Forebet’s Team of the Round of 16

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In step with the theme of the 2022 World Cup, the spherical of 16 didn’t disappoint. Australia pushed Argentina all the way in which, Morocco surprised Spain and Portugal hit Switzerland for six – with out the assistance of Cristiano Ronaldo.

28 objectives had been scored throughout the eight encounters, dishing up a mean of three.5 objectives per sport. We additionally noticed two penalty shootouts, a Kylian Mbappe masterclass and a shocking hat-track from 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos.

Right here’s our standout XI from the spherical of 16.

Goalkeeper – Bono

Bono was the hero as Morocco beat Spain on penalties at Schooling Metropolis Stadium. The Sevilla goalkeeper produced heroics throughout regular time, additional time and the penalty shootout to ship his workforce into the quarter-finals.

Imagine it or not, Spain didn’t convert a single penalty – thanks largely to Bono’s exploits. After Pablo Sarabia hit the submit with Spain’s first spot kick, Bono stored out Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets earlier than Achraf Hakimi scored the profitable penalty.

Defenders – Denzel Dumfries, Pepe, Raphaël Guerreiro

Denzel Dumfries performed a key position within the Netherlands’ 3-1 victory over the USA. The marauding wing-back assisted Memphis Depay and Daley Blind’s objectives earlier than finishing the scoring with a aim of his personal.

Elsewhere, Pepe and Raphaël Guerreiro starred as Portugal thrashed Switzerland 6-1. Pepe headed residence from a nook to mark his 132nd worldwide cap with a aim, whereas Guerreiro notched a aim and an help within the rout.

Midfielders – Ivan Perišić, Lucas Paquetá, Jordan Henderson, Daley Blind

Ivan Perišić was the person who dragged Croatia again into their conflict with Japan at Al Janoub Stadium, scoring his thirty third worldwide aim. In the meantime, Lucas Paquetá netted in Brazil’s 4-1 hammering of South Korea.

Many individuals questioned Jordan Henderson’s inclusion in England’s beginning XI to face Senegal, however the Liverpool legend justified his choice with a aim. As we already talked about, Daley Blind performed a starring position because the Dutch dispatched the States.

Forwards – Neymar, Gonçalo Ramos, Kylian Mbappé

Naturally, all eyes had been on Kylian Mbappe when France took on Poland – and he didn’t disappoint. The PSG famous person bagged a brace and an help earlier than his membership team-mate Neymar scored and assisted in Brazil’s thrashing of South Korea.

However the standout story of the spherical of 16 must be Gonçalo Ramos. Having been referred to as as much as substitute Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s beginning XI, the 21-year-old smashed in a hat-trick and an help to steal the present towards Switzerland.