The people have spoken. After one of the best World Cups in history, we asked you to select your team of the tournament, and you delivered.
We already gave our opinion as to our best XI from Russia (or, at least, our Editor did). Some of you, however, disagreed with a few of the selections.
This is The Crowd’s World Cup team of the tournament.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
Our pick: Jordan Pickford (England)
England’s Jordan Pickford may have played an important role in the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign, but the fans decided Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois was the best of the bunch.
The 26-year-old helped Belgium to a third-place finish, keeping three clean sheets along the way. While Hugo Lloris captained the French to World Cup glory, he wasn’t error-free defending his goal.
Courtois, on the other hand, was a reliable performer and is the fans’ pick for goalkeeper of the tournament, with 55.5 per cent of voters selecting the Belgian. Pickford earned the next highest amount of support with 28 per cent of the votes.
Right back: Kieran Trippier (England)
Our pick: Kieran Trippier (England)
Trippier gets the nod after 61.5 per cent of the readers rewarded his strong campaign for England. The Englishman was solid as always in defence but it was his free-kick in the semi-final against Croatia that really got people talking.
The stunning strike sailed past Croatian keeper Danijel Subasic and into the net. It was the first time England had scored a goal from a free-kick in 12 years.
Centre back: Raphael Varane (France)
Our pick: Raphael Varane (France)
The first player picked by the fans from the champions of this year’s World Cup and a thoroughly deserved selection at that.
Varane held France’s defence together at the back, pairing well with Samuel Umtiti. The Frenchman was not only physically strong in defence but also used his pace to his advantage.
Varane made history in this year’s tournament, becoming the first player since 2002 to start and win both the World Cup and Champions League final in the same year. He received 74 per cent of the votes.
Centre back: Diego Godin (Uruguay)
Our pick: Andreas Granqvist (Sweden)
Perhaps the least error-prone defender in this year’s World Cup, Godin has been picked by the readers as the other central defender in the team of the tournament.
It is both Godin’s work with the ball and without it that makes him a valuable player. He was the main reason why Uruguay kept a clean sheet in all of their pool games and was rewarded with 43.4 per cent of the votes.
Left back: Lucas Hernandez (France)
Our pick: Lucas Hernandez (France)
Despite his antics against the Socceroos, Hernandez couldn’t be denied a spot in the team of the tournament, with the Frenchman polling 69.3 per cent of the votes in the left back position.
From seven games, Hernandez managed two assists, 80 per cent pass accuracy and 18 passes. He also won 12 aerials, 16 tackles and six dribbles. These numbers speak to both his composure in defence and strength going forward.
Central midfield: Luka Modric (Croatia)
Our pick: Luka Modric (Croatia)
Modric was very popular with the voters, polling 95.9 per cent after leading Croatia to their first-ever World Cup final.
Modric collected the Golden Ball for the player of the tournament. He was a tireless workhorse in the middle of the pitch and was also strong in attack, with the highlight being his goal against Argentina.
Central midfield: N’Golo Kante (France)
Our pick: N’Golo Kante (France)
Quietly went about his work as he helped the French to the World Cup win, with teammate Paul Pogba joking that teammate Kante has 15 lungs.
His work rate is emphasised by the fact that he is the only player in the tournament to rank in the top 15 in interceptions per 90 minutes (2.3) and recoveries per 90 minutes (8.0).
Kante received 57.5 per cent of the readers’ votes.
Central midfield: Paul Pogba (France)
Our pick: Paul Pogba (France)
Gained 52.5 per cent of the vote and offered plenty in attack for Les Bleus.
Pogba has been criticised for his obsession with having a large social media following, with some questioning whether he is more committed to the online or footballing world.
However, he certainly silenced his critics in this year’s World Cup, constantly threatening in the middle and scoring a decisive goal in France’s 4-2 win over Croatia.
Winger: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Our pick: Kylian Mbappe (France)
The most exciting prospect to come out of this year’s World Cup polled 84 per cent of the votes for the wing position in the team of the tournament.
Mbappe scored four goals from just seven matches and became the first teenager since Pele to score in a World Cup final. And he is only 19.
The youngster’s noble act to donate his bonus winnings to a children’s charity proves he is something special.
Winger: Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Our pick: Ivan Perisic (Croatia)
Garnering 66.7 per cent of the votes, the Belgian winger was rewarded for his efforts as the runner-up in the Golden Ball.
Was an attacking weapon, with three goals and four assists, the joint-most of any Belgian player since 1996.
Striker: Romelu Lukaku
Our pick: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
The Belgian striker was a genuine chance of securing the Golden Boot, if not for sending a couple of shots wide in their third-place playoff with England.
Lukaku managed four goals throughout the tournament, but it was his power and strength up front that was just as noticeable in the early stages of the competition.
With so many goals in this year’s World Cup, Edinson Cavani (Uruguay), Harry Kane (England) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) were all well-supported, but it was Lukaku (33.9 per cent) who is the fans’ striker of the tournament.
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