France put together a series of brilliant performances to list this year's Draft World Cup title:
Argentina's defeat in the final means no team finished the tournament unbeaten, whilst France were comfortably the tournament's top scorers.
We're going to dole out the awards for this tournament, and look ahead to the future today. Let's start with the easiest award, the award for top scorer:
We're going to dole out the awards for this tournament, and look ahead to the future today. Let's start with the easiest award, the award for top scorer:
Going into the final, there were - incredibly - 7 players tied on 4 goals. However, two goals in the final for Neymar meant he took the crown, whilst Kylian Mbappé's effort meant he took second place. Dusan Tadic takes third place by virtue of playing the fewest games. The other players on 4 goals were Memphis Depay, Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Next up, the team of the tournament:
Next up, the team of the tournament:
France's dominance is demonstrated by four players selected for the team of the tournament. Finalist Argentina's only representation is centre back Marcos Rojo, although striker Ignacio Scocco was only narrowly beaten by Tadic.
Luka Modric and Dani Alves were simple picks, putting in exemplary performances in virtually every match they played. Vincent Kompany had a lot of pressure on his shoulders coming into the tournament, as the big name in the Belgian team, but some great performances see him earn his place here. The most surprisingly inclusion is that of Miralem Sulejmani, but he was probably the tournament's outstanding player during the group stages, as Switzerland won their group.
But of these players, who would win player of the tournament?
Luka Modric and Dani Alves were simple picks, putting in exemplary performances in virtually every match they played. Vincent Kompany had a lot of pressure on his shoulders coming into the tournament, as the big name in the Belgian team, but some great performances see him earn his place here. The most surprisingly inclusion is that of Miralem Sulejmani, but he was probably the tournament's outstanding player during the group stages, as Switzerland won their group.
But of these players, who would win player of the tournament?
Despite teammates Neymar pipping him to the Golden Boot, Mbappé's excellent performances see him clinch the crown. He always turns up for the big games, and a move to the right flank allowed him to become a top-quality provider as well as goalscorer. Modric and Dani Alves earn 2nd and 3rd place for their consistent high level of performance, but fall short due to a lack of match-turning moments.
The final award is that for the tournament's best goal:
The final award is that for the tournament's best goal:
A stunning 30-yard effort from Thiago sees him take the prize. With the scores level in Germany's second round tie against Portugal, in the 88th minute, it's a very deserving winner (of course, it didn't turn out to be a match-winning goal, but still...)
In second was a devastating solo effort from Sebastian Giovinco against Egypt. He won the ball just outside his own box, and dribbled the length of the pitch to complete a brace in a 2-0 win. And in third, a goal from the final as Marco Verratti's curling shot opened the scoring and set France on their way to lifting the trophy.
Rankings
Before we finish, let's see how the world rankings look. The rankings below cover not only the DWC, but also the six Continental Championships (including qualifying), so all teams have been in action:
In second was a devastating solo effort from Sebastian Giovinco against Egypt. He won the ball just outside his own box, and dribbled the length of the pitch to complete a brace in a 2-0 win. And in third, a goal from the final as Marco Verratti's curling shot opened the scoring and set France on their way to lifting the trophy.
Rankings
Before we finish, let's see how the world rankings look. The rankings below cover not only the DWC, but also the six Continental Championships (including qualifying), so all teams have been in action:
Spain's European Championship victory sees them replace Germany at the top of the rankings, and it's enough to hold off France, who move up to 2nd. Meanwhile, Argentina's brilliant run - finalists in both the DWC and the South American Championship - see them replace Netherlands in the top 8 of the rankings - if they hold onto that they will be a top seed in next year's DWC group stage.
Speaking of next year's tournament, this is as good a time as any to lay out the future plans for this series.
Draft World Cup 2021
Before the end of the current season, we will play a Confederations Cup (even though that tournament has been axed by FIFA in real life). This will see 8 teams compete:
There's plenty of time until the new FM is due (although with the football season in chaos, this may not happen at the usual time), so don't expect the Confederations Cup any time soon. There will also be the usual Women's Draft World Cup in due course.
For next season, there's going to be a major change in how qualification for the DWC works. Firstly, the number of places awarded to each continent will change:
It only seems fair to ensure each continent has some representation, so Oceania are given one of Europe's places. And there's no real evidence that any of Africa, Asia and North America should have more/less than the others, so one of Africa's spaces is given to North America.
The second, and biggest, change is how teams qualify. Instead of qualifying straight into the DWC, teams will qualify for their continental championships. And the group stages of the continental championships will determine which teams make it through to the DWC. For example, the European Championship will have 6 groups of 4. The top two teams in each group will be the 12 sides that represent Europe in the DWC.
The Intercontinental play-off will be made of one team from each continent that did the best in the continental championship without having secured automatic qualification. For example, say Turkey finish 3rd in their European Championship group, but make the final of the tournament (and lose to a side already qualified), then they will be Europe's team in the Intercontinental play-off.
This will dramatically reduce the number of games involved in a DWC cycle, and make the continental championships a permanent fixture on the calendar. So this gives all the teams much more to aim for! Additionally, the new nature of qualifying will probably mean there'll be a bit more randomness in who qualifies (for example, South American teams will be qualify after 4 group matches, rather than a 18-game qualification run).
This will be covered again when the new season starts.
But for now, hope you enjoyed this year's Draft World Cup, and will return for future tournaments!
Speaking of next year's tournament, this is as good a time as any to lay out the future plans for this series.
Draft World Cup 2021
Before the end of the current season, we will play a Confederations Cup (even though that tournament has been axed by FIFA in real life). This will see 8 teams compete:
- The Draft World Cup champions (France)
- The six continental championship winners (Spain, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, USA, Nigeria, Australia)
- The Nations Cup winners (England)
There's plenty of time until the new FM is due (although with the football season in chaos, this may not happen at the usual time), so don't expect the Confederations Cup any time soon. There will also be the usual Women's Draft World Cup in due course.
For next season, there's going to be a major change in how qualification for the DWC works. Firstly, the number of places awarded to each continent will change:
- Africa: 4 (-1)
- Asia: 4 (no change)
- Europe: 12 (-1)
- North America: 4 (+1)
- Oceania: 1 (+1)
- South America: 4 (nc)
- Intercontinental Play-Off: 3 (nc)
It only seems fair to ensure each continent has some representation, so Oceania are given one of Europe's places. And there's no real evidence that any of Africa, Asia and North America should have more/less than the others, so one of Africa's spaces is given to North America.
The second, and biggest, change is how teams qualify. Instead of qualifying straight into the DWC, teams will qualify for their continental championships. And the group stages of the continental championships will determine which teams make it through to the DWC. For example, the European Championship will have 6 groups of 4. The top two teams in each group will be the 12 sides that represent Europe in the DWC.
The Intercontinental play-off will be made of one team from each continent that did the best in the continental championship without having secured automatic qualification. For example, say Turkey finish 3rd in their European Championship group, but make the final of the tournament (and lose to a side already qualified), then they will be Europe's team in the Intercontinental play-off.
This will dramatically reduce the number of games involved in a DWC cycle, and make the continental championships a permanent fixture on the calendar. So this gives all the teams much more to aim for! Additionally, the new nature of qualifying will probably mean there'll be a bit more randomness in who qualifies (for example, South American teams will be qualify after 4 group matches, rather than a 18-game qualification run).
This will be covered again when the new season starts.
But for now, hope you enjoyed this year's Draft World Cup, and will return for future tournaments!