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EUROPE XI: 4-3-3
GOALKEEPER: Thibaut Courtois
This was the hardest pick for the European XI. There is a plethora of goalkeeping talent, to choose from, in Europe. Even though David De Gea, Manuel Neuer, Hugo Lloris and Thibaut Courtois have been at the top of their game for quite a while, De Gea and Neuer were considered to be a notch above all their goalkeeping contemporaries. However, Neuer and De Gea flattered to deceive in Russia while Courtois and Lloris were stupendous.
Courtois was awarded the 'Golden Glove' for his consistent performances throughout with the highlight being his exemplary display against Brazil. Lloris was also solid but his blooper in the final cost him a place in this European XI.
Apart from Lloris, Pickford and Subasic were also phenomenal for their teams with both emerging as penalty shoot-out heroes. They provided stern competition to Courtois to get into this eleven. However, Courtois gets in on sheer consistency and is less error-prone.
