Mohammed Kudus of Ghana is among those to keep an eye out for in Qatar. Getty/Aurelien Meunier The World Cup isn’t just all about the biggest stars in soccer. It also presents an opportunity for young, lesser-known players to make a name for themselves on the big stage.
Below are nine unearthed gems to keep an out for in Qatar. Over the years, many lesser-known soccer players have announced themselves to the world at the FIFA World Cup. Take Romania legend Gheorge Hagi, for example, whose performances at Italy 1990 earned him an unlikely promotion from Steaua Bucharest to Real Madrid.
Or James Rodríguez, who also signed for Real from AS Monaco after helping Colombia reach the quarterfinals at Brazil in 2014. Or even Senegal striker El-Hadj Diouf, for whom Liverpool came calling – though it would later regret it – after he scored three goals, including one against France, at South Korea/Japan 2002. At this year’s Qatar World Cup, which starts on November 20, there will again be a plethora of young players from all over the globe who will be hoping to make their marks and perhaps secure themselves a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Below, Insider takes a look at the hidden gems that could unearth themselves in the Middle East. Garang Kuol – AustraliaGarang Kuol. Getty/Hannah PetersAge: 18Club: Central Coast MarinersPosition: ForwardGarang Kuol doesn’t need to impress in Qatar for the purpose of securing himself a deal with a big club, with Newcastle United having already pre-purchased the teenager from the Central Coast Mariners in September.
He will join the English Premier League club in January. A fast, strong, and confident striker who enjoys running at defenders, Kuol has been tipped by Mariners manager Nick Montgomery to go on to huge things. “I think Garang could be as good as anyone in the world,” Montgomery said last month.
Joško Gvardiol – CroatiaGvardiol was a target for Chelsea FC in the summer. Getty/Nico PaetzelAge: 20Club: RB LeipzigPosition: Defender Gvardiol has all the physical qualities you need in a central defender – speed, strength, and great aerial ability. But he’s also comfortable with the ball at his feet, which has made him a top target for Chelsea, which unsuccessfully bid $88 million for him in the summer, according to The Guardian.
If he impresses in Qatar, Gvardiol’s already hefty price tag will undoubtedly rise even higher. Zeno Debast – BelgiumZeno Debast is already being compared to Belgium legend Vincent Kompany. Getty/Joris VerwijstAge: 19Club: AnderlechtPosition: DefenderZeno Debast left quite the impression on Belgium manager Roberto Martinez when he made his debut for the Red Devils against Wales.
“This was one of the most impressive debuts in recent years for the Red Devils,” said Martinez of the Anderlecht youngster, according to 90min. “I have never seen such a young player make his debut so well. “Debast has also been dubbed “the new Vincent Kompany” by Belgian press – which he called an “honor.
“Piero Hincapié – EcuadorPiero Hincapie. Getty/Joris VerwijstAge: 20Club: Bayer LeverkusenPosition: Defender A versatile defender who can play either as a left-back or a central defender, Piero Hincapié was a regular starter for Bayer Leverkusen last season as it finished third in the Bundesliga. So impressive was he in his debut season in Germany, he’s already being eyed by LaLiga and European champion Real Madrid, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.
Xavi Simons – NetherlandsXavi Simons in action for PSV. Getty/Soccrates ImagesAge: 19Club: PSV EindhovenPosition: MidfielderSimons was named in the Netherlands’ 39-man preliminary squad for the Qatar World Cup, but having never made an appearance for his country, it remains unclear if he will make the final cut. The former Netherlands player Jan Boskamp, however, thinks taking him to Qatar is a no-brainer for head coach Louis van Gaal.
“He thinks much faster than other players, that is really not normal,” Boskamp told Veronica Offside of Simons. If he does go, Simons, who has eight goals for PSV this season, will no doubt turn heads. Takefusa Kubo – JapanTakefusa Kubo has already played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Getty/Masashi HaraAge: 21Club: Real SociedadPosition: ForwardOnce a youngster at FC Barcelona, Takefusa Kubo signed for Real Madrid in 2019. He never made a competitive appearance for the team, however, instead spending the next three years on loan at various other clubs in Spain, where he showed sporadic glimpses of his talent. Having left Madrid permanently to join Real Sociedad this summer, he’s now playing consistently and enjoying the best form of his career.
With searing pace and great dribbling ability, Kubo has been dubbed the “Japanese Messi. ” Jonathan David – CanadaJonathan David. Getty/Matthew Ashton; Getty/Matthew AshtonAge: 22Club: LOSC LillePosition: ForwardThe best known of the lesser-known players on this list, Jonathan David has already proven himself to be one of European soccer’s elite strikers.
In his debut season with LOSC Lille in 2020/21, he scored 13 goals to help the club lift the Ligue 1 title for only the fourth time in its history, while last season he scored 19 in all competitions. This term, David has taken it up a notch, hitting nine in 13 Ligue 1 matches – a total topped only by Paris Saint-Germain duo Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. Mohammed Kudus – GhanaThat Ghana kit, though.
Getty/ANPAge: 22Club: AjaxPosition: ForwardFor years, Ghana fans have relied on the Ayew brothers, André and Jordan, to score the goals for their team. But now, supporters of the Black Stars have a new goalscoring hero to look up to in Mohammed Kudus. The forward has scored five goals in 18 matches for Ghana since making his debut in 2019, while he’s already hit 10 this season for Ajax – form he, and Ghana fans, will be hoping he can carry into Qatar.
Jesús Ferreira – USAJesus Ferreira. Getty/Omar VegaAge: 21Club: FC DallasPosition: ForwardMajor League Soccer’s Young Player of the Season for 2022, Jesús Ferreira scored a club record-equaling 18 goals and provided six assists for FC Dallas to help it to its best Western Conference finish in six years. Ferreira also boasts an impressive record for the USMNT, having scored seven times in 15 games.
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From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/qatar-world-cup-9-lesser-known-young-stars-to-watch-2022-11
