Young guns in russia

GABRIEL JESUS, BRAZIL: The 21-year old Brazilian, who made his senior team debut two years ago in a World Cup qualification match against Ecuador in Quito, scoring twice in the Selecao's 3-0 win, has come a long way from painting walls in Brazil's Jardim Peri neighbourhood to having his own face highlighted across the walls of the locality he grew up in. Brazil's top scorer at the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers with 7 goals in 10 matches, Jesus enters his maiden World Cup with his reputation preceding him.

MARCO ASENSIO, SPAIN: When you are just 22 years old and a legendary World Cup winning player says that ‘you have the best left foot since Lionel Messi’ you know you are a prodigy. Such is the repertoire that Spain's Marco Asensio will be carrying with him as he plays alongside the likes of Andres Iniesta in Russia. Perhaps, it is on the shoulders of players like him that Spain's hopes of repeating their 2010 heroics rest.

KYLIAN MBAPPE, FRANCE: At 19-year old, the Frenchman is one of the youngest players bound to Russia this summer. Shining through the ranks of the 2016 U-19 Euro Cup, where he led the French side to the final almost single-handedly in a 3-1 semi-final win against Portugal, Mbappe became the second youngest player to ever play for Les Bleus at 18 years. The teenager has been touted as a ‘huge football talent' by Arsene Wenger who finds in him certain similarities with Thierry Henry.

MARCUS RASHFORD, ENGLAND: Emerging through the academy system at Manchester United, 20-year old Marcus Rashford became one of the most talked about youngsters in England with the talents he had to offer. The sudden burst of pace, the determination to break through defences with immaculate ball control — England can surely use some of that this time in Russia.

PAULO DYBALA, ARGENTINA: The 24-year old began his career in Argentina with a city club in 2011 and moved to Juventus in 2015. He made his debut for the Argentine senior team in October 2015. With his crafty dribbling skills, balance and close control in limited space, coupled witth a blistering pace which makes him pivotal in counter attacks, Dybala might just prove to be a priceless asset for the Albiceleste.

 TIMO WERNER, GERMANY: Back in the 2017 Confederations Cup, when Germany’s World Cup winning coach Joachim Loew decided to field a younger version of Die Mannschaft against experienced sides like Chile, it was through the efforts of players like 22-year old Timo Werner that the reigning world champions won the competition. Werner won the Golden Boot in the tournament as his country lifted the trophy.

OUSMANE DEMBELE, FRANCE: After impressing at Borrusia Dortmund, when the 21-year old Frenchman began to get comfortable in a Barcelona shirt, the world knew that France would be boasting of a lethal attack at the World Cup. Dembele’s baffling dribbles, and eye for goals and assists will give a fatal edge to  Les Bleus in Russia.

DELE ALLI, ENGLAND: The fact that the Spurs midfielder has won the PFA Young Player of the Year twice in a row at 21 years of age, speaks volumes about what he will be contributing to   England’s campaign in Russia when he is an year older, and — in purely footballing terms —an year wiser.