This team has been selected according to several rules.
Firstly, there can only be one player per nation.
Secondly, the team has been selected as one that could actually play together, and within
the formation selected.
This stops the team being overloaded with strikers and attacking midfielders: they may
catch the eye, but many could not flourish without the grunt work being done behind.
This is a team that could do well, as a team, with players that caught the eye at every
stage of the World Cup.
Goalkeeper: Kasper Schmeichel – Denmark
(Club: Leicester City, age 31, caps 39)
Denmark were one of only five sides to progress from the Group Stage having conceded one goal
or fewer, and Kasper Schmeichel then produced one of the goalkeeping performances of the
tournament as Denmark took on eventual finalists Croatia.
He saved Luka Modric’s penalty in extra time, ensuring the game went to penalties,
and then saved two spot kicks in the shoot-out.
It was to no avail, but his heroics played no small part in ensuring that Denmark exceeded
expectations.
Just missed out: Jordan Pickford (ENG), Jo Hyeon-woo (KOR)
Right wing back: Kieran Trippier – England
(Club: Tottenham Hotspur, age 27, caps 12)
A superb free-kick in the semi-final was just reward for Kieran Trippier, who showed that
he is one of the world’s leading wing backs with a series of excellent performances.
His delivery, both from open play and set pieces, was a key factor in England’s progression
through the tournament, and only four players bettered his 3.4 key passes per game.
Defensively solid, but eye-catching in attack, Trippier took to England’s 3-5-2 system
brilliantly and emerged onto the world stage as a real talent.
Just missed out: Benjamin Pavard (FRA), Sime Vrsalijko (CRO)
Centre back: Maya Yoshida – Japan
(Club: Southampton, age 29, caps 87)
Japan exceeded expectations and won plaudits with their technical, tactically intelligent
football, playing a 4-2-3-1 that built superbly from the back.
Maya Yoshida passed long and short, hitting the flanks or the midfield with a series of
astute, well-executed passes.
He defended well, too – only Russia’s Ignashevich exceeded Yoshida’s 8.3 clearances
per game, and his defending was marked by positionally astute covering and composure.
After a tough club season with Southampton, Yoshida can be well pleased with his Russian
summer.
Just missed out: Josh Risdon (AUS), Raphael Varane (FRA)
Centre back: Diego Godin – Uruguay (C)
(Club: Athletico Madrid, age 32, caps 122)
Uruguay only conceded three goals during the World Cup, and captain Diego Godin was a rock
at the heart of Uruguay’s defensive effort.
He made 2.6 interceptions, 2 tackles, and 4.4 clearances per game.
During Uruguay’s lacklustre early performances Godin also showed his all-round quality.
As well as leading by defensive example, he regularly carried the ball into midfield in
an effort to inject some dynamism.
Calm, collected, and uncompromising, Godin showed why he is one of the world’s top
defenders.
Just missed out: John Stones (ENG), Manuel Akanji (SUI)
Centre back: Yerry Mina – Colombia
(Club: Barcelona, age 23, caps 15)
Colombia were sometimes scintillating, sometimes ugly and Mina was similarly unpredictable.
While Colombia’s defensive system often left him a lot to do, covering behind the
marauding Johan Mojica, Mina mixed brilliant recovery tackles with haphazard positioning
and the occasional ill-conceived dribble.
Seven clearances per game shows a robust defensive style, but what gets Mina the nod is three
goals from set pieces, two of them crucial, one to beat Senegal, and then again to secure
penalties against England; no defender scored more.
Just missed out: Harry Maguire (ENG), Jose Gimenez (URU)
Left wing back: Jesus Gallardo – Mexico
(Club: Monterrey, age 23, caps 27)
Mexico’s oscillating 4-2-3-1 slash 3-1-3-3 produced one of the games of the tournament,
as they overcame Germany with rapid counter attacks.
Central to their efforts was the young Monterrey wing back, who played up and down the touchline,
supporting Hirving Lozano and making sure Mexico were not themselves caught out.
He made 2.5 tackles, 2.5 interceptions, and 3.3 clearances per game and, along with Miguel
Layun, patrolled Mexico’s flanks with energy and skill.
Just missed out: Lucas Hernandez (FRA), Diego Laxalt (URU)
Defensive midfielder: Idrissa Gana Gueye – Senegal
(Club: Everton, age 28, caps 57)
Senegal showed that lazy stereotypes about African teams were just that with a series
of superbly organised defensive performances, showcasing a high pressing 4-4-2 that required
discipline and communication.
Central to this was Gueye, who demonstrated that he is one of the world’s most underrated
defensive midfielders.
In addition to his defensive work, Gueye was crucial as Senegal looked to keep possession
until gaps appeared, and his tidy passing kept the team ticking over – a superb, all-round
midfield performance.
Just missed out: N’Golo Kante (FRA), Valon Behrami (SUI)
Central midfielder: Luka Modric – Croatia
(Club: Real Madrid, age 32, caps 112)
Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalic seemed to struggle with the conundrum of how to fit two of the
world’s best midfielders into his team, and eventually solved it by adding one that
wasn’t nearly as good but did all the legwork.
Croatia, and Modric, then blossomed, and the diminutive playmaker showed that he could
run games when not being asked to defend deeply.
Prior to the final, Modric had two goals, one assist, and had made almost 70 passes
per game.
He was also Croatia’s talisman and leader.
Just missed out: Kevin de Bruyne (BEL), Paul Pogba (FRA)
Central midfielder: Philippe Coutinho – Brazil
(Club: Barcelona, age 26, caps 41)
Coutinho started on the left hand side of Brazil’s 4-3-3, sandwiched between full
back Marcelo and forward Neymar.
While Tite’s Brazil underperformed, Coutinho showed that he could offer a consistent threat
pushing up and inside, fashioning shooting chances, making two assists, 2.6 key passes
per game, and completing 89.9% of his passes.
He also scored twice, as many as Neymar, and managed to chip in with some defensive work
on Brazil’s more exposed flank.
Perhaps the one Brazilian to emerge with his reputation genuinely enhanced.
Just missed out: Roman Zobnin (RUS), Ivan Rakitic (CRO)
Second striker: Kylian Mbappe – France
(Club: Paris Saint-Germain, age 19, caps 21)
France’s 4-2-3-1, which morphed into a 4-3-3, had two real outlets: the surging carries
and long passes of Paul Pogba, and the exhilarating running of Kylian Mbappe.
His pace terrified defences, his close control and ability to fashion shooting chances yielded
three goals with the chance to add to that in the final, and his link up play showed
a brilliant young footballer on the cusp of genuine greatness.
Against Argentina, he was unplayable – it’s been Mbappe’s tournament.
Just missed out: Eden Hazard (BEL), Aleksandr Golovin (RUS)
Centre forward: Romelu Lukaku – Belgium
(Club: Manchester United, age 25, caps 74)
Four goals scored doesn’t tell the whole story of Lukaku’s time in Russia, which
ended in semi-final defeat to France.
Playing through the centre, he held up the ball, challenged defenders, and scored and
created chances.
Against Brazil, he wreaked havoc on the right hand side in a 4-3-3 that saw Kevin de Bruyne
playing as a false nine.
Versatile, showing superb awareness and intelligence, such as when he left the ball for Chadli’s
goal against Japan, and a constant threat, Lukaku had a wonderful tournament.
Just missed out: Harry Kane (ENG), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)