​The World Cup Round of 16 delivered a host of standout moments as the field reduced to the last eight teams. From penalty shootout heroes to dominant midfield control and clinical finishing, Dan Smith has picked his Team of the Round after another captivating phase of the tournament.
GK – Gregory Kobel (Switzerland/Dortmund)
Kobel’s heroics from the spot helped Switzerland advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years, and the 28-year-old also contributed a clean sheet across 120 minutes. Although Colombia created better chances, his reflexes on efforts from Puerta and Campaz proved pivotal.
LB – Lucas Digne (France/Aston Villa)
Digne stood out at left-back, notably covering for occasional lapses elsewhere in the defense. While there were speculative moments from Upamecano and Maignan, the veteran defender steadied the ship. Beyond his defensive duties, Digne’s leadership shone through as he served as a peacemaker, whispering to younger teammates and steering them away from unnecessary quarrels.
CB – William Saliba (France/Arsenal)
Paraguay offered little in attack, but when they did press, Miguel Almirón attempted to outpace Saliba. Even with a head start, the French defender outpaced him and calmly moved away with the ball, a reflection of Saliba’s poise and fitness at a demanding stage of the tournament.
CB – Pau Cubarsi (Spain/Barcelona)
Still new to the World Cup stage, Cubarsi has yet to taste defeat at this level. With Portugal’s approach largely passive until stoppage time, the 19-year-old demonstrated extraordinary tactical intelligence for one so young. Spain dominated possession, and Cubarsi often functioned as an additional midfielder, completing over 90% of his passes, roughly half of them in the Portuguese half. Tactically, he played a crucial role in pinning the opponents back.
RB – Denis Zakaria (Switzerland/Monaco)
Choosing a single back-line member was a challenge given the clean sheet across 120 minutes, but Zakaria’s deployment at right-back stood out. With Widmer unavailable for the start, coach Murat Yakin moved Zakaria into a defensive midfield role that adapted into a makeshift right-back position. He defended Diaz one-on-one and also timed his forays into the middle to help form a secure back three.
CM – Rodri (Spain/Manchester City)
Spain have yet to concede a goal in this World Cup, a testament to the collective effort of the defense and goalkeeper. Rodri has been central to their control in midfield, dictating tempo and ensuring that the team remains compact and effective on both ends of the pitch. His influence goes beyond ball recovery and distribution; it underpins Spain’s ability to sustain pressure while maintaining a solid shield in front of the defense.