Who makes the best World Cup XI from the tournament's knockout stage?

It's been a finals where the big boys have stepped up, causing an exit for Brazil and coming up with the goods just when those players' teams need them. There was an all-timer at the Azteca, two almost upsets for the current champions and more competition records broken. 

But which players have made it into the DAZN News World Cup team of the knockout stage so far... 

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Goalkeeper: Ørjan Nyland (Norway) 

All the talk around Norway has been about Erling Haaland, but the man at the other end has been one of the goalies of the tournament. 

Against Brazil, it was the former Aston Villa stopper who kept his side in the game with a string of smart saves, including the stop of the tournament from the looping boot of teammate Ajer and the penalty he saved from Bruno Guimaraes. 

Nyland has been left in the cold at his club, Sevilla, but his performances in North America could see him earn one more big move, even at 35. 

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Right-back: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) 

The focus is always on the PSG man, as he's the poster boy for this very watchable Morocco team, but he's once again shown why that is. 

Apart from the missed penalty against the Dutch, we've seen everything there is to love about the roving right-back. 

As the leader in the team, he has continually offered the space and width on the right-hand flank and it led to an assist in the win over Canada. 

Hakimi continues to show why he's the best in his posiiton. 

Centre-back: Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) David Ramos / Staff

Forget the missed penalty, because in the end, that was irrelevant, because outside of that, Akanji has been doing what he did during Inter's Serie A-winning season. 

As the leader in that Swiss backline, he's helped make the side incredibly hard to break down as both Algeria and Colombia found out across the last two rounds. 

Two clean sheets have allowed his country to progress to the last eight, where they'll take heart in knowing that they can frustrate the world champions. 

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Centre-back: Marc Guehi (England) 

A special nod to the display for Dan Burn against Mexico, but the defender who should be lauded since coming back into the side is Marc Guehi. 

His omission for the opener was a strange one, but since being reinstated, he's become what we all expected him to be and that's England's most important defender. 

As part of the rearguard that kept Mexico at arm's length, the centre-back was immense and his calmness invaluable in the scenario the Three Lions found themselves in. 

Next up? Haaland. Piece of cake. 

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Left-back: Marc Cucurella (Spain) 

Chelsea fans may be watching on and already be wishing that Cucrealla was still their player ahead of his move to Real Madrid this season, because he's shown why he's worthy of the fuss. 

Defensively, he's been part of a backline that still hasn't conceded a goal in the tournament, and hardly gave Portugal a sniff during their Round of 16 win. 

But the defender has also played his part at the other end too, providing two assists in the win over Austria to show what he can offer down that flank. 

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Midfield: Jude Bellingham (England) 

Who else? Thomas Tuchel laid the gauntlet down for Jude Bellingham ahead of this World Cup, and it must have lit a fire under the Real Madrid man because England are getting pure clutch Bellingham. 

Having played his part in the win over DR Congo, the Three Lions' number 10 made the Azteca his house, with two quick goals that say everything about his ability and timing as a footballer. 

The desire and determination to hold on to the lead were also aided by his performance when England went down to ten men. 

Now on four goals in the finals. It's quite silly he's starting place was ever in doubt. 

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Midfield: Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco) 

The Moroccans are the only African side left standing, but they pose a massive threat to the elite names left in the competition, thanks to players like Ounahi and his displays. 

One of the tournament's unsung heroes, he's played in every game so far but provided just what Morocco needed in their Round of 16 clash with Canada. 

The midfielder's two goals helped them on their way to a 3-0 win and booked their place in the quarter-finals. 

With France having some questions about their engine room, is it an area that Ounahi can really exploit in the next round? 

Sebastian Widmann - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Attacking midfield: Lionel Messi (Argentina) 

Somewhat shoehorning Messi in ahead of the front three, simply because you cannot leave any of them out. 

But he actually proved how his tactically intelligent mind works in the dramatic win over Egypt that sent them through to the final eight. After finding no joy in the centre, Messi moved out to the right late on in the game, where he'd seen there was more room and that decision changed the game. 

His assist and goal drew Argentina level before they grabbed a late winner. That's now eight goals in this tournament, 21 overall in his World Cup appearances, AND he now leads the all-time assists, too. 

If only he knew how to take a penalty. 

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Forward: Harry Kane (England) 

A line in the sand couple of games for Harry, where he elevated himself to being the best England player of all time. 

The Three Lions skipper almost single-handedly dragged his team back into the game against DR Congo, with two goals that turned the tide just when it looked like all hope was lost. 

Then, at the Azteca, it was Kane's clever front play that saw England move into a 3-1 lead, before he put in a captain's performance to hang on to the lead, so good he literally couldn't speak afterwards. 

Oh, and he's now England's record goal scorer at World Cups, too. Give that man the Ballon d'Or. 

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Forward: Erling Haaland (Norway) 

No one seems to be revelling in being on a World Cup stage for the first time more than the striking Viking, and he's making it his playground. 

Over the course of the two knockout rounds, Haaland firstly scored the winner against the Ivory Coast and then was the difference maker as Norway dumped out Brazil. 

Not even a familiar foe, Gabriel could stop the Norwegian from scoring in his 14th consecutive game for his country, as his brace saw them reach their first-ever quarter-final. 

The best thing about it all? Just how brilliantly nonchalant Haaland is about the whole thing. What a star. 

Forward: Kylian Mbappe (France) (C)Getty Images

Mbappe is going all out to make this HIS and France's World Cup, and so far he's proving to be the talisman in his team's ridiculously talented attack. 

Two goals against Sweden helped Didier Deschamps' men sweep them aside as he continued his battle with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. 

Then, against an over-physical Paraguay team, the French skipper showed nerves of steel to slot home the penalty amid all the South Americans' shenanigans to book their last eight berth. 

And you know what? He's not done yet. 
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