany and Spain were incredible.
Best Game- Argentina 2-2 Netherlands (Quarter-Final)
This game had everything you want in a football match. An astonishing assist from Messi; a thrilling comeback from the Netherlands, including a brilliantly inventive last-minute free-kick routine; disgraceful behaviour/elite s***housery depending on your persuasion with Paredes volleying a ball into the Netherlands bench; loads of bookings; whole-team scraps; a penalty shoot-out. And of course, Messi calling Wout Weghorst a donkey. The only time those two will ever be mentioned in the same sentence.
Best Moment- The two or three minutes of madness in Group E
This is a niche one and it requires the screenshot above to explain. But for two or three glorious minutes, a group containing former champions Spain and Germany had Japan and Costa Rica going through. Despite Costa Rica losing 7-0 to Spain in their first game. Something that could only happen in football. Germany went and ruined it by turning the game around against the Costa Ricans but just for a moment, we existed in another universe where logic disappeared and nothing made sense.
Biggest Disappointment- Denmark
Again, maybe not the obvious choice, as I think most people would have Belgium here, but Denmark were absolutely abysmal. Most people had them tipped as dark horses after their performances at Euro 2020, but they finished bottom of the weakest group in the tournament. Scoring just one goal. Rubbish.
George F Brown 