Eight ties, two penalty shoot-outs, 31 goals and plenty of players writing their names into legend, the World Cup 2022 round of 16 was an impressive affair.
Despite early hopes and a tournament of shocks, all of the USA, Senegal, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Poland and Switzerland went home as expected. However, Morocco defied the odds and upset Spain on penalties, who had been many people’s dark horses for the tournament.
We took a look at the XI that starred for their country in the latest round of games.
If you need a reminder of who made the Team of the Group Stage, you can click here.
📰 Table Of Contents
- 1 GK: Yassine Bounou (Morocco)
- 2 RB: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
- 3 CB: Pepe (Portugal)
- 4 CB: Thiago Silva (Brazil)
- 5 LB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- 6 CM: Jude Bellingham (England)
- 7 CM: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
- 8 CAM: Neymar (Brazil)
- 9 RW: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- 10 ST: Goncalo Ramos (Portugal)
- 11 LW: Kylian Mbappe (France)
GK: Yassine Bounou (Morocco)
Between the posts was the hardest choice of the team, with both Croatian shot stopper Dominik Livakovic saving three penalties in the shoot-out to see his nation progress to the next round.
However, it is Yassine Bounou that takes the spot, with the Moroccan goalkeeper also starring in a shoot-out as the north African side made the quarter-final for the first time ever thanks to his heroics. saving two penalties as they defeated Spain.
🙌 On the night when Morocco enter uncharted territory, Yassine Bounou is the hero.
Tonight’s @Budweiser Player of the Match sends Morocco to their first ever #FIFAWorldCup quarter-final.
🇲🇦 #MARESP 🇪🇸 #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud pic.twitter.com/4Z5n2feaVY
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 6, 2022
RB: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
Another cruel, cruel blow for the #USA!
Daley Blind arrives on the scene to sweep home for #NED and double their lead!
📺💻 Watch on @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer and the @BBCSport app.#BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/flZxJ0n3gf
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 3, 2022
CB: Pepe (Portugal)
Becoming the second-oldest player to score in a World Cup, Pepe marshalled the Portugal defence excellently as a Ronaldo-less side put six past Switzerland to romp into the last eight.
Pepe becomes the second oldest scorer at a World Cup with his first international goals for over 4 years!! 🇵🇹
40 years old in 3 months and he’s still getting on the scoresheet in the big games… 👀#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ikhXkgrkeE
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 6, 2022
CB: Thiago Silva (Brazil)
As the Selecao turned on the style with a 4-1 win over South Korea, Thiago Silva continued to excel despite his advancing age, even managing to grab an assist as Brazil underlined their credentials as tournament favourites.
In this side, he joins Pepe in what may be the oldest defensive pairing in history, but a pair that remain among the World’s best at international level.
Thiago Silva is the oldest man to record an assist at the World Cup since 1966 🍷 pic.twitter.com/pgciqfcRn7
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 6, 2022
LB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
The irony of Spain born Hakimi scoring the winning penalty was not lost on many, but the sheer audacity to panenka the winner to fire his side to their first-ever quarter final.
It topped off what had been an excellent performance from the full-back, and he will harbour the hopes of a nation on his shoulders once again on Friday.
Born in Madrid he knocks Spain out!! 🇲🇦🇪🇸
Achraf Hakimi wins the penalty shoot-out with a panenka to see Spain out of the competition! 😲#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/QWWynN6821
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 6, 2022
CM: Jude Bellingham (England)
It was unclear whether Bellingham would even start heading into the tournament, but he has emerged as a key part of Gareth Southgate’s midfield and was once again excellent as England headed through at the extent of Senegal.
The midfielder grabbed an assist before a slaloming run set away Phil Foden for Harry Kane to net the second in an all-round top performance, and set England up with a tie against France.
“You weren’t going to keep him off the scoresheet for long!” 😏
Harry Kane tops off a swift counter-attack to make it 2-0 to England!! 🙌🏴#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/3BsIX3m76F
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 4, 2022
CM: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
Providing one of the most complete performances in central midfield for Morocco, Amrabat kept the much-lauded trio of Pedri, Gavi and Sergio Busquets quiet as he helped his side into the quarter-finals.
He drew admiring glances from Tottenham last winter, and could be due a Premier League move 12 months on as he continues to impress in the Morocco engine room.
🇲🇦💪 Sofyan Amrabat got through some serious work in Morocco’s win over Spain.
⏱ 120 mins
⭐️ 7.6 FotMob rating
👟 25/32 accurate passes
💥 4/4 tackles won
↩️ 9 recoveries
⚔️ 7/7 ground duels won
👉 50 touches#AtlasLions #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/wHDMfOJEs0— FotMob (@FotMob) December 7, 2022
CAM: Neymar (Brazil)
It was feared that Neymar’s tournament was over when he limped off in the Group Stage opener, but he returned for the clash South Korea in the round of 16 with his typical flair and skill.
Grabbing a goal and an assist, the PSG man ran the show for his side, and was a welcome return as Joga Bonita swept away Heung-Min Son and co.
NÃO TEM JEITO, O NEYMAR É CRAQUE DA BOLA! JOGA DEMAAAAAAAAAAIS! 🤩⚽🇧🇷 #TNTSportsNoQatar pic.twitter.com/6MomLQv4rB
— TNT Sports BR (@TNTSportsBR) December 5, 2022
RW: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Another man who needs no introduction, Messi registered his first ever knockout goal against Australia as once more he ran the show for the Albiceleste. Despite a late scare at the end, Argentina have recovered from their opening day defeat to Saudi Arabia well, but now face their toughest test in the form of the Netherlands.
Teammates with Neymar at club level, Messi could meet the Brazilian in the semi-final stage should both get there.
Lionel Messi’s game by numbers vs. Australia:
90% pass accuracy
58 passes
10 passes into final ⅓
9 touches in opp. box (most)
6 shots (most)
4 chances created (most)
2 Big Chances created (most)
2 shots on target
2 fouls won
1 tackle made
1 goalWow. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/ugyJhTXZLR
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 3, 2022
ST: Goncalo Ramos (Portugal)
Replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in any team is no easy feat, but we think that Goncalo Ramos may be getting the nod over the 37-year-old again for the quarter final after his excellent display.
All round top centre-forward play was rewarded with a hat-trick, the youngest man to do so since Pele, as he transformed a previously stale Portugal attack into a truly dangerous strikeforce.
Goncalo Ramos is the youngest man to score a hat trick in a FIFA World Cup knock-out match after Pele 👶👏 pic.twitter.com/WxDQgDYtvM
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 6, 2022
LW: Kylian Mbappe (France)
The fact that Mbappe is the only man in this side also to feature in the team of the group stage says everything about the sort of tournament that the 23 year old is having, but he continues to astound alongside Olivier Giroud in France’s attack.
Two more goals came as Les Blues eased past Poland, featuring two strikes of pure power, and he will be tough to catch atop the World Cup golden boot charts as he looks to help France defend their title.
Kylian Mbappe. 1 game. 2 goals. Need we say more? 🇫🇷🙌#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/6GhMorPj54
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 4, 2022
