Ones to Watch: The most exciting player from each country at the World Cup
GROUP G
Belgium – Kevin de Bruyne
Chelsea fans ready to rage at me for the distinct absence of Eden Hazard’s name here, please be nice.
It was a tough decision, but Kevin de Bruyne pips Hazard purely because of the groundbreaking season he has had at Manchester City.
Never far from everything exquisite about the Sky Blues in their record-smashing, sublime campaign, de Bruyne has been one of the stars to illuminate the Premier League and hopefully he does the same at the World Cup.
The most accurate of passing range, an eye for goal and laser-like precision, the Belgian looks one of the best players in the world, let alone for his national side.
Roberto Martinez’s men have struggled to bond as a unit, hence why his impact is often quieter on the international stage, and it will be interesting to see whether de Bruyne only brings out his immense prime under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.
The world is watching.
Panama – Roman Torres
I’ll be honest, my knowledge of Panamanian football isn’t at its peak.
I have still given it a crack, though, and Seattle Sounders centre half, and Panama captain, Roman Torres, sticks out.
The Sounders have reached the MLS Final two years in a row, and the staunch defender has been a rock at the back on both occasions.
Panama can hardly rely on their attack to impale the stalwart defences of Belgium and England, meaning they have to sit back and absorb the pressure.
Torres can certainly do that effectively.
Tunisia – Wahbi Khazri
Formerly a Sunderland regular when they were a Premier League club (that seems worlds away), Wahbi Khazri stands as Tunisia’s most exciting, and notable, player.
He now plies his trade at Stade Rennes in France, however is still a Sunderland player. It is unlikely he will return following their relegation to League 1.
Should he go back, it would be a harsh disparity from the box-office nature of the World Cup.
Tunisia, like Panama, should have tactics to frustrate the more attack-fuelled England and Belgium and can forge results that way.
Khazri, a winger, could be the one to make the difference and provide a spark for the north Africans. Which is something they need if they are to cause a shock and advance past a tough group.
England – Harry Kane
A Three Lions squad full of youth will be captained by Harry Kane, who is still yet to reach his zenith himself.
Kane has been Tottenham’s most reliable goalscorer for three seasons on the spin, but a disappointing Euro 2016 leaves his international credentials to be scrutinised.
Alongside either Raheem Sterling, Jamie Vardy or Marcus Rashford, the onus is on Kane to get the goals for England. Two winnable fixtures against Tunisia and Panama look straightforward, but the England way is not to make things easy.
Should Kane play like he does for Spurs, it should make it a much simpler task. Here’s hoping…