It’s been an fulfilling match, filled with surprises and nice moments for the underdog. However England falling brief pained me.
I firmly imagine if we had acquired previous France we’d have made it to the ultimate and brought our probabilities with a very dogged Argentina facet. However credit score to France, they’d the mentality of champions and confirmed maturity to get previous Morocco and on to the ultimate.
We will go ahead with agency perception we’re a group that may develop and be feared — however we must be extra streetwise to realize that edge and make these huge finals.
This choice could increase eyebrows however Harry Kane dragged England ahead on the World Cup
DOMINIK LIVAKOVIC Croatia
I believed Morocco’s Yassine Bounou was excellent and has actually made saves to make you go ‘wow’ however Livakovic has been pivotal for Croatia. His organisation, shot-stopping and penalty-saving exploits, significantly in opposition to Japan and Brazil, dragged Croatia by way of to the semi-finals. He stored them in video games the place they need to have been useless and buried.
KYLE WALKER England
He solely made three appearances however you possibly can’t underestimate how properly Walker did to return again from groin surgical procedure and carry out on the stage he did. He had slightly below an hour in opposition to Wales, was clocking 21mph in his restoration sprints in opposition to Senegal and was super in opposition to Kylian Mbappe. Achraf Hakimi of Morocco has had a terrific match however Walker reduce such a reliable determine and did all the higher when you think about what he got here again from.
RAPHAEL VARANE France
I’ll in all probability get {accused} of Manchester United bias, however Varane has been an enormous affect on France’s defence all over and held them collectively along with his composure and anticipation. At instances, these round him, resembling Dayot Upamecano, have regarded rash and susceptible to lunging in but Varane lined properly and acquired them out of hassle. He was terrific en path to the ultimate.
JOSKO GVARDIOL Croatia
Nonetheless solely 20 and he was a rock for Croatia. It’s no surprise Europe’s high golf equipment wish to signal him. He’s highly effective, reads the sport rather well and is nice at popping out of defence. He could have been proven up by Lionel Messi however he’s not alone there and he’ll be taught from that have.
Kyle Walker did brilliantly to return again from groin surgical procedure and play on the stage he did
THEO HERNANDEZ France
Had a rush of blood to the top giving freely a penalty in opposition to Mason Mount however in any other case has been glorious in defence and assault. He scored a terrific purpose in opposition to Morocco when he had the composure to get excessive over the ball and fireplace it into the bottom — a bit like my end in opposition to France in 1982 — so I do know that’s an unbelievably troublesome artwork… solely kidding. However all the identical, a beautiful purpose from a tenacious defender.
CASEMIRO Brazil
Oozes calmness within the centre of the park and is a wonderful passer of the ball. If you happen to look, he performs a delicate function in plenty of Brazil’s finest build-up play and he scored a cracking purpose in opposition to Switzerland when his nation really wanted him. At all times steps up, is rarely afraid of taking duty and, fittingly, scored his penalty within the quarter-final in opposition to Croatia. There was a case for Declan Rice forcing himself in right here too however I felt he might have carried out extra in opposition to France within the quarter-final.
SOFYAN AMRABAT Morocco
His workrate, stamina and combative recreation have been glorious. When you think about he was taking part in by way of again and muscle accidents in the direction of the top it underlines his selfless perspective. He gave every little thing for the trigger and had a terrific match. The adage is rarely purchase a participant primarily based on a World Cup however I’m assured he turns in comparable performances for Fiorentina and you may think about there may be now a queue forming for his providers after.
Casemiro was good for Brazil, he at all times steps up and is rarely afraid of taking duty
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN France
He can do every little thing. If I’d have been taking part in for England in opposition to France I’d have been moaning continuous to get him despatched off. He was actually cute at breaking down England’s assaults with intelligent fouls and I’d misplaced rely of what number of he dedicated earlier than he was even booked. A inventive pressure however he did a damaging job, then to rub it in he delivers the standard cross for France’s quarter-final winner.
LIONEL MESSI Argentina
I’d give Messi license to roam behind the strikers so he’d want a midfield of Casemiro, Amrabat and Griezmann to do the legwork. He has turned it on when he has wanted to. At instances he merely conserves his vitality and walks into house in order that when he receives the ball within the pocket he can burst into the field and make issues occur. He’s nonetheless an excellent expertise with an extremely sharp soccer mind.
Lionel Messi confirmed everybody he’s nonetheless an excellent expertise along with his performances this World Cup
HARRY KANE England
This choice could increase a couple of eyebrows however, even taking Olivier Giroud under consideration, I don’t assume there’s been a greater centre ahead at this match. Sure, he missed a penalty however that may occur to anybody. There have been instances in opposition to France when he dragged England ahead along with his brilliance, which ought to have earned one other penalty, and in earlier video games his workrate and motion created quite a few probabilities for his teammates. This expertise will make him even stronger.
KYLIAN MBAPPE France
His electrical tempo is a large a part of his recreation so that you surprise how lengthy he can proceed with that as his principal asset. He has expertise too in fact. He’s highly effective and has nice capturing means however I’m inclined to query whether or not he can hit and preserve the identical ranges that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have over time. Nonetheless, not many defenders can address him and he’s essential to a France group that has the know-how to make World Cup finals.
Not many defenders know the way to deal with Kylian Mbappe’s electrical tempo in addition to his expertise
ROBBO’S WORLD CUP XI (4-3-1-2)
Livakovic; Walker, Varane, Gvardiol, Hernandez; Casemiro, Amrabat, Griezmann; Messi; Kane, Mbappe
Bryan Robson’s XI for the 2022 World Cup consists of England’s Harry Kane and Kyle Walker
