FourFourTwo South Africa names the six best performing players at the 2018 World Cup thus far.
1 Denis Cheryshev
Cheryshev started Russia’s World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia on the bench, and on the fringes of Stanislav Cherchesov’s Russia side. Ninety minutes later, the Villarreal winger had grabbed a record: the first substitute to score in a World Cup opener, which he added to with another in the 91st minute.
Cheryshev’s first goal was lovely – a beautiful touch to both control the ball and commit two defenders, before rifling it into the top corner beyond Saudi keeper Abdullah Al-Mayoof. His second – Russia’s fourth – was even better. After getting on the end of Artem Dzyuba’s knockdown, the 27-year-old’s first touch controlled the ball perfectly and his second, struck with the outside of his left foot, sent it sailing over Al-Mayoof and into the net.
That earned him a start against Russia to replace the injured Alan Dzagoev – and a third goal of the tournament in Russia’s 3-1 victory over Egypt. Nice.
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2 Hirving Lozano
‘Chucky’ Lozano was many people’s player to watch coming into the tournament – and his performance against the Germans didn’t disappoint.
He top-scored for Mexican side Pachuca as they won the CONCACAF Champions League a year ago, raising his profile enough to get a move to Europe with PSV. His first season in Eindhoven was spectacular, with the 22-year-old’s 17 league goals from a wide position helping PSV to the Eredivisie title.
If the opening group stage match is anything to go by, Lozano has carried his club form into the World Cup for Mexico. For his winner against Germany, the livewire forward kept his composure brilliantly to take a touch and fire beyond Manuel Neuer. His countrymen back home did anything but keep their composure – the celebrations in Mexico City caused a minor tremor.
3 Hector Herrera
Mexico have taken part in the last six World Cup tournaments, making it out of the group stage but no further than the first knockout round every single time. The quinto partido (fifth match) has become an obsession in Mexico, and the quarter-finals are a barometer for success among fans and media alike.
El Tri haven’t been that far since they last hosted the competition back in 1986 – when only five of their current squad were born – but the early signs suggest that this could be their year, after a sensational result against reigning champions Germany.
Key to that win was the performance of Herrera – the Porto man patrolled the midfield and easily came out on top against Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos. A magnificent display.
4 Diego Costa
Former Chelsea man Costa was at his belligerent, irritating and devastating best against Portugal, with his first goal a thing of brute force that left everyone’s favourite pantomime villain, Pepe, on his backside as the net rippled.
But while that was all his own doing, his second was a striker’s goal – in the right place at the right time to finish off a sweeping team move. If not for Ronaldo’s incredible performance against Spain, Costa would have been the catalyst for a vital victory over their closest rivals.
Either way, he’s giving a good account of himself in Russia after a nightmare 2014 World Cup in his birth nation of Brazil, and even seems to have luck on his side – the winning goal against Iran came after Ramin Rezaeian hacked a clearance off Costa’s shins and in.
5 Jose Maria Gimenez
Pre-tournament talk focused on attacking duo Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez tormenting defences, and Uruguay easily qualifying for the knockout stage from the World Cup’s weakest group.
It hasn’t quite worked out that way; although the Celeste are indeed through with two wins and no goals conceded, their pragmatic (to be kind) approach has stifled their attacking prowess. For many sides that would be a big problem, but less so for Uruguay, who boast arguably the best centre-back partnership in the competition.
Luckily for Oscar Tabarez, they love scoring international goals too: Gimenez’s wonderful header was enough to secure all three points for a lacklustre Uruguay against Egypt in their opening match
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6. Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal were generally overlooked in the run-up to the tournament, despite being reigning European champions. The utilitarian way in which they won Euro 2016 was seen much more as a weakness than a potential strength, yet their ability to get a result when they don’t deserve it has proved to be a huge plus once again.
Portugal weren’t particularly great against Iberian neighbours Spain, then scrapped a 1-0 against Morocco having been the inferior side for much of the contest. Neither nation could cope with Ronaldo, whose development from being one of the game’s best wingers to its best penalty-box predator is nothing short of remarkable.
He was perfect against Spain to the tune of a hat-trick; the difference between a point and a hammering. His headed winner from a corner against Morocco took him above Ferenc Puskas and into second for all-time international goals.
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Photo: Backpagepix
