Press play on the sad violin soundtrack for some background music, because the World Cup is almost over.
We’ve had big names crashing out in the group stages, internal team drama (looking at you, Belgium) and some crazy upsets along the way.
As the tournament winds down and it comes into frame in the rear-vision mirror, Foxsports.com.au takes a look at the individual stars of the show in our World Cup Team of the Tournament!
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GK: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)
Croatian gloveman Dominik Livakovic has emerged as one of the standout stars of the World Cup.
The 27-year-old has made the second-most amount of saves of any glovemen with 23 from 29 shots faced.
Livakovic also has three clean sheets and has saved four penalties so far, although that does include penalty shootout saves.
Regardless, he’s been the best man between the sticks for the month-long festival of football and there’s next to no chance he’s at Dinamo Zagreb for much longer as bigger clubs circle.
LB: Theo Hernandez (France)
Arrived in Qatar as France’s second-choice left back behind his brother Lucas.
But Lucas tore his ACL after 10 minutes against the Socceroos and was replaced by Theo.
From that moment on, the AC Milan star never looked back as he provided a constant threat on the flank, with his attacking forays proving especially difficult for the opposition to handle.
Created 10 chances, the most out of any defender and only four fewer than a certain Argentinian star.
Don’t think for a second Hernandez was all about his offensive work, as he won 11 tackles; the second-most out of the defenders.
Every cloud’s a silver lining, hey?
CB: Romain Saiss (Morocco)
The Moroccan skipper was at the heart of the World Cup’s steeliest backline.
With the second-most clearances of any players, Saiss was pivotal to marshalling the Atlas Lions around the park especially since they employed a style of play that heavily relied on soaking up defensive pressure and springing to life on the counter.
Was stretchered off against Portugal in the quarter final and miraculously returned against France, but eventually succumbed to injury.
CB: Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
Made six successful tackles, eight interceptions, and a whopping 43 recoveries – the most of any defender.
Also passed the ball at a more-than-healthy 90 per cent and racked up 33 clearances.
The one blemish on an exceptional tournament was when Lionel Messi danced all around him to set up Julian Alvarez for the goal that sealed the semi-final.
Gvardiol isn’t the first defender Messi has made look silly, and he won’t be the last.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
What a tournament for the Paris Saint-Germain ace.
Hakimi has the most tackles of anyone at the World Cup and provided endless energy up and down the right flank.
His speed was pivotal to Morocco’s game plan and chalked up an assist for his troubles.
CM: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
One of several breakout stars of the World Cup.
Amrabat clocked an absurd total running distance of 70.58km, which equates to 11.76km every game.
Add in the fact the 26-year-old hasn’t missed a second on the pitch and it’s truly mind-boggling to think how large his gas tank is.
Running stats aside, Amrabat was key to Morocco’s defensive efforts and topped the charts with 51 ball recoveries, six more than the next player.
You’d have to imagine Amrabat won’t be at Serie A outfit Fiorentina much longer, with Premier League heavyweights Liverpool reportedly in talks about a move for him.
CM: Luka Modric (Croatia)
The Modric renaissance is real.
Four years after his performances at the World Cup helped him win the Ballon d’Or, the first time in 10 years someone not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo won the award, Croatia’s midfield wizard was back at it again.
The 37-year-old has aged like a fine wine and the stats back it up, as Modric recovered the ball 45 times (second-most), won nine tackles and made eight interceptions.
Unfortunately he couldn’t quite drag Croatia over the line one final time, but the football world must be grateful for yet another Modric World Cup masterclass.
CM: Antoine Griezmann (France)
The key to France’s success – even if he does fly under the radar compared to Kylian Mbappe.
Griezmann has now played 73 straight games for Les Bleus, smashing the previous record of Patrick Vieira’s 44.
With Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante missing with injury, Griezmann has stepped up – or more accurately, back – into the midfield role.
His conversion from striker into a genuine midfield playmaker has been revolutionary for France.
