Wednesday is the first rest day of the World Cup and with that, a good opportunity to reflect on the individual brilliance we’ve seen so far this winter in Qatar. The final eight teams are set to battle Friday and Saturday, but with the Round of 16 meaning we’re past the midway point of the competition, we’re looking at the standout players before we preview the quarterfinals.
– World Cup 2022: News and features | Schedule
Which players have stood out to our writers? Are there any consensus choices? A selection of ESPN reporters in Qatar pick out their XIs and managers that have been the talk of the town thanks to their brilliant play.
Gab Marcotti
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Santos made a huge call, the sort that many of us didn’t believe he had in him: He dropped Cristiano Ronaldo, and he was vindicated with a 6-1 win over Switzerland that sends Portugal into the quarterfinals. But even before that, Portugal qualified early from the group stage with a team that is very talented, but perhaps not as balanced as they might be.
– O’Hanlon: Your guide to penalty shoot-outs at the World Cup (E+)
Livakovic was the hero of the penalty shoot-out against Japan, but he also conceded just once in the group stage. That’s why he gets the nod over guys like Brazil’s Alisson and Morocco’s Yassine Bounou. (Of course, the latter also was the hero of a penalty shootout and also conceded just once in the group stage, but he also missed a game, so I’ll give it to Livakovic.)
I don’t think anybody will argue with Hakimi at right-back, while down the left, Hernandez has been very efficient and gives France an extra attacker when in possession. (I would have loved to have included Danilo, but he’s a victim of his versatility, having played on both flanks).
