Women's World Cup Team of the Tournament: Bronze and Rapinoe star as Morgan misses out

After making two superb and crucial saves in the Netherlands’ 1-0 extra time win over Sweden in the semi-finals, Sari van Veenendaal secured the Golden Glove prize at the Women’s World Cup by making eight in the final against the United States.

Her incredible save percentage of 82.14 from 28 shots faced proved hugely important as the Oranje upset the odds to reach the final, and her saves kept them in that game, too, before the USA emerged 2-0 winners.

The 29-year-old left Arsenal at the end of the season but her superb performances in France will certainly not leave her short of suitors this summer.

Phil Neville has called Lucy Bronze the best player in the world for most of his spell in charge of England, and she showed just why this summer - winning the Silver Ball in the process.

The 27-year-old won 15 of her 17 tackles at the tournament and 17 of her 27 aerial duels, but also proved a huge asset going forward – creating nine chances, providing two assists and scoring once from right-back.

Bronze’s performance against Norway in the quarter-finals was a particular highlight, in which she supplied a contender for goal of the tournament with her thunderous strike from the edge of the box.

Abby Dahlkemper was a crucial cog in the American winning machine that charged to World Cup glory this summer, providing the United States with solid, reliable and error-free performances that allowed them to ship just three goals in seven games.

With her centre-back partner Becky Sauerbrunn having a few shaky moments, Dahlkemper proved even more important, particularly in games such as those against France and England when Jill Ellis’ side found themselves under sustained pressure.

Cool under pressure, tactically aware and rarely out-muscled, the 26-year-old had a truly fine tournament.

Many would expect the Netherlands’ attackers to have been the stars of their unlikely run to the final, but their success was more down to grit and teamwork and few embodied that better than Dominique Bloodworth.

The defender excelled at centre-back, winning 10 of her 15 tackles and 10 of her 13 aerial duels while also showing the technical ability that makes her such a fantastic holding midfielder as well.

Her versatility saw her moved to left-back for the final and even that didn’t stop her from putting in a solid display, with the 24-year-old heading to new club Wolfsburg off the back of a stellar tournament.   

There were not been many great, consistent left-backs at the Women's World Cup, and Amel Majri is included in that, with her used to playing a more advanced role at Olympique Lyonnais.

But the 26-year-old showed exactly why Corinne Diacre deploys her as a full-back, proving to be a deadly outlet for France up until their quarter-final exit at the hands of the United States.

No player created more chances at the tournament than Majri (21), despite a premature exit, while only Samantha Mewis and Sherida Spitse, who played two extra games, provided more assists.

Amandine Henry's performances this summer only emphasised her status as the best midfielder in the world.

The France captain's perfectly timed pressing was a constant weapon for her team when out of possession, with her winning the ball back a total of 42 times in just five games.

Even in the quarter-final defeat to the United States, Henry was superb, finishing the tournament with two goals, one assist, nine chances created, 12 of her 17 tackles and 25 of her 34 headers won.

Outside of the United States, Rose Lavelle was completely unknown going into this tournament.

The number one NWSL draft pick in 2017, her career in America's top tier has been hampered with injuries so far, but hopefully her displays in France can be a springboard for her career. 

Lavelle was sensational against England in the semi-finals and scored a stunning strike in the 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the competition's showpiece, collecting the Bronze Ball for her efforts as well as a winners' medal.

At 24 years old, her future is very, very bright.

Tenacious, creative and brilliantly outspoken, Danielle van de Donk helped turn plenty of neutrals into fans of the Netherlands this summer as they went on an unlikely run to the final.

The Arsenal midfielder's energetic displays helped the Oranje go toe-to-toe with the United States in that showpiece, with her high pressing and ability to win the ball back proving a huge asset for her team.

Only three players won possession more times than Van de Donk in France, who ranked joint-third for doing so in the final third too.

After a disappointing group stage exit in 2011 and elimination in the last 16 four years ago, Norway caused one of the upsets of the tournament by beating Australia to reach the quarter-finals this summer - and Caroline Graham Hansen was crucial to that.

No one completed more dribbles in the 2019 edition than the 24-year-old (22), with her tricky feet helping Norway finish second in their group before she bamboozled the Matildas in the next round.

Graham Hansen created four chances in Norway's penalty shootout win, as well as scoring her spot-kick, and will head to new club Barcelona full of confidence after a superb summer.

Ellen White's Anthony Modeste-inspired celebration was on show plenty of times in France, with the Manchester City-bound striker unfortunate not to win the Golden Boot in the end.

The 30-year-old finished the tournament with six goals to her name, with VAR cutting celebrations short by a matter of millimetres in England's semi-final loss to the USA before it did so again by ruling out another in defeat to Sweden in the bronze medal match.

White scored with all but one of her shots on target in a clinical string of displays, with her role in firing Team GB to next summer's Olympics massive.

This was the tournament of Megan Rapinoe. No one's contributions to their nation were as crucial as hers to the United States, earning her the Golden Ball after she had powered them to glory for the second successive tournament.

She also went home with the Golden Boot, scoring five of her team's six goals in the competition's knockout stages. A penalty double against Spain got the USA out of a tricky tie, before she bagged both in the win over hosts France and then broke the deadlock in the final.

Donald Trump told her to win the World Cup before talking about not going to the White House, and she did that and more in a simply stunning summer both on and off the pitch for the 34-year-old.