FIFA 23 - EA make BIZARRE World Cup Team of the Tournament selections with England stars set to miss out


The Qatar World Cup has taken over FIFA 23, with a whole host of content having already arrived in Ultimate Team and more on the way.

With the World Cup Final looming, the biggest and best World Cup promotional squad is set to hit packs soon - the Team of the Tournament!

As usual, pretty much the entire squad has been leaked ahead of release.

Of course, the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are included, but EA has made some incredibly bizarre choices for what is supposed to be a group of the World Cup's top performers.

Peculiar picks

First of all, Argentinian duo Alexis Mac Allister and Nicolas Otamendi have undeservedly made the Team of the Tournament (TOTT) squad.

Whilst both players have been mainstays in the finalists' first XI, neither has been particularly sensational. Left-back Marcos Acuna has been far more impressive in the South American side.

Spain sensation Gavi seems to have been picked over the likes of the brilliant Azzedine Ounahi and Antoine Griezmann.

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BACK TO HIS BEST - Antoine Griezmann has been sensational for France

Despite scoring in the semi-final, Theo Hernandez has shown a real lack of football intelligence at several points throughout the tournament and the aforementioned Acuna deserves to be included ahead of the Frenchman.

Spurs winger Ivan Perisic will reportedly be given a TOTT item. Although the forward helped his side to the World Cup semi-final, the 33-year-old has been a part of Croatia's main problem - a lack of goals.

Portgual pair Diogo Dalot and Raphael Guerreiro have also somehow made the cut. The former has only started three matches and was poor in the defeat to Morocco in the quarter-final.

Unfortunate Three Lions

England's two best players, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham will not make the Team of the Tournament squad.

Now, we understand that their omissions are due to their inclusion in the World Cup Phenoms campaign, but the young England duo deserve to be recognised as two of the competition's best players.

The 21 and 19-year-old were no doubt the Three Lions' standout performers, with the Arsenal winger causing havoc for defenders and the Borussia Dortmund CM covering every blade of grass in midfield.

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NOT RIGHT - How have Bellingham and Saka not made the TOTT?

However, it looks like EA has opted for Harry Kane and Phil Foden instead.

Harry Kane's inclusion is warranted, with the Spurs striker netting two goals and providing three assists in five appearances in Qatar.

However, Manchester City winger Foden was more than underwhelming. The likes of Harry Maguire, Declan Rice and Kyle Walker were all no doubt more impressive.

Notable omissions

We cannot fathom how France internationals Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud will not make the FUT 23 TOTT squad.

While Mbappe and Giroud have supplied the goals, Griezmann has been the engine driving France to successive World Cup finals.

Griezmann has blossomed into a box-to-box midfielder in Qatar, as adept at defending his own box as he is attacking the opposition's.

Wojciech Szczesny has been the competition's stand-out goalkeeper despite Poland bowing out in the Round of 16, having saved two penalties for his country, yet the Juve 'keeper is nowhere to be seen.

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RED DEVIL ON FIRE - Maguire is extremely unlucky to miss out

As mentioned previously, Harry Maguire is extremely unfortunate to miss out. To perform as he did under such scrutiny, keeping three clean sheets in five matches in Qatar, the centre-back deserves huge credit.

Azzedine Ounahi's performances helped inspire Morocco to victories over Spain and Portugal en route to a historic semi-final appearance.

Jamal Musiala is another youngster who has been exceptional at the winter tournament and should be recognised as so, despite leaving Qatar after Japan shockingly topped Group E.

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