In case you haven’t noticed, Dream Team World Cup is now live across all platforms!
Gaffers are invited to select a provisional team now before player prices are finalised on November 14th.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP – £50,000 IN PRIZE MONEY UP FOR GRABS!
One aspect to consider when selecting your XI is the array of young midfield talent that will be on display in Qatar.
As the most-watched sporting event in the world, the World Cup has long been the platform from which youngsters can launch themselves to superstardom.
This year’s tournament will be no different with several notable young midfielders seemingly on the cusp of greatness already.
We make no apologies for the England-centric view by highlighting Jude Bellingham first of all.
Still just 19 years old, Borussia Dortmund’s No22 is earning huge plaudits in Germany for his all-round performances and a sense of maturity beyond beyond his years.
A diligent worker in defence, Bellingham is also blessed with a deftness of touch and natural technique that makes him effective in tight areas.
And this season the former Birmingham midfielder has shown a sharper eye goal – he’s scored nine goals for Dortmund in all competitions already.
Such has been the impressive nature of his development in recent months, it now seems likely that Bellingham will be a starter for England at the World Cup.
Kalvin Phillips has struggled with injury setbacks recently and Bellingham’s added edge going forward makes him a superb candidate for a spot alongside Declan Rice whether Gareth Southgate opts for a 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 formation.
Never to be outdone where technically gifted midfielders are concerned, Spain boast two teenage talents likely to win swathes of admirers in Qatar.
Pedri is arguably among the world’s best players in his position already and previously flaunted his ability on the international stage to considerable degree at Euro 2020.
Recently he’s been joined at club and country level by Gavi, a La Masia graduate who shares many of the same attributes.
Naturally there are whispered hopes from fans of Barcelona and La Roja that Pedri, 19, and Gavi, 18, can emulate Xavi and Andres Iniesta’s partnership that formed the foundation of some of the greatest triumphs of the modern era.
It’s a similar situation in France where Didier Deschamps may call upon Real Madrid pair Eduardo Camavinga, 19, and Aurelien Tchouameni, 22, as Les Bleus seek to defend their crown this winter.
The latter is virtually guaranteed a spot in the squad and he may be joined by his younger team-mate because of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba’s absences through injury.
Both starlets blend athleticism and physicality with a certain poise in possession, making them very modern midfielders.
More casual fans will remember Camavinga’s match-shaping performances off the bench during Real Madrid’s latest Champions League glory.
Germany have Jamal Musiala, the most attack-minded of the lot.
Once a England youth representative and Chelsea academy player, the 19-year-old has become hugely important to Bayern Munich – he’s scored nine goals and provided six assists for the Bundesliga champions already this term.
Die Mannschaft are hardly lacking in midfield options but there is an increasingly loud clamour for the national team to be built around Musiala’s blooming talent.
If Hansi Flick concurs then Musiala may be the pick of the lot in terms of Dream Team World Cup viability, purely because he’s the most likely of the players mentioned to contribute goals and assists.
More broadly, all the youngsters listed have shown enough in the early stages of their careers to suggest they could become world-class midfielders – some may have already reached that level – and there’s no better stage than the World Cup for a player to stamp their authority on the game.
And the tournament comes at a fitting time too with several leading midfield lights at the back end of their careers.
Qatar will surely be Luka Modric’s last World Cup at 37 years old, Toni Kroos is 32 and already retired from international football, Angel Di Maria is 34 and currently sweating on an injury ahead of the World Cup.
Casemiro, Ilkay Gundogan and Sergio Busquets are all in the 30s, as is Kevin De Bruyne.
These experienced names still have plenty to offer of course, many are still at the top of their game, but every player succumbs to the passing of time eventually.
The 2022 World Cup could act as a passing of the torch from one crop of decorated midfielders to an exciting host of youngsters hoping to emulate their heroes.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
