A Player to Watch on Each of the 32 Teams at the 2022 World Cup (Part I)
It’s been a long wait for football fans all over the world.
So much has happened since the last World Cup in 2018. That was a time before COVID, masks, vaccines, travel restrictions and safety protocols. It’s hard to believe that only four years have passed since the world came together to celebrate the World Cup.
In Russia.
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, that World Cup feels like a lifetime ago.
Now as each day goes by, we inch closer and closer to the opening ceremony of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
On November 20th, Qatar will host Ecuador in the Group A opener.
Some of the best players in the world will be playing on the biggest stage that football has to offer.
Legendary players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Paolo Maldini, and Johan Cruyff have never won a World Cup. Others like Pele or Michael Owen became superstars overnight because of their heroics at this hallowed competition.
With that in mind, who are some players to keep an eye on at this year’s World Cup?
(Note: this doesn’t necessarily mean the best player on each team.)
Each part in this four part series will cover eight players from eight teams.
Let’s start with Group A, which consists of the host country Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands.
GROUP A
Qatar
Akram Afif (LW) #11, Al Sadd
Quick and tricky winger Akram Afif will be a key player for the Qatari national team. Formerly of Villarreal and Sevilla, Afif has flair and pace on the wing. At 25, he already has 83 caps and 24 goals for the national team. While Qatari center forward and captain Ali has the ability to put away chances, Afif needs to help create those chances for Ali. When Qatar won the Asian Cup in 2019, Afif provided a record 10 assists in the tournament. For Qatar to advance to the knockout stages, Afif will need to play provider again.
Key stat- In six WC Qualifiers in 2022, Afif has four goals and three assists. Weird, Afif spelled backwards is FIFA. I could probably make some kind of “Qatar bribed FIFA” joke there, but I won’t.
Ecuador
Moises Caicedo (CM/DM) #23 , Brighton
The 20 year old Caicedo is a tantalizing talent in midfield for Brighton. Personally, he’s one of my favorite young prospects in the entire EPL. One of his idols is N’golo Kante, and it shows in his style of play. Besides being an astute tackler, he has real quality and untapped potential in passing and keeping the ball.
He has an uncanny ability to cut out attacks and to start attacks with a single turn or a quick pass. Caicedo is going to be Ecuador’s star man for the next decade, and this World Cup could help promote his rising star. If only he were South Korean…
Key stat- In the last 11 international games Caicedo has played in, Educador has not conceded more than a single goal. Is Caicedo Spanish for “Brick Wall”?
Senegal
Ismaila Sarr (RW) #23, Watford
The majority of eyes will be on Sadio Mane, who is undoubtedly Senegal’s most important player. Mane has eight goals and three assists in 11 appearances for the national team in 2022. However, Senegal needs another goalscorer to help ease the pressure off of Mane. Senegal rely far too much on Mane for goals. It could be speedy right winger Sarr, who uses his lanky frame and long strides to run onto direct balls.
In 12 games, Sarr has six goals and four assists this season for Watford in the Championship. But he will need to replicate his form for Senegal, as he only has scored only once in his last 8 international appearances.
Key stat- Sarr is one of the most fouled players in the Championship, with 1.6 a game.
Netherlands
Matthijs de Ligt (CB) #3, Bayern Munich
Since de Ligt burst onto the scene with Ajax at 17, he has been one of the most highly regarded prospects in the world. In 2018, he won the Golden Boy award, an award given to the best young talent in Europe. De Ligt is still the only defender to ever win the Golden Boy.
Now De Ligt is 23, with league titles in Italy and in the Netherlands under his belt. After making a big money move to Bayern in the summer, he is ready to shine at his first World Cup. De Ligt is arguably one of the most complete center backs in the game today. He is strong, dominant in the air and reads the game well. And as one might suspect from an Ajax academy graduate, his technical skills are exquisite.
Key stat- De Ligt is the 2nd most accurate passer in the Bundesliga this season with 91.3% passing accuracy. Can some of those diagonal balls find Memphis Depay on a quick counter?
GROUP B
England
Jude Bellingham (CM) #26, Dortmund
Oh, England. Where do we start with you? So far 2022 has not been kind to England. The Nations League was an unmitigated disaster. England mustered only three draws and three losses, including an embarrassing 4–0 loss at home against Hungary. But with a wealth of talented players like Jude Bellingham, England is still too talented to overlook.
I was tempted to put Bukayo Saka here, who is making an incredible impact for Arsenal this season. But it will be interesting to see how precocious 19 year old talent Bellingham plays in this World Cup.
A dynamic do-it-all midfielder with skill and pace, he is already being linked with the likes of Real Madrid. Could they come calling if he has a great tournament?
Key stat- In the Bundesliga, Bellingham is averaging 2.4 dribbles and 3.1 fouls suffered per game. Those are Neymar-esque numbers. From midfield.
Iran
Mehdi Taremi (ST) #9, FC Porto
With protests being staged all over the country, Iran have bigger issues than football at the moment. Some are even urging FIFA to kick Iran from the World Cup. In the coming weeks, we will see whether this written summary will even be relevant by the time the World Cup begins.
As for the football team itself, Iran are well known to be a solid defensive team. But where are the goals going to come from? Iranian star Sardar Azmoun is likely to miss the World Cup with an unfortunate calf injury suffered in early October. Luckily for Iran, they still have Mehdi Taremi.
Taremi stands 187 cm tall and is blessed with good technical skills and hold-up play. He likes to drift to the left wing where he can cut in and shoot or set up his teammates in the box.
Key stat- Taremi is on blistering form for Porto this season with ten goals and six assists in 16 appearances (all competitions).
USA
Tyler Adams (DM) #4, Leeds United
The USA are producing more talented players than ever before, with players like Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie and Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic. Tyler Adams doesn’t get quite the hype of those two, but he’s going to be just as important for the US in Qatar. He does the dirty work as a hard tackling, versatile defensive midfielder. Against players like the aforementioned Taremi, Gareth Bale, and Harry Kane, Adams will be key to the USA’s hopes in Group B.
When you first look at Adams, you don’t see a prototype defensive midfielder at first. He’s quick and light on his feet, and stands 1.75 m tall. But looks can be deceiving. He’s tenacious, aggressive, and not afraid to challenge players much bigger than him. He reminds me a lot of Allan (the Udinese/Napoli version, not the Everton one).
Key stat- Adams is averaging the second most tackles per game (4.0) in the entire EPL.
Wales
Neco Williams (RB/LB) #3, Nottingham Forest
Neco Williams is a very versatile player for Nottingham Forest and Wales. While primarily being played at left back and right back this season for Forest in the Premier League, he has played all over the pitch for Wales. Since his debut for the national team in 2020, he has played at both fullback spots, both wingback/wide-mid spots, and even at CM.
Gareth Bale when fit is Wales’ premier attacking threat, but he has struggled with fitness and injuries (again) this season. For LAFC this season, Bale has only started 2 out of 12 appearances citing a lack of fitness. He also recently missed a crucial game for LAFC with an apparent leg injury. If Bale is unable to be at his best, Wales will need Neco Williams to provide more going forward.
Key stat- For Nottingham Forest, Williams averages 2.9 tackles (ninth among all EPL players) and 1.8 interceptions (fifth).
Coming soon:
Groups C/D
Sources:
transfermarkt.com
whoscored.com
fbref.com
