1 Player to Watch From Every World Cup Squad (1/2)
With more players participating in the World Cup than ever before, it will be tricky to keep track of the superstars and unsung heroes playing in the tournament.
To battle the overload, I have picked one must-watch player from each qualified country. Here are my selections from Groups A, B, C, and D — with part two scheduled for later this week.
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands
Hassan Al-Haydos is an emotional leader for Qatar. The 31-year-old midfielder is a 165-cap international and has won more than a dozen trophies at the club level, including the Asian Champions League.
If there is ever an opportunity to hype Ecuador frontman Enner Valencia, West Ham+ 19 will take it. The former Hammer arrives in Qatar as part of a squad that inched into the tournament with six qualification losses and a direct style of play. But he could pull a surprise or two this month.
Valencia has been exceptional for Fenerbahçe this season, providing 13 goals and four assists in 12 league appearances. He also happens to be his nation’s all-time leading scorer.
Sadio Mane is the player to watch for Senegal, but there is a catch. He is an injury doubt for the tournament and will miss the first few matches.
"We will have to rely on playing the first games without Sadio and win without Sadio because we have 25 players apart from Sadio,” said Abdoulaye Sow, a member of the Senegalese Football Federation.
For the Netherlands, Denzel Dumfries is the must-watch man. He electrified the European Championship last time out and will try to provide a similar spark in Group A. Born in Rotterdam, the 26-year-old has the offensive skill and defensive smarts to support his breakneck speed.
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
England’s most valuable player is Declan Rice. He will provide crucial protection for Gareth Southgate’s five-player defence, but also has the technical ability and vision to make an impact in the final third. Is there a better piano carrier in world football than the 23-year-old? Probably not.
Mehdi Taremi has been on a heater lately. Iran’s star forward has scored five times in as many Champions League appearances this season and will play a crucial role in their attempt to squeeze into the knockout rounds.
While it’s difficult to overlook Christian ‘the LeBron James of Soccer’ Pulisic, the USMNT’s must-watch player is Matt Turner. Arsenal’s summer acquisition is an excellent shot-stopper with an incredible backstory. It took the 28-year-old three seasons in the NCAA to earn his first professional opportunity – and he has not looked back since. He could thrive in Qatar.
Wales. Golf. Madrid.
Gareth Bale has always been a clutch performer at the international level and arrives at the World Cup just weeks after he scored a dramatic equaliser to help LAFC win MLS Cup. Injuries are a factor for the 33-year-old to consider, but he won’t let them interfere with his national team assignment.
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Lionel Messi is a timeless talent who leads Europe’s big five leagues in just about every creative metric that matters. Argentina’s hopes rest on their 35-year-old captain’s slim shoulders – at what could be his final World Cup.
Saudi Arabia paused its top division to help the national team prepare for the tournament. Abdulelah Al-Amri is a talented, 25-year-old centre-back who will have his work cut out versus Group C’s potent attacks. He is an aerial dual specialist who enjoys physical battles.
Guillermo Ochoa is a marvel for Mexico. He turns into one of the world’s best shot-stoppers once every four years and arrives in Qatar with a remarkable record at the club level from this season:
16 appearances
75.9 save percentage
1.00 goals-against average
7 clean sheets
Robert Lewandowski of Poland is one of the stars Ochoa will face in Qatar. While the Warsaw-born striker was powerless to resist elimination from the Champions League, he has continued to score at a goal-per-game rate since his move to Barcelona.
Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
Kylian Mbappé remains the player to watch for injury-hit France. He cemented his superstar status at the last World Cup and travels to Qatar as the world’s best-paid player. Clearly, the 23-year-old means business.
Mat Ryan is Australia’s captain, most-capped current player, and a vital last line of defence. He moved to FC Copenhagen in the summer to aid his preparations and enters the tournament “wanting to shock the world and show that Australia can match the best out there.”
Denmark is a dark-horse candidate who could actually make a run for the title. Kasper Hjulmand’s side beat France comprehensively in the Nations League and will benefit from a fast start to the season from talismanic midfielder Christian Eriksen.
Tunisia centre-back Dylan Bronn will be busy in Group D. He is a physical defender who is rarely dribbled past and comfortable with the ball at his feet. While the 27-year-old has been hit by injuries this term, he remains a core member of Henryk Kasperczak’s squad.
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