Opinião – The World Is a Ball: Team of the Cup in the group stage has two Brazilians and no medallion

With the group stage over, with 16 teams qualified for the knockout stages and another 16 eliminated, which players stood out the most in the World Cup in Qatar?

There were some disappointments, with highly rated teams that fell prematurely, such as the Belgians De Bruyne and Lukaku, the German goalkeeper Neuer (who even left with an own goal in his account), the Uruguayan Cavani and the Danish Eriksen.

Several players, however, performed very well and made the difference for their selection, especially those who play in the midfield, naturally more noted for scoring more goals or giving more assists (goal passes) than the defenders.

The Cup enters this Saturday (3) in the knockout phase, but it is valid to register a list of the best of the three initial rounds, a “selection of the middle of the tournament”.

Ten of the 11 I chose qualified for the round of 16, so it will be possible to see if they maintain their good performance, significantly helping their country to advance towards the decisive stages, or if good football has been forgotten in the first stage.

Goalkeeper

Two penalties saved, one against Saudi Arabia and one against Argentina, the latter beaten by superstar Messi. Bombarded by the Argentines, he made a series of saves that were essential for Poland not to be surpassed by Mexico on goal difference and to qualify.

Right side

The entire Moroccan defense did well in the group stage. Only one goal conceded in three games, and it wasn’t even the opponent who scored – defender Aguerd scored against Canada. Hakimi was good at marking and supporting and even made a beautiful launch for Em-Nesyri’s goal.

Defender

Without much ado here. The captain of the Senegalese national team scored his first goal in more than 50 appearances against Ecuador. And it was the qualifying goal for the round of 16.

Defender

With their captain on the field, the defense proved to be secure and neither Serbia nor Switzerland conceded a goal, as they failed to manage a single shot in the direction of Alisson’s goal. As soon as he left, the team conceded its first goal in this Cup against Cameroon.

left side

• Theo Hernandez (France)

He very competently replaced his brother, Lucas, who was seriously injured in the first game and was out of the Cup. Excellent in support, he already has two assists in the Qatari World Cup.

steering wheel

Owner of the Brazilian national team’s midfield, he scored the goal that earned the 1-0 victory over Switzerland in the second round. When spared, loss to Cameroon. Without the triumph that came thanks to Casemiro, Brazil would not have qualified as group champions and would have faced Portugal, not South Korea, in the first knockout round.

Half

Attacking midfielder, left-handed, often almost a right-winger, the skillful Moroccan, relegated to England’s reserve Chelsea, has made the difference for the undefeated African team. He scored a goal (against Canada) and provided an assist (against Belgium).

Half

• Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)

The best midfielder in the Cup with some time off. Two goals against Uruguay, in a key game for Portugal, which secured passage to the knockout stages, and two assists in the opening match, against Ghana. He was rested in the final game, so it’s unclear what he could have done with the South Koreans (who won).

Attacker

Three goals in three matches, one in each. One head, one left foot, one right foot. Even with little selection experience, the 23-year-old striker is one of the positive surprises of the World Cup, fundamental for the Dutch attack to work.

Attacker

I still believe it will be his World Cup, even more so after Benzema, injured, could not join the squad of the current world champion. He scored a goal and assisted in the first game and scored two goals in the second. With France classified, in the third match it entered during the second half, but, something rare, it did not yield.

Attacker

The number 10 of the Cameroonian team is the only one on the list whose country did not advance in the competition. In the first two games, he came off the bench and, in the second, scored one of the most beautiful goals of the World Cup, covering the Serbia goalkeeper, in addition to providing an assist. He also scored the only goal in the duel with Brazil – he took off his shirt in celebration and was expelled. Didn’t call. Smiled. He leaves the Cup as one of his characters.

So the lineup looked like this: Szczesny; Hakimi, Koulibaly, Thiago Silva and Théo Hernández; Casemiro, Ziyech and Bruno Fernandes; Gakpo, Mbappé and Aboubakar.

Five Europeans, four Africans and two South Americans (both Brazilians), and no stars like Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kane and Lewandowski.

Four of them (the exception is Neymar, who with an ankle injury should not play in the round of 16) still have a chance to shine in the knockout rounds to, who knows, enter the World Cup selection, to be elected after the final on December 18.