5 Surprise Packages From The World Cup Group Stage

5 Surprise Packages From The World Cup Group Stage
17:55, 29 Jun 2018

One of the great joys of the World Cup is its ability to surprise and delight. Even in an age of information overload, with supporters better informed about the participating teams than ever before, some players always emerge from the crowd to make an unexpected impression. Here are five surprise group stage success stories.

Cho Hyun-woo – South Korea

He only made his international debut last November, and was South Korea’s third-choice goalkeeper heading into this tournament. But manager Tae Yong-shin’s obsession with the height of the Swedish team, and the threat they posed from set pieces, saw Cho Hyun-woo given the nod for the opening game.

He looked calm and commanding even in defeat and retained his place for the rest of the group stage. South Korea were already out before their shock win over Germany confirmed the reigning champions’ elimination but Hyun-woo was deservedly named man of the match for his performance. He made a string of fine saves to keep a hard-earned clean sheet and become a cult hero back home.

Juan Fernando Quintero – Colombia

James Rodriguez was the Colombian playmaker everyone was looking out for in Russia after his tremendous performances in the last World Cup four years ago, allowing another to slip under the radar. An early red card in their opening group game undermined their attempts to make a quick start but Juan Fernando Quintero and the rest came into their own against Poland.

The Porto player, who is on-loan to River Plate at the moment, was in sparkling form, sliding in Radamel Falcao to score and creating numerous other chances. He’d already got off the mark himself with a clever free-kick, rolling the ball under the Japanese wall as they all jumped in expectation of a high curling effort. That sort of improvisational brilliance had led to rumours of interest from Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur amongst others.

Denis Cheryshev – Russia

Aleksandr Golovin aside, Russia’s two most dangerous players from the group stage didn’t start the 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia. Both contributed goals from the bench, however, as Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba forced their way into the starting line-up from then on. Cheryshev, who had never scored for his country before, spectacularly changed that with a brace in the World Cup’s curtain-raiser after coming on for the injured Alan Dzagoev.

The left winger, who was raised in Spain and still plays his club football there for Villarreal, has made himself a surprise contender for the Golden Boot with three goals already. His first showed wonderful technique to duck inside a sliding challenge and smash the ball into the top corner, while his second was bent in from the edge of the box with the outside of his foot. Another, more routine, finish followed against Egypt.

Moussa Wague – Senegal

In perhaps the toughest group of this summer’s World Cup, with no clear favourite of the four contenders, Senegal came agonisingly close to springing a surprise. Aside from a couple of household names, most of their squad are relative unknowns but rose to the occasion and showed their quality under pressure. None more so than Moussa Wague.

The 19-year-old right back, one of just seven teenagers at the tournament, was a revelation for Aliou Cisse’s side. Strong in the tackle and quick to get forward with the ball, he was keen to contribute at both ends of the pitch. His crowning moment came with a smart finish against Japan that temporarily put Senegal back in front. Currently playing for Belgian side KAS Eupen, Wague’s promising all-round performances will have alerted bigger clubs to his potential.

Kieran Trippier – England

Before the World Cup began, Kieran Trippier had started just once for England in a competitive match. He seemed destined to be Kyle Walker’s understudy until his former teammate was belatedly incorporated into a three-man defence during a couple of friendlies in March. This freed up Trippier to make the right flank his own and he’s done so in assured fashion.

He’s thrived as an attack-minded wing-back, bringing verve and energy to the team. Even more impressive has been his set-piece delivery. Five of England’s eight goals so far have come, either directly or indirectly, from free kicks or corners, with Trippier claiming an assist for John Stones’ first to break the deadlock against Panama. After the opening round of matches, he’d created more chances than anyone else at the World Cup.

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