World Cup 2018: Team of the tournament, round one

The 2018 World Cup has surpassed expectations and has seen some quite brilliant performances. With the first round of fixtures having gotten over, we at SK pick our team of the tournament so far:

It's not an easy task, and whatever suggestions/criticism you may have, please do not hesitate to point it out in the comments section below:

Please note that this does NOT take into account games played for round 2.

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GK: Hannes Halldorsson

The defining moment of Messi's World Cup?

From directing films to stopping Lionel Messi from twelve yards, Hannes Halldorsson's tale is one of those that warms the cockles of even the coldest of hearts - and is what makes World Cup football such an intriguing entity.

Halldorsson read Messi's intentions perfectly from the spot, and he was splendid throughout as Argentina peppered his goal with shots (there's no way, we can blame him for the Aguero ball -- that was a helluva shot). There have been some splendid keeping displays already (hello, Guillermo Ochoa) but Halldorsson deserves his place on this list

CB: Fabian Schar

The Swiss must have been expecting a battering going into a game with arguably the most flamboyant team in the cup (judging by the Qualifiers) - but with Fabian Schar, and the equally brilliant Manuel Akanji at the heart of that Swiss rearguard, they did brilliantly to stop the Brazilians.

His last-minute clearance on the line was a match-defining moment, and he put his body on the line for many a shot. As with Halldorsson, can't blame the defender(s) for Coutinho's magic shot!

CB: Hugo Ayala

We could put any one of the Mexican back-line here and we'd have done them justice. El Tri were immense at the back against the might of the German attack - reducing them to hopeful punts into the box and shots from distance, and we've picked Ayala for his massive command of his own box and the calm organisation of his defence.

He's 31 and has played all his life in the Mexican domestic set-up... but this could be the tournament where he truly breaks into the world's spotlight.

CB: Aleksander Kolarov

The Serbian captain was immense in their first match - his defending astute, his crossing excellent, his work-rate faultless. He's a true leader, too, and his presence oozes calm and authority across the backline - but it's his set-piece ability that truly sets him apart.

That freekick he scored from - right out of the top drawer, arguably the best of the tournament so far (and we've seen some lovely set-piece goals)

RM: Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen was on his A-game against a scintillating Peru side. That spark we associate with the truly gifted players of this game was evident in the be-stubbled Danish magician - his assist to Yorary Poulsen was an absolute peach... and deserving of a World Cup victory.

CM: Jordan Henderson

Ping, ping went the cross-fields as Jordan Henderson swung some of the most sumptuous passes you'll see all tournament all day long against Tunisia in the Three Lions' opener. The much-maligned Liverpool skipper has his doubters with many of the complainants saying that he doesn't have enough of a passing range about him; but if this start is any indication, this tournament may be the one where he finally gets recognized as a deserving leader of this generation.

CM: Paul Pogba

Andres Guardado and Hector Herrera were both sublime, but Paul Pogba gets the nod for muscling a deeply average France side over the line on his own. It was his slide-rule pass that set Antoine Griezmann off on his run that led to the penalty - and his marauding run and shot that got the French the winner.

France may not have found their identity yet but Paul Pogba certainly has.

LM: Hirving Lozano

They call him Chucky... and he'll certainly give Joshua Kimmich nightmares. The Mexican winger was on fire against the Germans and took his goal with a calm authority that belied his age. He absolutely dominated his flank and put in a shift ensuring that Kimmich didn't get much joy on the attack, either.

His fearlessness, his temperament, his work-rate and his undoubted skill could just see El Tri finally break the curse of the round of 16.

RW: Denis Cheryshev

He wasn't even going to start a match, but when Alan Dzagoev got injured within the first half hour of the tournament, a slight crack opened up - and boy did he burst through it. Fast, incisive, direct, Cheryshev's move to the left added dynamism and precision to Russia's attack and both his goals on an opening day were worthy of any occasion.

The first touch on his first goal, though, WOOF!

ST: Diego Costa

He's strong, he's fast, he's powerful in the air, and he's got a helluva shot on him. There are few better strikers in modern football at the moment. His second goal was a study in opportunistic, predatory, finishing but it's the first that really showcases the best of his qualities. He bullied the un-bulliable Pepe in the air, sent Jose Fonte into rehab with a couple of sashays and absolutely buried the finish into the top corner.

LW: Cristiano Ronaldo

Four shots on goal. Three goals. One of them a last-minute freekick from thirty yards out. Cristiano Ronaldo has finally arrived at the World Cup, and about time too.

Manager: Juan Carlos Osorio

The Mexican out-tacticed (in the immortal turn of phrase that Big Sam invented) one of global football's true masterminds -- playing to his strengths, exposing Germany's weaknesses and if Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez was on his A-game, this game would have ended in a massive, massive, embarrassment for the defending Champions.