LW: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Pace, instinctive creativity, and deadly finishing.
Mbappe is quite simply every defender’s nightmare.
Level in the golden boot race with five goals already, the 23-year-old looks hungrier than ever to do his bit.
RW: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Five Budweiser Player of the Match awards says it all about Messi’s greatness in Qatar.
Despite having walked for 30km across all of Argentina’s games, the 35-year-old superstar has proven to be deadly when it matters most with five goals and three assists to his name which should came as no surprise given he’s created the most chances of anyone in Qatar with 14.
His most recent assist was perhaps his most special when he turned Gvardiol into a pretzel en route to putting it on a platter for Julian Alvarez to score.
ST: Olivier Giroud (France)
One of the great redemption stories of this World Cup.
Written off as too old and too slow to play in the Premier League, Giroud in Qatar has surpassed the great Thierry Henry as France’s all-time top scorer.
If reigning Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema’s absence was meant to ruin France’s chances, Giroud proved he was more than ready to step up – as he has so many times down the years.
Manager: Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Regragui took over as Morocco boss on August 31 this year and kicked off his reign with a 1-0 friendly win over fellow African side Madagascar in September.
Ten games later and Regragui has broken several records as Morocco manager.
The Atlas Lions became the first African, Arab and Muslim nation to make the semi finals of the World Cup, conceded one goal before the semi finals (which was an own goal) and won the hearts and minds of fans across the globe.
Not bad for a bloke nicknamed ‘avocado head’ when he was first appointed and an easy choice to lead our Team of the Tournament.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Harry Maguire (ENG)
Been kicked from pillar to post such has been his nightmare form for club side Manchester United.
But Maguire reminded the world of his true ability as a defender in Qatar, putting in several strong performances for the Three Lions.
Harry Souttar (AUS)
Not many players will have boosted their transfer value as much as Souttar has based on his individual tournament.
Had a shaky start in the first game against France, but played a major part in Aussie football history as the Socceroos kept their first clean sheet at a World Cup against Tunisia and then did the same against Denmark.
Could honestly make this list alone solely for that slide tackle against Tunisia.
Wojciech Szczesny (POL)
Szczesny was a standout between the sticks for Poland and became the third goalkeeper in 56 years to save two penalties outside of a shootout at a single World Cup.
The Juventus gloveman also saved 24 of the 29 shots he faced for a save percentage of .828 percent.
Jamal Musiala (GER)
A shining diamond in a German team that crashed and burned in the group stages.
Remarkably didn’t score any goals despite an xG of 1.92, but his dribbling skills were on show for all to see.
One of the best teenagers at the World Cup and will be a superstar in the years to come.
Jude Bellingham (ENG)
The boy from the Brum scored England’s first goal in Qatar and started every game for Gareth Southgate’s side.
Despite being just 19, he displayed a maturity beyond his years by being the first and only player to give Harry Kane a hug after missing his penalty.
Also won the most tackles of anyone with a whopping 15.
Marcelo Brozovic (CRO)
Very easily could have put the Croatian midfield trio into the starting team because of how good they were.
Brozovic was the deepest of the three and hasn’t ever been the type of player to put his name up in lights, but boy was he impressive.
Was equal-second with Modric for the most recoveries of any player with 45 and made the second-most passes in Qatar with 509, second to only Spain’s Rodri who had 676.
Julian Alvarez (ARG)
One of the breakout stars of this World Cup.
Just 22 years of age, Alvarez has four goals to his name in Qatar which includes a stunning solo effort — albeit thanks to some calamitous Croatian defending — and has linked up impressively well with Messi.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is no doubt rubbing his hands together at the prospect of having this form of Alvarez back at the Etihad for the remainder of the Premier League season.
Didier Deschamps (FRA)
After a disastrous Euro 2020 in which Les Bleus crashed out on penalties in the Round of 16, Deschamps galvanised his squad even without several stars who were out with injury.
Now stands a good chance of leading France to back-to-back World Cup titles, a feat not achieved in 60 years.
