2018/19 Nations League victors Portugal dominate best XI after Croatia mauling

The first round of League A fixtures in the UEFA Nations League drew to a close on Saturday evening, with Portugal's 4-1 win over 2018 World Cup runners' up Croatia the main talking point of the round. Indeed, As Selecao dominate the team of the round with no fewer than five players to kick off their Nations League defence in fine fashion. 

Goalkeeper 

David De Gea put in a solid shift between the sticks as Spain bagged a late goal in their 1-1 draw with Germany. The Manchester United man made seven saves against the World champions to come away with the man of the match award as he garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.85. 

Defence 

It's an all-Portugal full-back pairing with Joao Cancelo landing the man of the match award in Portugal's 4-1 win over Croatia. The 2018/19 UEFA Nations League winners have five representatives in the team of the round with Cancelo yielding a WhoScored rating of 8.76 against the 2018 World Cup runners' up. 

Raphael Guerreiro occupies the left-back spot in this team as he provided one assist for Portugal in their resounding victory, that coming for Diogo Jota's goal on the hour-mark. That assist came from one of three key passes, while Guerreiro was unfortunate not to find the back of the net as he struck the woodwork in the first half to garner a WhoScored rating of 8.01. 

Germany may have been unable to keep a clean sheet against Spain, conceding a late Jose Gaya goal to draw 1-1, but Emre Can was solid in their three-man defence. Indeed, the Borussia Dortund man made six tackles and two interceptions to make the cut. 

Partnering Can at the heart of the defence is Netherlands man Virgil van Dijk. The Oranje may have had to dig deep to secure a 1-0 win over Poland, yet Van Dijk put in a fine shift at the back, restricting Poland to just two shots, as the Liverpool ace won four aerial duels, and made six clearances and three interceptions. 

Midfield 

Frenkie de Jong is the second Netherlands representative in this XI. De Jong was unlucky not to hit the back of the net on the stroke of half time having struck the woodwork with his only shot of the game, as he dictated play in the middle of the park, finding a teammate with 91.8% of his 85 attempted passes. Three successful dribbles and one key pass saw the midfielder come away from the clash with a WhoScored rating of 8.04. 

Playing in midfield in Ukraine's 2-1 win over Switzerland, Oleksandr Zinchenko put in a man of the match shift in the middle of the park for Andriy Shevchenko's side. The Manchester City man bagged the winning goal midway through the second half, that coming from one of two shots, and was unlucky not to register an assist as he made four key passes to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 8.11. 

The third Portugal representative completes the midfield. Bruno Fernandes provided the assist for Joao Cancelo's opener against Croatia and he was unfortunate not to have added to that throughout the match, having made six key passes in total. Four tackles and three dribbes saw Fernandes return a WhoScored rating of 8.60 from the comfortable victory. 

Forward 

Raheem Sterling is the sole England player to feature in the League A team of the round as his late penalty earned the Three Lions a 1-0 win over Iceland. Sterling's winning goal from the spot was one of three shots in the narrow victory, while a whopping nine successful dribbles, more than any other player in League A this round, helped the Manchester City man to a WhoScored rating of 8.76. 

Manchester City teammate Bernardo Silva features on the opposite flank having provided the assist for Joao Felix's second half goal in Portugal's 4-1 win over Croatia. With five key passes, Silva was unlucky not to register more than one assist as he was good value for a WhoScored rating of 7.83. 

The final player in the team of the round is Joao Felix, who led the Portugal attack with aplomb against Croatia. The Atetico Madrid man scored Portugal's third in their 4-1 win over Croatia, that coming from one of four shots in all, and he defended well from the front, too, as he made two interceptions and one tackle to secure his spot in the best XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.26.