While the attacking players are the ones who mostly score the winning goals, they alone cannot make chances for themselves at all times. They have to depend on the support from their midfield compatriots on the field. Midfield is where the majority of the games are dictated. While midfield protects the backline or defence of any team, they are also essential for the goalscorers! They are the fulcrum of any team. Midfielders are the ones who dictate the pace of the games no matter how good the defensive or attacking players might be. We have listed few such talented midfielders who have the potential to turn around any match in the World Cup!
Paul Pogba (France)
Paul Pogba has had a mixed season in the colours of Manchester United but is heading to the World Cup as one of the game changers for France. His skill on the ball is up there with the best in the world. He is the kind of player who can break up an opposing attack in a minute and setting up a goal in the next minute! He also has an eye for goal from distance and the shot stoppers will need to look out for his long-range efforts!
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
He is arguably the best midfielder of his generation. He also scored the winning game for Spain in the 2010 World Cup! He is an excellent dribbler and excels at linking the midfield to attack. He was also the part of Spain team when they retained their crown as Euro Champions in 2012. He has had a great career with Barcelona and has moved to Vissel Kobe in Japan recently! Probably this will be his last World Cup given that he is 34 years old, and he will like to bow out with a win.
David Silva (Spain)
Many doubted if this diminutive playmaker from Valencia will be able to cope with the hard hitting Premier League when he was brought to England from Spain in 2010, but over a period of 8 years in the Premier League, he has proved doubters wrong and has emerged as one of the best midfielders of the Premier League. His through balls and dribbles have earned him with the nickname ‘Merlin’.
Luca Modric (Croatia)
While Modric has not slowed down yet, and is still at the heart of the Real Madrid midfield, truth is that he is 32 years old and in all probability, this might be his last World Cup! Given that, Croatia lacks the attacking talent that Modric is used to while playing for Real Madrid, Modric can still be part of a five man midfield of the Croatian National team alongside Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Perisic with Mario Mandzukic as the lone striker. Croatia and Modric has the potential to cause an upset in their group that has Argentina along with Nigeria and Iceland.
N’Golo Kante’ (France)
Kante’ was instrumental in Leicester winning the Premier League Title in the most unlikeliest way and creating history and he then repeated the same feat when he went to Chelsea in the season immediately afterwards. Kante’s discipline ensures that he is seldom booked and his speed and attacking flair will cause a huge problem to opposing defenses. Kante’ alongside Pogba and Matuidi can cause a lot of headache in the battle of midfield with any opponent in the World Cup.
