World Cup | Our reporter’s best XI

Choosing your best starting XI based on the players present at the World Cup is a particularly subjective exercise. Especially since each position is very well stocked. For the purposes of the case, we have simplified our selection by choosing a goalkeeper and two players at each of the other positions.

Guardian

Alisson (Brazil)

A complete, modern goalkeeper. The best of the Premier League with Liverpool, just ahead of his compatriot Ederson (Manchester City).

Sides

Alphonso Davies (Canada)

A Canadian in the best XI of the World Cup? Yes ! Davies is an indisputable holder of the left-back position at Bayern Munich. With Canada, however, expect to see him in a much more advanced role.

Joao Cancelo (Portugal)

A full-back needs to be solid in defence, quick down the hall, and have the offensive flair to deliver crosses to his forwards. The Portuguese João Cancelo meets all these criteria brilliantly.

Central defenders

Thiago Silva (Brazil)

A mainstay of the Brazilian Seleção for almost 15 years. No, at 38, he is not getting any younger. But his undeniable leadership as well as his experience are essential assets in the World Cup.

Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands)

He was, in recent years, the best central defender in the world. Fast, intelligent, a general with the ramparts. The Dutchman may have been less effective with Liverpool this season, but his qualities still make him the first choice in his position.

Defensive midfielders

Joshua Kimmich (Germany)

One of the best passers in the Bundesliga. Like a metronome, it is he who dictates the rhythm of the game of an excellent German team. Vision, aggression, versatility.

Rodri (Spain)

Accuracy, good reading of the game, a difficult wall to cross. The Spaniard Rodri meets all the criteria of an excellent defensive midfielder. He is the quarterback for Manchester City and Spain. Faced with the possibility of a solid tackle, the attackers think twice before venturing into his area.

Attacking midfielders

Bernardo Silva (Portugal)

There are many candidates for the position of attacking midfielder, and very few elected. The Portuguese Bernardo Silva is an outstanding dribbler, lively on the counter-attack, and never stops running. Try to dispossess him of his ball, and you will probably end up seeing him walk away, your posterior on the lawn.

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

Simply the best attacking midfielder in the world. We don’t have enough fingers to list his qualities. The Belgian is the playmaker of a dominant Manchester City and ambitious Red Devils. He provides goals and assists, with his creativity bordering on magic.

Attackers

Kylian Mbappe (France)

His speed terrifies defenders. His attacking flair gives them nightmares. And his goals destroy their dreams. The Frenchman has only improved since breaking the doors of international soccer at the 2018 World Cup. Still in great shape in 2022, he has a good chance of being the biggest scorer in the tournament.

Harry Kane (England)

The most complete striker of the lot. At 29, the Englishman is one of the top scorers in Premier League history. The captain of the Three Lions and Tottenham is more than a surface fox: he can also step back and join in the creation of the game. This dynamism allowed him to win the Golden Boot in 2018, with six goals until in the semi-finals.