THIS interim period between the culmination of a thrilling pair of semis and the anticipation of the final is the perfect time to reflect on all we have seen so far at the 2022 World Cup.

It has been a tournament full of drama, controversy – even tragedy, owing to the death of American journalist Grant Wahl in the press box during the Argentina-Netherlands quarter-final, and stories of more migrant-worker fatalities while Qatar’s showcase has ploughed on.

There has also been no shortage of excellence on the pitch. Here – while we await Sunday’s showdown between Argentina and France, Messi and Mbappe – we celebrate some of this World Cup’s outstanding individuals. This is my team of the tournament.

GK – Dominik Livakovic – Croatia

The star of shootout victories over Japan and Brazil, Croatia’s progress to a third World Cup semi-final would not have been possible without Livakovic’s heroics between the sticks. His save-laden showing against Brazil in the quarter-finals saw him become only the 15^th player ever to be awarded a perfect 10 in French magazine L’Equipe’s famously stingy ratings.

RB – Achraf Hakimi – Morocco

The star player of the team who provided one of the great World Cup underdog stories on their run to the last four. Hakimi was exceptional in both defence and attack throughout Qatar 2022. Morocco’s run might have ended at the hands of France, but the Paris Saint-Germain full-back helped keep club-mate Kylian Mbappe about as quiet as could be hoped in Wednesday’s semi-final, while also providing thrust and invention in the final third. Morocco’s success, becoming the first African nation to reach the last four of a World Cup, has been built largely on stern defence. No player in the tournament has made more tackles than Hakimi (23).

CB – Josko Gvardiol – Croatia

It is a shame for Gvaridiol that, despite his turn as the standout defender at this World Cup, his campaign in Qatar will surely forever be most remembered for his unwanted role as Lionel Messi’s latest victim in the lead-up to the finest assist of the competition. The Argentinian wizard spun the 20-year-old RB Leipzig centre-half inside out before squaring for Julian Alvarez to seal a 3-0 semi-final victory. That will have done little to affect Gvardiol’s stock, though, which has soared thanks to displays of aggressive one-v-one defending and intelligent positioning.

CB – Nicolas Otamendi – Argentina

Messi isn’t the only Argentinian stalwart who has roiled back the years in their run to a second World Cup final in eight years. Former Manchester City centre-back Otamendi, at 34, is the second-oldest member of Lionel Scaloni’s squad (interestingly, he, Angel Di Maria and Alejandro Gomez were all born within three days of one another in February 1988) and he has been the bedrock of Argentina’s rear guard. As Scaloni has switched between a back four and a back three, Otamendi has been the reliable constant at the heart of the defence.

LB – Theo Hernandez – France

His starting berth at the World Cup came only after his brother, Bayern Munich’s Lucas Hernandez, was injured in the first game, but Theo Hernandez has made France’s left-back spot his own ever since. Lucas, more naturally suited to playing centre-back, promised greater defensive solidity in the role, but Theo’s athleticism and adventurous attacking has given France better balance. His forays forward have provided width, allowing Mbappe to cut inside to devastating effect. Hernandez also netted an acrobatic finish to open the scoring against Morocco in the semi.

RCM – Antoine Griezmann – France

Mbappe might dominate the headlines but Griezmann has been France’s best player in Qatar. And what has made the 31-year-old’s performances to date so spectacular is that they have come in a role previously unfamiliar to the Atletco Madrid star. He first made his name as a fast and dynamic winger at Real Sociedad, then developed into one of Europe’s deadliest strikers with Atleti. Now, he has settled into a No.8 role for France and is playing with the positional know-how of a seasoned veteran of the position. Griezmann has gotten better as the tournament has gone on, too, shining brightest against England and then Morocco in the last eight and semi-finals, respectively.

CM – Sofyan Amrabat – Morocco

The tough-tackling, Dutch-born central midfielder has been one of the revelations of Qatar 2022. Amrabat has been the midfield enforcer for Morocco, uncompromising in his efforts to shield the tournament’s most impressive and organised backline. The 26-year-old Fiorentina player will be among the most talked-about names when the transfer rumour mill swings into gear next month.

LCM – Enzo Fernandez – Argentina

Benfica midfielder Fernandez was a substitute for Argentina’s first two games, but his stunning goal in a crucial win over Mexico in the second round of group-stage fixtures secured his starting berth from then on. The 21-year-old has added drive and ingenuity to the Argentinian midfield as he emerged as one of the young stars of the tournament.

RW – Lionel Messi – Argentina

Just when you thought you could no longer be surprised by Messi, that his genius had become such a regular feature of the last decade and a half that we have somehow become accustomed to it, he goes and produces by far the finest World Cup campaign of his career – at age 35. He is the tournament’s leading scorer and the leading assist provider. He has produced jaw-dropping moments of invention and nerve-defying goals at crucial moments. And he is one more victory away from filling the only remaining vacancy in his trophy cabinet.

LW – Kylian Mbappe – France

Level with PSG team-mate Messi on five goals, the race for the Golden Boot provides and intriguing sideshow to Sunday’s final. Mbappe has been at his electrifying best for much of France’s run to a second successive World Cup final. Even in quieter games, against England and Morocco, he was an unignorable threat with his pace and trickery. He has staked an undeniable claim to be considered the best player in the world. A strong showing in the final and a second World Cup winner’s medal before the age of 24 could cement Mbappe among the all-time greats.

ST – Olivier Giroud – France

When France won the World Cup in 2018, they did so without a single goal from Giroud at the point of their frontline. Instead, the virtues of the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker’s unselfishness, physicality and work rate were sung, and rightly so. This time around, he has brought all those intangibles while also locating his shooting boots, scoring four times and overtaking Thierry Henry as Les Bleus’ highest-ever scorer.