The World Cup 2022 is at the quarter final stage and the favourites, Brazil, France and Argentina are clicking through the gears, while Portugal and England have both impressed in the Round of 16.
The final group of eight is made up of three very dangerous dark horses, the Netherlands, Croatia and Morocco and we certainly can’t rule out anymore upsets. But however the competition pans out, we are sure to see some of La Liga’s brightest stars make some more World Cup 2022 highlights and maybe even pick up a winners medal.
They are back in action on Friday, when Croatia meet Brazil, a game we’ve just previewed here at SBOTOP, and that’s a great place for us to start.
Luka Modric: Croatia and Real Madrid
Croatia’s most capped player and one of Los Blancos’ most decorated, Luka Modric has done just about everything in football, winning all Spain’s domestic honours as well as the Champions League, and he was one step away from becoming a world champion with Croatia in 2018, losing in the final. That was probably his country’s best chance to be kings of the world and now they have an aging squad, led by the 37 year old Modric. He is in a formidable midfield alongside Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic, but Friday’s fixture with the Selecao could be his swansong.
Modric is Croatia’s best hope of an upset.
Vinicius Junior: Brazil and Real Madrid
At the other end of his career, Modric’s 22 year old club mate Vinicius Junior is one of the Brazil stars the Croatian defence will be most wary of, and there are a few. Alongside the likes of Neymar and Richarlison, Vinicius is part of a terrifying attack and his incredible speed off the mark has already wreaked havoc in two campaigns as a key man in Real Madrid’s armoury.
Vinicius scored the opener in the Selecao’s destruction of South Korea in the Round of 16 and he’s one of the reasons the World Cup 2022 betting odds have been steadfastly behind Brazil from the outset.
Les Bleus and Oranje still in the hunt
Antoine Griezmann: France and Atletico Madrid
France have a quarter final date with England on Saturday and we’re sure to see a couple of La Liga stars lining up for Les Bleus. Now 31 years old, Antoine Griezmann is a seasoned goal scorer, approaching 200 in La Liga and with 42 international goals in 114 appearances. There is plenty of competition in the France attack, with all time top scorer Olivier Giroud and the phenomenon Kylian Mbappe in the line-up and young talents such as Kingsley Coman and Christopher Nkunku ready to step in. Griezmann’s link up play has been vital for France and his combination of close control and passing range means he rarely loses the ball and, when he is on song, he is lethal in front of goal.
Aurelien Tchouameni: France and Real Madrid
Los Blancos’ big summer recruit from AS Monaco has settled in to the Bernabeu as a natural replacement for the departed Casemiro and has now nailed down a position in France’s midfield, sitting just in front of the back four in a role occupied for so long by N’golo Kante. He has maturity beyond his 22 years and Tchouameni has a big future ahead of him for club and country.
Frenkie de Jong: Netherlands and Barcelona
His position at the Camp Nou looked in serious doubt last summer, but Barcelona’s midfield ace stayed put in Catalonia and remains a key part of Xavi’s team. But there has never been any doubt how important De Jong is to Louis Van Gaal’s Netherlands. He dictates the pace of play for the Dutch and much of his team’s creative play goes through the Barca man. The Netherlands have a tough assignment against Argentina next and De Jong will need to be at his best.
Two stars already on the way home
Federico Valverde: Uruguay and Real Madrid
He’s been one of the most improved players in La Liga this season, with eight goals already, and Federico Valverde can consider himself unlucky to be out of the World Cup after Uruguay came agonisingly close to qualifying for the Round of 16. 2-0 up against Ghana, Uruguay were through until South Korea scored a shock injury time winner against Portugal. Valverde had been a constant threat at the group stage and his time will come again.
Pedri: Spain and Barcelona
The same can be said for Blaugrana wonderkid Pedri who, at the ripe old age of 20, was one of the stars of La Roja’s campaign which was cut surprisingly short by Morocco in the Round of 16. He was named the best young player at Euro 2020 and was impressive again in Qatar, clever on the ball and willing to get stuck in. But, much like the rest of his team, he lacked a spark against the well drilled Atlas Lions and now he has a week off.
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