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Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco, aged 18)
It is not difficult to spot why this aged caput connected young shoulders is destined for a large career. In a Morocco squad conditioned to play first-time passes, he sets nan reside pinch his instant decisions. Bouaddi is successful principle nan deepest of nan midfield 3 and he not only plays quickly but often finds a workfellow successful a much guardant position. Strong connected nan ball, he tin intercept from his cardinal position and looks to proceed his engagement aft playing a pass. Bouaddi tin tackle and shield a shot and finds abstraction naturally. With his height, astatine 6ft 1in, method and shot intelligence, he will not beryllium a Lille subordinate for overmuch longer. When Bouaddi gets guardant he should effort to beryllium much affirmative – to beryllium a much complete subordinate he will request to person a fewer goals connected his CV – but he is simply a existent talent.
Alex Freeman (USA, 21)
Mauricio Pochettino has made a dream World Cup commencement pinch nan USA. All his players person performed pinch gait and positivity, limiting opponents to fewer opportunities, and Freeman, nan youngest successful his squad, has caught my oculus pinch his contributions from right-back. When a mediocre Australia broadside threatened, he made a superb last-ditch challenge, intercepting a debased cross. Previously I had noticed a subordinate cool successful possession who keeps nan play moving pinch an early walk alternatively a large footwear upfield. Freeman near Orlando for nan Spanish overachievers Villarreal successful January and shows maturity beyond his years. He is besides brave and, not agelong aft a dense conflict of heads, he leaped to people nan USA’s 2nd extremity against Australia. At adjacent quarters erstwhile confronted he showed a crisp alteration of feet to flight an attacker and he tin tackle excessively and has capable pace.
Tarik Muharemovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 23)
Playing arsenic nan near centre-back successful a four-man defence, he has impressed alongside 3 much knowledgeable defenders. The 6ft 4in subordinate is successful statement to play a 2nd play successful Serie A pinch Sassuolo aft nan tournament, having been a awesome contributor to their 2025 promotion while connected indebtedness from Juventus. I would comparison him to Luka Vuskovic, nan Croatian who joined Tottenham past summertime and went connected indebtedness to Hamburg. Muharemovic is not arsenic fierce successful nan aerial but wins his stock of headers and I for illustration his calm play nether pressure, making interceptions, anticipating threat and reference nan game. When passing he ever looks to play guardant – breaking nan lines successful today’s parlance – and his passing accuracy is high. He is besides forceful erstwhile moving pinch nan shot and ever alert of his region to chap defenders. Against Switzerland he was sent disconnected for a last-ditch situation to forestall a extremity successful nan 80th infinitesimal and nan guidance took afloat advantage, scoring a further 3 times, but arsenic he walked disconnected he could clasp his caput high.
Eli Just (New Zealand, 26)
His World Cup performances person captured a wider assemblage than he had past play successful Scotland, wherever he delighted supporters of an improving Motherwell broadside pinch consistently high-quality displays. An intelligent middle-to-front forward, Just is simply a precocious developer. He antecedently played successful Denmark and Austria aft leaving New Zealand and is now showing a belief successful his ability. Bigger defenders person been caught disconnected equilibrium by a speedy assemblage swerve arsenic he moves pinch intent from nan mediate 3rd into vulnerable areas and astatine this tourney he has benefited from complementing nan spot and hold-up play of Chris Wood. Just’s advantage complete akin attacking midfielders is really speedy he is to measure situations – he sees pictures. Twice against Iran he saw nan abstraction successful which to person from his target man and people pinch perfectly placed right-foot shots. He tin people pinch his near excessively but needs to people more. Just is consistently a highly skilled performer astatine nine level and shows a commendable humbleness and intelligence. If he continues his betterment he will beryllium connected a bigger club’s radar.
Johan Manzambi (Switzerland, 20)
The preamble of nan guardant successful nan past minutes of the crippled against Bosnia and Herzegovina was rather dramatic. Within minutes this powerful, speedy, right-footed subordinate destroyed his opponents’ hopes of surviving pinch a draw. They had conscionable mislaid Muharemovic and Manzambi exploited nan other abstraction pinch cleanable timing to get 2 goals. When he scored nan first, a good taken volley, it was clear he would beryllium nan centre of attraction and it reminded maine of nan effect connected Michael Owen’s life erstwhile he brushed past Argentina defenders to people for England successful Saint-Étienne. Manzambi spent his early days with Servette earlier moving to Freiburg and has shown he has nan gait and power, mixed pinch capable control, to problem defenders successful nan Bundesliga. He seems good respected by his colleagues location but aft contributing a mixed 16 goals and assists for his nine this season, he whitethorn soon person caller teammates.
