As the World Cup moves into the later stages, the stars take center stage, and while Spain, Portugal and Brazil were knocked out before the semi-finals, this continues to be the case this year. Some of the tournament’s remaining stars aren’t household names yet, but that could change this week with a few special performances.
Here are the top 10 players from the semi-finals – Argentina, Croatia, France and Morocco – still in contention for the World Cup:
10. Aurélien Tchouaméni (France)
In the absence of N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, 22-year-old Aurélien Tchouaméni has taken the reins in France’s midfield, playing a team-high 411 minutes in five starts and completing a tournament-high 93.2% of his 335 passes. tried. Every team needs an engine, and Tchouaméni is France’s.
Aurelien Tchouameni makes a STATEMENT after France’s goal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup | Every corner
France’s Aurelien Tchouameni makes a statement after scoring an impressive goal against England at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
9. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
No one has made more tackles at this year’s World Cup than Hakimi. He is also among the tournament leaders in interceptions with seven; the only players with more are Aurélien Tchouaméni (France), Luka Modrić (Croatia) and Joško Gvardiol; Of these players, only Hakimi is a fullback.
Achraf Hakimi converts the penalty to send Morocco into the quarter-finals | 2022 FIFA World Cup
Achraf Hakimi converts the penalty kick for Morocco to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in World Cup history.
8. Rodrigo de Paul (Argentina)
Argentina’s midfield has been criticized for not having much creativity outside of Lionel Messi, but de Paul has shown the importance of a midfielder willing to do the dirty work at the World Cup. He has covered the most ground (32.5 miles), completed the most passes (436) and caught the most passes. Without him, Argentina’s style of play won’t work.
7. Marcelo Brozović (Croatia)
Against Japan on the 16th. in the semi-finals, Brozović broke his own record by running 10.3 miles. Since the start of the tournament, he has run 44.6 miles on the field and averaged 8.9 miles per game, while leading the team in live ball passes completed leading to field goal attempts (10). He’s a workhorse.
6. Amrabat of Sofia (Morocco)
Since the start of the knockout stages, Amrabat has faced some of the best midfielders in the world and held his own – in some cases playing them. As he is only 26, you can be sure there will be a market for him in the January transfer window. Ambarat currently plays for Serie A center Florentina.
5. Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine “Bono” Bonou has the most clean sheets of the remaining goalkeepers and has won man of the match twice, but make no mistake: there is a big difference between Dominik Livaković and the rest of the field. Livaković has saved 19 goals with a save percentage of 86.4%; Bono has saved five goals with a save percentage of 80 percent. Without a doubt, Livaković is the best goalkeeper left in the tournament.
Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic HOLD FORTS against Brazil at 2022 FIFA World Cup | FOX football
Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic became the best shield against Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
4. Olivier Giroud (France)
Olivier Giroud, France’s all-time leading scorer, has not stopped adding to his tally. In four games, the 36-year-old has scored four goals, one goal away from the lead. His teammate Kylian Mbappé has five. No other team has two players with three goals.
Olivier Giroud scored an INCREDIBLE game-winning header for France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup | Every corner
France’s Olivier Giroud scored an incredible match-winning header against England to win 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
3. Luka Modric (Croatia)
Modrić’s leadership of Croatia to the World Cup final in 2018 was impressive; For him to do it again with an almost entirely new team at the age of 37 is a triumph unlike anything we’ve ever seen at a World Cup. His style of play is timeless and his teammates are better because of it. No one has breached Croatia’s defensive line more than Modrić (132 times).
2. Kylian Mbappé (France)
If this was a list of the 10 best players of the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé would be number one. At 23, he already has one of the greatest World Cup performances of all time, his tournament-leading five goals a big reason why France’s dream of becoming just their third repeat champions. closer to reality. But the French team is so stacked that they would still be favorites without Mbappé. He is important to the success of his team, but not more than the number one player.
Kylian Mbappé goes SUPER HUMAN for France and scores twice against Poland | Every corner
Kylian Mbappé scores a superhuman goal in the 74th minute to take the golden boot, before doubling his tally again in stoppage time as France beat Poland 3-1.
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Teams draft Messi differently than Mbappé because Messi sits deeper in midfield – and at 35, he’s nowhere near Mbappé’s athleticism – but they still draft him. Precisely. Aggressively. And yet, Messi still finds a way to make a key pass or timely goal. He is the reason Argentina are close to their second final in the last three World Cups, and his teammates wouldn’t dare argue otherwise.
Lionel Messi in BEAST MODE for Argentina vs Netherlands at 2022 FIFA World Cup | Every corner
Lionel Messi goes in BEAST MODE to Argentina to defeat Holland in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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