World Cup 2018: The best South American XI 

DM: Casemiro (Brazil)

Brazil without Casemiro was like Linus without his blanket

Before we even delve into the statistics, let's cast our mind back to Brazil's 2-1 defeat to Belgium in the quarter-finals. One of the primary reasons of the defeat was because the Seleccao were run over in the midfield. In a first-half where they were vastly inferior, the midfield looked so haphazard and lacked the bite going forward. They were also hopelessly exposed on the break.

All of this in the absence of Casemiro, who was suspended from the clash due to accumulation of cards. His importance to the side cannot more overstated when you consider how listless Brazil looked without him in the midfield. The Real Madrid star brought immense balance to the side whenever he played.

Casemiro drove his side forward by dribbling his way upfield whilst also trying to break opposition play by averaging over 4 tackles per game - the highest by a Brazilian, while his 3 clearances per 90 minutes is bettered only by Miranda in the team.

RM: Willian (Brazil)

Willian was the architect of Brazil's victory in the last 16

The Chelsea star may not have attracted as much eyeballs as many of his glamorous teammates, but he quietly went about his business and had a fairly good World Cup campaign. When the Brazil attack looked increasingly one dimensional; stemming threats primarily from the left, Willian provided the spark from the right.

His 11 dribbles were second only to Neymar and also laid 5 key passes. He may have never got on the scoresheet, but did assist Neymar in the 2-0 win over Mexico, Willian's best game of the campaign that also saw him make 2 successful tackles and an interception.

CM: Juan Quintero (Colombia)

Quintero was the driving factor behind Colombia's finish as Group H winners

Prior to the tournament, Quintero had starred for Los Cafeteros in only bits and parts, but truly came of age in Russia, especially during the group stages. He directly contributed to three of the five goals, netting a cheeky under-the-wall freekick against Japan before bagging an assist each in the Poland and Senegal victories.

He was the battering ram that drove Colombia forward, getting into pockets of space to lay off for the forward whilst also leaving his markers in knots with eye-catching dribbles. He currently plies his trade in the Argentinian league for River Plate, but after an impressive World Cup campaign, it won't be long before some European clubs line up at his doorstep.

CM: Rodrigo Bentacur (Uruguay)

Betancur came of age for Uruguay

A fringe player at Juventus, Bentacur demonstrated his talent with Uruguay and how devastating he can be if given the time and opportunity. Operating behind the front two, the 21-year old worked in sync with Suarez and Cavani, whilst also expertly picking out the latter on the edge of the area for his second against Portugal.

A shining beacon of energy and electricity, Bentacur caught eye with his buccaneering runs and the kind of composure that belies his age. He impressed as a central midfielder in a flat 4-4-2 and then impressed again as a no.10 in a 4-4-2 diamond when Tabarez experimented with his line-up in the group stages.

He was brilliant on the break and gave a performance for the ages in the last 16 clash when he ran the rings around the Portuguese midfield.

He was the pivot around which the men from Salto burgeoned.

LM: Philippe Coutinho (Brazil)

Coutinho, not Neymar, was Brazil's best player in Russia

Though all the pre-tournament prattles emphasized on Neymar and his fitness, Coutinho stole the limelight once Brazil got their campaign underway with a golazo against Switzerland in the opener. There was no looking back for him thereafter as he added another strike to his name whilst also laying 2 assists to emerge the Seleccao's real talisman.

He linked up brilliantly with Neymar on the left whilst also cutting in field to instigate attacks through the centre. He was the creative force for this flickering Brazil side and even in the shock defeat to Belgium, was their brightest player with 6 attempts at goal, 2 key passes and also 2 tackles.