After a month of jaw dropping football, the 2022 Qatar World Cup has come to an end.
Such a tournament will be remembered for decades to come, be it for reasons on the field and off the field.
From Japan’s upset against Germany, to Messi magic in the final, this World Cup had it all.
Ultimately, after weeks of competition, Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez faced off against his centre half partner Raphael Varane in a thrilling World Cup final.
The Argentinian became just the fifth player to win the World Cup whilst playing for the red devils.
Manchester United had 16 players in Qatar, here’s how their tournaments went for them.
Hannibal Mejbri
The young Tunisian midfielder is currently on loan at Birmingham, but has illustrated such talent that he made the cut for the tournament.
At just 19 year of age, Hannibal wasn’t expected to feature extensively whilst out in Qatar.
The youngster made his World Cup debut coming off the bench for a 10 minute cameo against Denmark.
The Birmingham loanee didn’t feature in the following two games against Australia and France.
Despite this, just being picked to play at a World Cup and cameoing for 10 minutes is an extraordinary achievement for the 19 year old, who will hopefully take this in his stride and propel himself for future success.
Facundo Pellistri
Despite the Uruguayan’s limited minutes this season, Pellistri still made the cut for the Uruguay squad.
This doesn’t come with too much surprise though due to his consistent presence in Uruguay’s international games recently.
Uruguay played just three times at the 2022 World Cup, failing to make it out of the group.
However, Pellistri featured in each, earning two starts and one sub appearance.
Thus, in the whole tournament, the Uruguayan played 182 minutes.
Although he’ll be disappointed not to have taken Uruguay out of the group, Pellistri will still be proud of the minutes he earnt at such a young age.
Tyrell Malacia
The Dutch fullback has impressed in his debut season at United, featuring consistently in a red shirt. Malacia has provided quality competition for first choice left back Luke Shaw.
However, whilst out in Qatar, Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal opted against using the fullback.
Thus, Malacia didn’t make an appearance.
This will be bitterly disappointing for the youngster having performed well for United back in England.
Christian Eriksen
Since his return to the Premier League with both United and Brentford, the Danish international has starred again. The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder’s creativity and vision sets him apart from others in the Premier League.
Thus, Eriksen was a key part in the Danish team.
After the saddening event at the last euros, Eriksen had a much more positive tournament.
The Dane only made three appearances after the failure of the Danish team to make it out of the group, but played the full ninety minutes in each illustrating how significant he is to this side.
At 30, Eriksen will be disappointed not to have taken Denmark any further, and will be worried about that potentially being his last World Cup.
Ultimately, it was a pleasure just to see him healthy playing for Denmark again.
Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes all represented Portugal in Qatar.
Since new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s arrival, Ronaldo has struggled. The 37 year old has lacked the sharpness he once had. As a result, the five time Ballon D’or winner has often had to put up with being benched under Ten Hag’s new regime.
On the contrary, Dalot has had a resurgence under Ten Hag. Although his re-emergence in the side started upon interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s arrival, the overall improvement in the fullback’s game has come under Ten Hag.
This put him in good form ahead of the tournament.
Since Fernandes’ arrival, the offensive midfielder has been essential to United. His influence has not faltered. The vision and final ball quality makes Fernandes a phenomenal asset for chance creation. Thus, Ronaldo will be hoping he can benefit from his teammates abilities once more.
Whilst out in Qatar, Portugal made it out of the group, but were knocked out in the quarter finals by dark horses Morocco.
Ronaldo featured in every game, but as the tournament went on saw his minutes decline. In the first two games, the legendary striker played over 80 minutes in both, but in the remaining three games, the former Real Madrid attacker played 65 minutes, 16 and 39 minutes. This drop off is a sad illustration of Ronaldo’s inevitable decline. However, Ronaldo did still manage to score one goal in Qatar.
Dalot’s minutes opposed Ronaldo’s. In the first two group stage games, the 23 year old didn’t make it off the bench. However, in the final group stage game, Dalot started and assisted playing the full ninety minutes against South Korea.
Likewise, in Portugal’s 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland, Dalot played the full game again.
However, in Portugal’s 1-0 exit to Morocco, Dalot played 79 minutes.
Out of the three, Fernandes played the most consistently,
The attacking midfielder was rested in Portugal’s 2-1 defeat against South Korea, but played over 87 minutes in every other game.
In their opening game against Ghana, Fernandes assisted twice.
The following game against Uruguay, the attacking midfielder scored a brace.
He also assisted against Switzerland.
Ultimately, United’s Portuguese players were big parts of their run to the quarter finals, but will be disappointed at their narrow exit to Morocco.
Brazil
Casemiro, Fred, Antony and Alex Telles all represented Brazil out in Qatar.
Since his arrival in the summer, five time Champions League winner Casemiro has been integral to the United side. The former Real Madrid midfielder has revitalised United with his world class defensive midfield ability.
Similarly, Antony has also impressed since joining United in the summer. Although not to the same extent as Casemiro, Antony has shown up in big games scoring important goals.
