AuthorJeffEyesRimmer The waiting is finally over and the 2018 World Cup has begun. It has started with a bang too, Russia running out 5 – 0 victor’s over a rather lacklustre Saudi Arabia. There are a total of 736 players who could feature at the World Cup and we are in an era now when real unknown players are hard to come by. The internet, most leagues being televised globally and even Football Manager means that not many players slip under the radar. However, there are few players that could have a breakout tournament and make a name for themselves. Here are a few youngsters at the World Cup to keep an eye out for. Sardar Azmoun (Iran & Rubin Kazan) Starting off with the oldest and most experienced of the players on this list. Azmoun plays for Rubin Kazan in Russia and has already made 27 appearances for them, scoring five goals in the process. He was loaned out to Rostov too and made a total of 72 appearances and scoring 19 goals. Not too bad for the 6ft 1in striker. His goal scoring rate is a lot better for country though with the forward bagging 23 goals in 33 appearances, a big World Cup showing could see him move from Russia. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal & Rennes) The 20 year winger is a product of FC Metz in Ligue 1 and made a switch to Rennes in 2017. He actually chose to go to Rennes over Barcelona, with obvious comparisons to another former Rennes winger, Ousmane Dembélé that did eventually make that move. It seems the move to Rennes has been a better choice than that of Dembélés as Sarr has gone on to make 24 appearances for Rennes and scoring five goals and three assists in the process. A passing rate of 80% too is hardly anything to sniff at. Bassem Srarfi (Tunisia & Nice) Srarfi started in the youth ranks of Tunisian clubs Stade Tunisien and Club Africain respectively and his performances in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 saw him earn a move to Nice in Ligue 1. He has gone on to make 20 appearances for the French outfit and has scored three goals to boot too. He has only made two appearances for the national team so far but the midfielder will have a chance to impress against England in their first game. Daniel Arzani (Australia & Melbourne City)
The youngster player at the tournament, he was born in 1999 (I feel old). The attacking midfielder had a good breakout season with Melbourne City in the A-League this season making 20 appearances for them. He also scored his first international goal against Hungary in the warm up games before this summer’s tournament too. Personally, I would love him to start the first game and just be allowed to play freely; the kid had some great skill. And who’s to know what might happen if he is given a chance to impress against France in the opening game. Albert Gudmundsson (Iceland & PSV) A player plying their trade in the Eredivisie, Gudmundsson has come through the PSV academy and scored 28 in 63 games for their reserve team. This prompted PSV to promote the pacey winger to the first team where he made nine appearances last term. He has made 5 appearances for the Icelandic national team so far and scored 3 goals, not a bad return at all. Anymore players that you think might be set for a breakout tournament? There are always a few gems that stand out and then are in line for big money moves. |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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