The best starting XI from the Round of 16

Deep breath, everyone. 

The Round of 16 and all it's glorious, heart-pounding and heartbreaking action has come to an end. Incredible goals, miraculous goalkeeping performances, last-minute winners and a pair of penalty shootouts. 

We saw it all, including a number of standout performances from individual players. As such, here's our dream starting XI based off matches from the Round of 16.

Note: The team is lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

GK: Tim Howard

Julio Cesar made stopping penalties look like a breeze. Guillermo Ochoa continued to earn himself a big contract from a new club. Keylor Navas is the main reason Costa Rica are in the quarterfinal for the first time in history. Manuel Neuer played the role of sweeper keeper to perfection. Diego Benaglio thwarted Argentina for 118 minutes.

Goalkeepers were the star of the show in the Round of 16. None of the shot-stoppers shone brighter than the American, though. Howard made 16 (!) saves in the United States' 2-1 loss to Belgium, giving his team a chance in a match that they probably should have lost by a significant margin.

Here's everything you need to know about Howard's performance:

*****

LB: Ricardo Rodriguez

Ricardo Rodriguez could very well be the best left-back in the world at just 21 years old.

Powerful, quick, good on the ball and possessing a wonderful left foot, the Wolfsburg man is a joy to watch going forward, but is a nightmare for opponents trying to get beyond him at the other end of the pitch.

So much of Argentina's attack comes down their right wing with Pablo Zabaleta and Lionel Messi drifting over to that side. They had little luck with this tactic vs. Switzerland because they kept running into Rodriguez.

It was no coincidence that the Argentines only started to look legitimately threatening when they started to attack through Marcos Rojo on the left wing.

CB: Rafik Halliche

The Algerian captain was one of the main reasons Germany needed extra time to break down the Fennec Foxes.

Indomitable in the air, Halliche was credited with making eight clearances in the match. The majority of those were of the 'last ditch' variety, as the 27-year-old consistently intercepted passes inside the area that almost certainly would have led to German goals.

It was a shame that he had to leave the game with an injury in the 97th minute.

CB: Gary Medel

The Chilean center-back was a doubt for the match against Brazil, hampered by a thigh injury that manager Jorge Sampaoli admitted just one day before the contest would likely keep him on the sidelines.

Not only did Medel play, he was the anchor that helped Chile come within inches of shocking the host nation. The fact that he could barely walk by the time he was substituted was a testament to the work he put in. That said, this wasn't simply a case of someone running around aimlessly and doing more harm than good.

He was composed on the ball, strong in the tackle and good in the air. Without the center-back organizing the defense and proving almost impossible to get by, Chile would not have made it to extra time.

RB: DeAndre Yedlin

You're going to be hearing a lot about this young man in the next few days following his remarkable performance off the substitutes bench against Belgium, replacing the injured Fabian Johnson.

Yedlin's ludicrous pace was on full display as he dominated the right flank after his introduction. Jan Vertonghen had no hope of slowing him down, as the Seattle Sounders defender beat him multiple times and sent in a host of dangerous crosses, particularly late in the match and into extra time.

*****

CDM: Luiz Gustavo

His largely thankless job of breaking up play and allowing Neymar and company to break forward goes unnoticed by many, but Luiz Gustavo has been equal parts fantastic and vital for Brazil at this tournament.

His strong play is even more impressive when you consider that he has been partnered by a pylon masquerading as Paulinho for much of the competition. Unfortunately for the Selecao, the 26-year-old picked up another yellow card against Chile, meaning he will miss the match against Colombia through suspension.

James Rodriguez is licking his lips in anticipation right now knowing that Gustavo will not be on the pitch.

CDM: Gokhan Inler 

Inler, with some help from the typically mediocre Valon Behrami, shut down Lionel Messi for 118 minutes. He muscled him off the ball on multiple occasions, closed down his space expertly and forced Argentina to look elsewhere to create chances.

It was no coincidence that Messi's best moment of the match — setting up the winning goal with a winding run — came when Inler was unable to recover after an error from a teammate left him out of position.

*****

LAM: Angel Di Maria

Good time to score your first World Cup goal.

Di Maria's winner that broke Swiss hearts in the 118th minute came on his 12th shot of the match, the most by a single player in a World Cup contest since Italian Luigi Riva fired 13 during a game in the 1970 edition of the tournament.

He was everywhere.

The Real Madrid star drifted from the left over to the right, beating players in one-on-one situations and forcing at least two very good saves from Diego Benaglio before finally finding the breakthrough.

CAM: James Rodriguez

Simply the best of the tournament so far. 

His five goals lead the way at the moment, and his brace against Uruguay opened with arguably the best tally of the competition. Monaco have reportedly slapped a €90 million price tag on his magical left foot as the vultures are looking to swoop down and make a move.

Be afraid, Brazil. Be very afraid.

RAM: Alexis Sanchez 

Wearing short-shorts is cool again because of Alexis Sanchez.

The Barcelona star scored the equalizer in the first half of the heartbreaking shootout loss to Brazil with a clinical, side-footed finish. He also set up Mauricio Pinilla's chance late in extra time that crashed off the crossbar. A constant threat to the Selecao defense, the tournament is a lesser spectacle without Sanchez involved.

*****

ST: Romelu Lukaku

Divock Origi had himself quite a game in his first competitive start for the Red Devils against the United States on Tuesday, showcasing his ridiculous pace and ability to not only craft openings for himself, but create chances for his teammates.

He was the most dangerous player for Belgium. And then Lukaku replaced him.

The hulking striker came on and promptly brushed aside Matt Besler to set up the opening goal of the contest, before smashing home one of his own to send the Red Devils into the quarterfinals.

Origi had a very good match playing from the opening whistle. But Lukaku made the difference, and as a result will not be watching from the bench to begin the game against Argentina.