With the World Cup slowly creeping up on us, I thought I would take a look at players that could surprise at this summer’s footballing festival.
Eduardo Vargas (Chile)
Currently on loan with Valencia from Napoli, Eduardo Vargas is a player that has performed better for his national side than his club sides over the last two years. The 24-year-old was revelation in the Chilean League when he helped Universidad de Chile win the Copa Sudamericana in 2011. It was his performances in Chile that earned a move to Napoli, where he has failed to an impact since joining in December 2011.
His loan move to Valencia has provided him with a chance to prove his worth in top European leagues, in his recent games for Chile he has appeared to be a different player from the one who puts on a club shirt. Especially in the game against England when he was one Chile’s best players in a 2-0 win at Wembley.
Most neutrals will expect Barcelona’s Alexsis Sanchez to the shining light for Chile at the World Cup. However, Eduardo Vargas is certainly a player to watch out for at the tournament.
Josip Drmic (Switzerland)
Nuremberg may be struggling near the bottom of the Bundesliga, but Swiss striker Josip Drmic has been their savior this season with his goals. Since joining from FC Zurich in the summer, he has netted 11 league goals making him the 5th highest scorer in the league.
He may not be a Swiss regular yet, but taking into account how superior his goal tally is compared to his compatriots- he is bound to be on the plane to Brazil. And if he does make it there, expect him to challenge for the golden boot such is the simplicity of Switzerland’s group.
Heung Min Son (Korea)
Many people have unfairly written the Koreans off before the tournament has kicked off, citing their struggle to make it to Brazil from the Asian qualifiers. However when they have Heung-Min Son in their side, it is hard to agree with some of the doubters. The 21-year-old has been of the Bundesliga’s top strikers in the last two season while at Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen.
This season he has scored eight goals for Leverkusen side that is secondary to only Bayern Munich, and last season he managed 12 for a struggling Hamburg side. If South Korea are to do well at the World Cup, it will be Son who will be their star player. The former FC Seoul youth product is possibly the best striker they have brought to the World Cup in their history.
Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast)
While Didier Drogba is still one of the Ivory Coast’s main stars, Swansea’s Wilfried Bony is a player they can look to should the Galatasaray forward be misfiring. After a slow start to the Premier League, many have doubted Bony’s ability. However after scoring five goals since the start of 2014, he has proved himself as an adequate performer at Premier League level. If he can continue his form at Swansea and bring it to the World Cup- he may just steal the limelight from Drogba & co.
Sead Kolasinac (Bosnia)
After choosing to represent the country of his parents, the German-born Bosnian has boosted the chances of the World Cup newcomers. Known for his abilities to be strong defensively and threatening going forward, he has all the qualities of a good modern day fullback.
He highlighted his strengths in a recent game with Hannover 96, when he assisted the second goal for Jefferson Farfan. If Bosnia are to do well at the World Cup, expect to see Sead Kolasinac bombing down the left touchline making every contribution he can.