Fans are stumped by inclusion of 'sub par' Virgil van Dijk in L'Equipe team of the year

Fans are left in shock with the surprise inclusions of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Manchester City star Kyle Walker in the L'Equipe 2022 team of the year.

L'Equipe - France's biggest but famously harsh football newspaper - have named their ultimate XI from the year of 2022 that includes plenty of stars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibault Courtois is named in between the sticks while the back four is made up of Walker, van Dijk, RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol and AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez.

Real Madrid and Croatia star Luka Modric and Manchester United's Casemiro are paired in the centre of midfield.

PSG star Messi, who scored twice and also converted a penalty in the shoot-out to fulfil his destiny of winning the World Cup at the age of 35, and City midfield ace Kevin De Bruyne are deployed out wide on the flanks to make up a midfield four.

France and PSG forward Mbappe and Los Blancos star Benzema, unsurprisingly make up the forward line to complete the 2022 team of the year.

Mbappe cemented his place in the team with his fine performances as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including a hat-trick in France's heartbreaking defeat in a penalty shoot-out to Argentina - not forgetting also winning the tournament's Golden Boot.

Fans, however, have flocked to social media to criticise the Dutchman being included in the star studded line-up.

One fan posted: 'VVD been sub par for his standards, hasn't even been best CB in the Prem. Kind of applies to Walker too, though James hasn't played as much due to injury, I'd just put Cancelo there even if he plays LB more.

Another tweeted: 'Van Dijk, even though he's my favourite player, does not belong on this team.

A third said:  'Must be a different Van Dijk. While another replied: 'Must be a different Walker.'

One supporter chimed in, by saying: 'Van Dijk? Stop the cap. As a fan even I know he's not been up to standard.

Another replied: 'Yeah, he shouldn't be there.'

One fan was also amused that Gvardiol was also included, by tweeting: 'Gvardiol lmao, maybe watch more than the World Cup.'

Van Dijk and Walker have struggled so far this campaign, therefore were surprise inclusions, especially given that they didn't make the team of the year for 2021.

The duo have replaced the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ruben Dias and Marquinhos in the defensive line.

Only three stars have remained in the XI from last year, including Hernandez, De Bruyne and Benzema with Messi and Mbappe as arguably very shock omissions last time round.