World Cup 2018: The Best Combined XI from the Round-of-16

Defenders

Captain! Leader! Legend!

Diego Godin (Uruguay)

It was always going to be a tough ask of Portugal to ask them to outscore Uruguay, and in the end, that is exactly what happened. Cavani and Suarez were too much to handle on their own, and Diego Godin and Jimenez at the other end put an end to Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream.

After not conceding a single goal through the group stage, Uruguay did concede one against the European champions but ultimately went through to the next round. It might have had something to do with Jimenez's injury concern, but Godin stood his ground against the crosses that were peppered into the box from the wings.

Godin completed 2 interceptions and 2 tackles during the night and was part of 7 clearances in addition to winning 2 offensive aerials and 2 defensive aerials. Surprisingly, he also completed 1 dribble and did not get dribbled past even once.

A rock at the back for the Three Lions

Harry Maguire (England)

The Leicester man is fondly referred to as "Blockhead" in the English dressing room, and one look at him and you can understand why. Along with sporting a physical frame that looks like it was built to take blows, Harry Maguire is not shy of going for the ball if it is anywhere near him.

Once again tonight though stand out performance.... Harry Maguire. Any club wanting a centre back next year. Open cheque book, he’s fucking solid! #Maguire #England #ENG #itscominghome

— Scotty (@ScottyJHoops) July 3, 2018

Against Colombia, Maguire won an astonishing 12 aerials - that's right. TWELVE. He might not look it, but he is only 1 cm shorter than Yerry Mina and had almost seen to it that Mina did not get his lethal head onto the ball during the corners, but a momentary lapse of concentration from the team led to the Colombian goal.

A lucky goal for Vertonghen proved vital to Belgium's fortunes

Jan Vertonghen (Belgium)

Vertonghen has been the best Belgian defender in the tournament so far, and despite an error on his part that led to Japan's first goal, he made amends for it by scoring a header - the longest in WC history, to bring Belgium back into the game.

He since confessed that the goal was not intentional and merely accidental, but it was still a gem of a goal. He also completed 2 tackles and 2 interceptions on his part and won 8 aerials during the course of his 120 minutes on the field.

The underrated hero in an unlikely quarterfinalist

Honorary mention: Andreas Granqvist (Sweden)

Part of Sweden's unexpected run into the tournament, and currently in the tournament, do not be surprised if Granqvist becomes a household name by the end of the next 8 matches in Russia.

Sweden might not play the most attractive football there is, but they know how to win and when to win and Granqvist is the centrepiece of their whole defending ensemble. Against Switzerland, he successfully held off Shaqiri and Drmic to deny them any easy attempts on goal.