Unintentionally putting all three Real Madrid inclusions in the featured image, here is the strongest XI of players who have left the 2022 World Cup a lot earlier than they would have liked.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, Courtois has been sent packing as he failed to add the World Cup to his long list of accolades.
Courtois was man of the match in Real Madrid’s Champions League final victory against Liverpool in May and carried his great form into the World Cup, saving an early Alphonso Davies penalty on matchday one as Belgium edged past Canada despite a very unconvincing performance.
The former Chelsea shot-stopper didn’t have a great time against Morocco, conceding the exact same goal twice; he will feel like he should have done better both times, although one was ruled out for offside.
After losing to the Moroccans, Belgium had to beat Croatia on Thursday but Romelu Lukaku did everything he could to ensure that didn’t happen. Alas, Courtois is on the plane back to Madrid.
Right-back: Joshua Kimmich (Germany)
Guys, chill out. I know Kimmich doesn’t play right-back these days, but just forget about that. He used to and still could if he really wanted to. Besides the best actual right-back to be eliminated was probably Thomas Meunier and I’m taking an out-of-position Kimmich over him.
Kimmich picked up caps 72, 73, and 74 in Qatar as his side lost to Japan, drew with Spain and beat Costa Rica. The 27-year-old played every single minute for Germany and actually started in right-back against Costa Rica with Niklas Sule slotting in at centre-back. Safe to say he is not in this defence alongside Kimmich, but another Germany player is…
Centre-back: Antonio Rudiger (Germany)
The second German, second former Chelsea player and second current Real Madrid player in this star-studded XI, Rudiger has done his distinctive run all the way to the airport after another bitterly disappointing World Cup for the 2014 champions.
Like Kimmich, Rudiger played every single minute for his side at the tournament as he is regarded as one of Hansi Flick’s most important players.
Centre-back: Jose Gimenez (Uruguay)
Gimenez joins Rudiger in our Madrid-themed defensive partnership after Uruguay crashed out of their group, finishing behind Portugal and South Korea.
Heavily fancied to go far in the tournament by many (of us, but importantly, not me), Uruguay finished third and are off home.
Gimenez is a solid…
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