How on earth do you choose between Casemiro and Aurelien Tchouameni? Between Alisson Becker, Jordan Pickford, Emi Martinez and Yassine Bounou?
Coming up with a combined XI for the World Cup’s quarter-finals almost feels like trying to identify the finest of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Virgil van Dijk or Josko Gvardiol? Denzel Dumfries or Achraf Hakimi? There’s not really a right or wrong answer.
We feel, however, that it’s only fair to judge players on the form they have shown over in Qatar. Which is why, for example, Lionel Messi has to do with a place on the bench behind the Netherlands’ free-scoring Cody Gakpo.
Our 2022 World Cup quarter-finals combined XI
Alisson Becker – Brazil and Liverpool
Liverpool’s number one arguably made more headlines recently for his facial hair rather than his goalkeeping ability. But they do say it’s the mark of a truly world-class shot-stopper; when they can spend 90 minutes as little more than a spectator before springing into action when their team really needs it.
Even as Brazil hammered South Korea, Alisson was still required to pull off a couple of genuinely outstanding reflex saves at the other end. If, by some miracle, you find a way past Casemiro, Marquinhos and Thiago Silva, you’ve then got perhaps the game’s best glovesman to contend with.
No wonder Brazil have conceded just twice in Qatar so far…
Achraf Hakimi – Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain
Denzel Dumfries may have produced one of the finest individual performances of the 2022 World Cup in the last-16, scoring once and setting up two others during the Netherlands’ 3-1 victory over Qatar, but Hakimi’s remarkable consistency for surprise packages Morocco sets him apart from the competition.
Hakimi followed up faultless defensive display against Spain with a Panenka penalty in the shootout. His penguin-themed celebration certainly felt fitting; ice-cool indeed.
Nayef Aguerd – Morocco and West Ham United
Sighs of relief could be heard from Rabat to East London on Tuesday night; Goal reporter Nazaar Kinsella taking to Twitter to calm the fears after Aguerd was subbed off in extra time with what looked like a groin injury before the penalty shoot-out drama with Spain.
“Wouldn’t worry too much about this West Ham fans,” Kinsella wrote. “He was walking through the media area after the match pretty smiley.”
Alongside Hakimi and former Wolves stalwart Romain Saiss, Aguerd has been a rock at the heart of the World Cup’s most watertight backline.
Josko Gvardiol – Croatia and RB Leipzig
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic labelled Gvardiol the ‘best central defender in the world’ after the one-time Leeds United target saved his side from certain defeat in the group-stages, pinching the ball off Romelu Lukaku’s toes in the dying stages.
Dalic’s ‘Man in the Mask’ was arguably even better in the round-of-16 triumph over Japan. So much so that Gvardiol earns a place in our team ahead of Thiago Silva, Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk and co.
Luke Shaw – England and Manchester United
We need to talk about Luke. Is it time we started discussing Gareth Southgate’s number three as a genuinely ‘world-class’ full-back? His performances for club and country in recent months certainly add flesh to the bones of such an argument, with Shaw’s outstanding technique, one-v-one defending and bullish ball-carrying making him one of the first names on Southgate and Erik ten Hag’s team-sheet.
Casemiro – Brazil and Manchester United
Aurelien Tchouameni, Declan Rice and Sofyan Amrabat can probably consider themselves a little unfortunate to miss out but, if you were to rank the world’s very best defensive midfielders, Casemiro would probably come in first, second and third.
Not only the beating heart of this Brazil side, but the lungs too.
Bruno Fernandes – Portugal and Manchester United
The third and final Old Trafford representative in our XI; Bruno Fernandes has taken one giant stride out of Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow this season. With two goals and three assists in just five World Cup appearances, if CR7 is the past, then Fernandes is both the present and the future of both Portugal and Man United.
Jude Bellingham – England and Borussia Dortmund
Honourable mentions must go to Adrien Rabiot, Alexis MacAllister and West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta. But Bellingham has been head and shoulders above almost every other central midfielder in Qatar. 19-going-on-29; if there were any lingering doubts about Bellingham’s ability to contribute on the biggest stage, they have been emphatically dispelled with a series of swaggering, commanding performances.
Cody Gakpo – Netherlands and PSV Eindhoven
One of nine players with three goals to his game thus far, Gakpo scored with his right foot, his left foot and with his head in the group stages. He is another who, like Bellingham, has added a few more pounds onto his price-tag in the Middle East.
Gakpo’s ruthlessness and reliability in the final third earns him a place on our right-wing ahead of Lionel Messi. The Argentine captain, after all, is now the only player in World Cup history to have two penalties saved in the same tournament.
Kylian Mbappe – France and Paris Saint-Germain
Arguably the finest footballer on planet earth today; Mbappe drew level with Les Bleus legends Michel Platini and Zidane Zidane last time out against Poland, taking his tally to a remarkable nine World Cup goals at the age of just 23.
Is Mbappe the only truly ‘unstoppable’ player in Qatar? Well, Kyle Walker will hope to answer that question on Saturday.
Richarlison – Brazil and Tottenham Hotspur
If that sublime volley against Serbia earns Richarlison the Goal of the Tournament award, then the one he scored during the 6-1 thumping of South Korea won’t be far behind; the former Watford and Everton forward putting the finishing touches on a gorgeous team move.
Richarlison has scored goals for Brazil at the Qatar World Cup than he has in 15 games for Tottenham Hotspur.
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