Or D) none of the above. 😆 Seriously, though, they wouldn't. Trippier, in particular, is a classic case of overeating a player because he did well against poor to average players/teams in an international competition (he also played ostensibly as a right winger). He's a right back that is a poor defender and crucially he lacks pace badly. He's doing well to be at Spurs in my opinion.
I missed quite a few of the games, but for what it's worth:
--------------------- Lloris
Pavard -- Varane -- Godin -- Hernandez
------- Modric -- Torreira -- Rakitic
-- Isco --------------------------------- Perisic
--------------------- Cavani
Honourable mentions:
GK - Ochoa had a couple of very good games for Mexico--especially against Germany. And I thought Muslera was good until that goal against France. A real dearth of good goalkeepers though and it's no surprise the best protected keeper is the one that has looked the best.
DF - Granquist was a real throwback for Sweden, was great against Germany and Switzerland. Maybe the left back for Mexico, whose name escapes me, was quite impressive. Tagliafico and Laxalt were half decent. All in all, a very bad tournament for defenders and defending in general.
MF - Coutinho had some decisive moments for Brazil, sort of the opposite of Hazard for Belgium; who was good throughout but does what he usually does and hid a bit from responsibility and chose the wrong option at the vital moment. Trippier also had some good deliveries for England playing right wing; no way he can be listed as a defender, and he was terrible on the rare occasions he had to defend against Sweden and Croatia. Banega's performance against Nigeria was a joy to watch also.
FW - Ronaldo was brilliant in the first two games, but struggled after that. You could make an argument he should be included for his hattrick against Spain alone. Messi was good in parts in a horrid team. Mbappe has had some great moments but a number of nothing games too. Diego Costa was decent but faded when it mattered. Love Mandzukic's hard work too.
And a duds & flops XI:
-------------------------- De Gea
Kimmich -- Boateng -- Otamendi -- Vertonghen
Muller -- Casemeiro -- Mascherano -- Neymar*
-------------- Lewandowski -- Higuain
It should so be Draxler, who was diabolical, but Neymar was such a disappointment that he has to go in for me.
