Perhaps no player at the World Cup should be feared more than Uruguay striker Cristian Stuani when the ball is delivered aerially.
The 31-year-old attacker enjoyed an explosive debut season with Girona after moving to the Primera Division side from Middlesbrough in the summer. He made his presence felt in a spectacular first start against Atletico Madrid in which he scored twice, and barely stopped scoring thereafter. In total, he netted 21 times in 33 outings, finishing fifth in the race for the Pichichi.
His specialty, though, was scoring headers. La Liga was given warning within 25 minutes of his arrival, as he struck twice rapidly in this manner against a normally reliable Atleti defence, while he would later score twice in the air against Real Madrid later in the second during a thrilling 6-3 defeat.
Stuani’s campaign was completed with another double, this time against Las Palmas, and though his final goal of the season was a right-footed effort, his opening goal in that game came in the air.
He was a player who was notably strong early in matches, grabbing 14 of his goals in the first half of these games.
However, having the opportunity to strike early for Uruguay is something that he is unlikely to be given the luxury of having the opportunity of going as Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez appear to have the starting positions tied down. Nevertheless, he offers a huge threat off the bench.