BRAZIL – Fred
Difficult pick, this. Brazil have four outfield players in their squad with fewer than ten international caps. One of those is 32 (Pedro Geromel), one is 29 (Fagner) and another is 30 (Taison). That leaves a 25-year-old who has been in the news once or twice recently for joining Manchester United for £52m and will be Jose Mourinho’s catalyst. Fred has eight caps, and could be the surprise star of this World Cup if he can force his way past Paulinho or Casemiro. Good luck, fella.
SWITZERLAND – Manuel Akanji
This isn’t a campaign against Johan Djourou, but there must be a way that the team ranked sixth in the world can avoid picking him as their central defender. That ‘way’ might be Akanji, who joined Borussia Dortmund from Basel in January for just north of £15m. He started against Spain last week, which is a good start.
SERBIA – Sergej Milinković-Savić
A phenomenal talent and one of the standout stars in Serie A, and yet not a certain starter for Serbia. If that sounds a bit mad, it’s worth remembering that Serbia have typically produced battling, physical, ugly sides and are slightly unnerved by an attacking midfielder that demands an attack being built around him. Still to play a competitive game for his country, but boy do we hope that changes in Russia.
COSTA RICA – Ian Smith
He’s one of only two players under the age of 25 in the squad, so pickings are slim. But he was born in Costa Rica, plays in Sweden and is called Ian Smith. Lovely.