DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé head the alternatives for the staff of the event as chosen by writers masking the World Cup for The Related Press.The staff was picked utilizing the 4-3-3 formation most popular by most nations at this World Cup.Ten of the 11 gamers reached the semifinals, with in-demand England midfielder Jude Bellingham the exception. ___GOALKEEPER: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)Livakovic was Croatia’s penalty-shootout savior towards Japan within the quarterfinals, when he saved three spot kicks, and Brazil within the quarterfinals, when he denied Rodrygo. His efficiency towards Brazil stood out as he thwarted the event favourite repeatedly earlier than Neymar’s aim in further time, and certain put him on the radar of some huge golf equipment in Europe. Livakovic at present performs for Croatian staff Dinamo Zagreb. His solely mistake was bringing down Julián Álvarez for a penalty transformed by Lionel Messi within the 3-0 loss to Argentina within the semifinals.RIGHT BACK: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)Hakimi may need established himself as the most effective proper again on the earth together with his performances in Qatar, the place he blended solidity in protection with surging runs in Morocco’s counterattacks to assist with its assault. Regardless of carrying an damage all through the event, he transferred his membership kind with Paris Saint-Germain to the World Cup and performed each recreation, even serving to to largely neutralize his membership teammate and good friend Kylian Mbappé within the semifinals. Their embrace on the finish of the match was a touching second, whereas his “Panenka” penalty to win the shootout towards Spain within the spherical of 16 was audacious.LEFT BACK: Theo Hernandez (France)Hernandez began the World Cup as backup at left again to his older brother, Lucas, who sustained a tournament-ending ruptured ACL in his proper knee simply eight minutes into France’s opening recreation towards Australia. Naturally extra attacking than his sibling, Theo has crammed in impressively and linked up nicely down the left with Kylian Mbappé, establishing a aim for France’s celebrity striker towards Denmark and likewise for Adrien Rabiot towards Australia. Hernandez additionally scored the opening aim within the 2-0 win over Morocco and produced stable defensive performances apart from a tricky night time towards England winger Bukayo Saka within the quarterfinals.CENTER BACK: Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)Gvardiol may be finest remembered on the World Cup for being turned inside out by Lionel Messi for Argentina’s third aim within the semifinals. In any other case, he did little flawed, bolstering his repute as some of the sought-after heart backs within the European recreation at simply age 20. Often called “Little Pep” due to the similarities of his final title with that of Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola, Gvardiol — who wore a face masks on the World Cup after breaking his nostril final month — marshalled a Croatia protection that conceded simply three objectives in 5 video games earlier than arising towards Messi and Co. He additionally scored within the third-place playoff.CENTER BACK: Nicolas Otamendi (Argentina)Otamendi is one among two Argentina gamers — together with Lionel Messi — to play each minute on the street to the ultimate and one among three outfield gamers to start out each recreation. The chief of Argentina’s rugged protection that has improved all through the event, Otamendi will make his a centesimal look for his nation if he performs within the closing of what is going to in all probability be his final World Cup. A memorable sight was Otamendi collapsing on high of Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez after his last-minute save towards Australia within the spherical of 16.MIDFIELDER: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)Amrabat has been the excellent defensive midfielder within the event, the defend for a Moroccan protection that didn’t concede a aim by an opposition participant till the semifinals. Not solely does he learn the sport expertly — be aware his completely timed deal with on Kylian Mbappé within the semifinals after chasing again alongside the France striker — however he has sparked his teammates’ deadly counterattacks with some well timed and precision passing. Fiorentina will do nicely to carry onto the 26-year-old Amrabat, whose particular skillset is all the time in demand. MIDFIELDER: Jude Bellingham (England)The 19-year-old Bellingham in all probability has his decide of any membership in Europe after his standout performances in England’s run to the quarterfinals. The query now could be when, fairly than if, Borussia Dortmund sells the midfielder, who can do just about something and has an outdated head on younger shoulders. He scored towards Iran, was England’s finest participant towards Senegal within the spherical of 16 and drove his staff on in its second-half restoration towards France within the final eight.MIDFIELDER: Antoine Griezmann (France)Griezmann, who has been a ahead all through his profession, has been reinvented as a midfield playmaker at this World Cup and has been a revelation, doubtless rivalling Messi and Mbappé because the participant of the event. He created 11 probabilities through the group stage, greater than every other participant, then ran the primary half of the quarterfinal match towards England earlier than being awarded the participant of the match within the win over Morocco within the semifinals. Not solely has he demonstrated his creativity with brief and lengthy passes, he has additionally relished the defensive a part of the sport, which was wanted towards Morocco specifically.STRIKER: Kylian Mbappé (France)Mbappé has been France’s most necessary ahead for the second straight World Cup, main the staff to the brink of back-to-back titles on the age of 23. He scored 4 objectives in France’s run to the trophy in 2018 and has added 5 within the lead-up to the ultimate 4 years later, together with his two glorious finishes towards Poland within the spherical of 16 being the highlights. On that trajectory, Miroslav Klose’s report of 16 profession World Cup objectives will certainly be threatened by Mbappé if he stays wholesome.STRIKER: Lionel Messi (Argentina)Messi has been a person on a mission since arriving in Qatar, decided to mark doubtless his closing World Cup with the trophy to finish his resume. He has scored 5 objectives, together with in each spherical within the knockout stage as much as the ultimate, and added three assists. Messi has additionally offered a few of the most thrilling moments of particular person high quality, like his dribbles to arrange objectives for Nahuel Molina towards the Netherlands within the quarterfinals and for Julián Álvarez towards Croatia within the semifinals. Messi has turn into Argentina’s all-time high scorer on the World Cup with 11 objectives and can make his twenty sixth World Cup look — a report — within the closing.STRIKER: Julián Álvarez (Argentina)Álvarez has come from nowhere to turn into one among Argentina’s most necessary gamers, having changed Lautaro Martinez after his teammate’s poor performances within the opening two video games. The 22-year-old Manchester Metropolis striker has scored 4 objectives in 4 begins and so they have all been completely different — a roller into the highest nook towards Poland, a poacher’s end after closing down the goalkeeper towards Australia, a run from midway for his first aim towards Croatia after which a close-range tap-in for his second.___Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80___AP World Cup protection: https://Fifanews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Messi, Mbappé lead alternatives for AP’s staff of the World Cup
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