The 2022 World Cup is nearing its final stages and we have our four remaining semi-finalists....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Lionel Messi’s Argentina team will take on Luka Modric’s experienced Croatia side for a spot in the final.
Whilst the star-studded French team will fight it out with Morocco, the first African nation to reach the last four of the tournament in history.
A World Cup full of surprises
The inclusion of Croatia, and certainly the inclusion of Morocco, has come as an enormous surprise to much of the footballing world.
Croatia, despite reaching the final at the last World Cup in 2018, were seen to have too old a squad to really trouble the superpowers this time around.
But, in typical Croatia fashion, the durable nation battled it out with tournament favourites Brazil before eventually dumping them out via the penalty shootout. Just like they did with Japan the game prior.
Incredibly, Croatia have won just one game all tournament, defeating Canada in the group stage 4-1.
In the case of Morocco, well, they have conceded just a single goal this World Cup and have proven the stiffest of challenges to their opponents.
Belgium, Croatia, Spain and Portugal all failed to find the back of the net against the northwestern African side.
So, if you think Kylian Mbappe is just going to turn up and run them ragged in the semi-final on Wednesday night, you would be seriously mistaken.
Especially with the notorious Achraf Hakimi, Mbappe’s good friend and teammate, playing at right-back.
But despite the heroics of the four remaining teams still in with a chance of winning it all, what about the players?
We’ve created the best combined XI from the four World Cup semi-finalists of 2022, based upon their performances at the tournament so far.
Who makes the combined XI?
GK: Dominik Livakovic
RB: Achraf Hakimi
CB: Josko Gvardiol
CB: Lisandro Martinez
LB: Theo Hernandez
CDM: Sofyan Amrabat
CM: Luka Modric
CM: Enzo Fernandez
RW: Lionel Messi
ST: Olivier Giroud
LW: Kylian Mbappe
The justification
Livakovic was an easy selection for the goalkeeping position. The Croatian has been nearly unbeatable in both the shootouts his nation has participated in so far, and Argentina will surely be desperate not to become embroiled in one come Tuesday night.
Kicking off the defence is Hakimi. Arguably the best right-back in the world right now, he has been faultless for Morocco from both a defensive and attacking standpoint.
Gvardiol and Martinez carried their impressive form over from club football and have actually exceeded expectations at the tournament so far. They occupy the centre back slots.
Whilst Hernandez can count himself fortunate to have been selected following the ridiculous penalty he gave away vs England. His form aside from that moment, though, has been strong.
In the midfield, Liverpool’s newest target, Amrabat, has covered every blade of grass with copious amounts of passion and commitment to the cause.
Whereas Modric and Fernandez, another star heavily linked to the Reds, have been the beating heart at the centre of their respective teams.
Messi has been devastating as Argentina’s leader and might well win Player of the Tournament. He will captain the team as well as play a starring role from the right-wing.
And the side is polished off by lethal French duo, Giroud and Mbappe, who are the 2022 World Cup’s top two goalscorers so far.