Fred, despite splitting opinion has significantly improved under Ten Hag. The Brazilians utility when coming off the bench to bring a different proposition to Eriksen has been very useful.
With the arrival of Malacia in the summer, Telles was shipped out on loan to Sevilla.
Despite being many people’s favourites, Brazil underperformed crashing out against Croatia on penalties in the quarter finals.
Casemiro was a major presence throughout this World Cup. The Brazilian was rested against Cameroon, but played the full match in each of the other four. Against Switzerland, the defensive midfielder scored the winner in a slim 1-0 victory.
Compared to Casemiro, Fred played far more sporadic minutes. The former Shakhtar midfielder played only 15 minutes in Brazil’s opener against Serbia, before playing 58 minutes against Switzerland, and 55 minutes against Cameroon. He didn’t feature against South Korea.
Fred then only played 15 minutes in their loss to Croatia.
Thus, Fred will be pleased to have represented his country at a World Cup, but may have hoped for more minutes.
Similarly to Fred, Antony had inconsistent minutes. In Brazil’s opening two games, Antony played 11 minutes against Serbia, and 17 minutes against Switzerland.
However, the former Ajax winger got his chance in Brazil’s third group stage game playing 79 minutes in their 1-0 loss to Cameroon.
However, he was subsequently benched and didn’t feature against South Korea.
Against Croatia, Antony played 64 minutes.
Ultimately, Antony will be pleased with the minutes he earnt in his first World Cup, and will hope that he can be a guaranteed first teamer by 2026.
Telles didn’t feature in Brazil’s opening game against Serbia.
In the following game against Switzerland, Telles played four minutes.
However, against Cameroon, the experienced fullback earnt 54 minutes.
An unfortunate knee injury forced Telles out of Brazil’s next two World Cup games.
Therefore, ultimately, the Brazilians will be pleased with their appearances in the World Cup, but will likely be bitterly disappointed in exiting so soon in a tournament they had such high hopes for.
England
Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire all featured for England in the World Cup.
Since Ten Hag’s arrival, Rashford has significantly improved. After struggling with injuries and a weak previous season, the Englishman has regained his confidence again.
Despite losing his spot to Malacia after the defeats to Brentford and Brighton, Shaw has had a very good season since then. The former Southampton fullback regained his place and hasn’t looked back producing consistently good performances.
Maguire has struggled since Ten Hag became United manager. The former Sheffield United defender lacks the needed qualities to play in Ten Hag’s style, and thus has struggled for minutes.
Although Rashford was in better form, Southgate was still reluctant to give the winger many minutes. Against Iran, Rashford played just 19 minutes, but still managed to score in that time.
Against the USA, Rashford only featured for 12 minutes.
In the final group stage game against Wales with qualification already secured, Rashford was given a chance to start. Rashford played 76 minutes scoring twice.
However, this was still not enough for the attacker to start the first knockout game. Against Senegal, Rashford only featured for 25 minutes.
Similarly, against France, United’s number 10 played just five minutes, but immediately looked dangerous in that time.
Therefore, Southgate may be rueing not playing the United winger more.
Unlike Rashford, Shaw was in Southgate’s first team plans.
In the first two group stage games, Shaw played the full ninety minutes and still earnt 65 minutes against Wales. In England’s 6-2 opening thrashing against Iran, Shaw got his only assist of the tournament.
In the two subsequent knockout games, Shaw played the full ninety minutes.
Despite struggling for minutes at United, Maguire played the full ninety minutes in every game bar the first against Iran.
In the 2018 World Cup, Maguire’s heading ability was pivotal in England’s set piece approach. In Qatar, this didn’t change, with Maguire scoring in the opener against Iran.
Ultimately, all of United’s Englishmen will be disappointed being knocked out by France, but Shaw and Maguire will be pleased at their minutes although Rashford will be disappointed.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez
Ten Hag’s newly formed centre half pairing had to eliminate their loyalties as they faced off against each other in the World Cup final.
Martinez’s journey to the final differed to Varane.
In the group stage, Martinez played just 31 minutes against Saudi Arabia, the full ninety against Mexico, and was on the bench against Poland.
In their first knockout game against Australia, Martinez played 40 minutes.
However, against Netherlands in their 2-2 thriller, Martinez played 112 minutes.
In the semi finals he played 28 minutes, and didn’t make it off the bench in the final.
Whereas, Varane played far more for France.
In the group stages, the United centre half didn’t feature against Australia, but played 75 minutes in their 2-1 victory over Denmark, and captained the side for 63 minutes against Tunisia.
However, in the games leading up to the final, Varane played the full ninety minutes.
Then, in the final, Varane played 113 minutes.
Ultimately, despite playing less, Martinez was the victor as Argentina beat France 7-5 on penalties.
Overview
Ultimately, it was a good tournament for United’s men who represented their nations well. Ten Hag will be hoping these players can take the momentum from the World Cup into the continuation of their season and push for silverware.