World Cup 2018: Team of the tournament, round one

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.