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Every World Cup creates a star no one saw coming. Colombia’s James Rodriguez dazzled at the 2014 tournament in Brazil with his spectacular goals that sparked a move to Real Madrid. And after helping Argentina lift the trophy at Qatar 2022, Enzo Fernández parlayed a record £106m move to Chelsea in January 2023.
Someone will surprise us all again this summer. Here are four names to circle before the tournament starts.
Deniz Undav, Germany
(Photo by Stefan Matzke – sampics/Getty Images)
Age: 29
Position: Striker
Club: VfB Stuttgart (German Bundesliga)
The conversation around Germany begins and ends with Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. Understandably, they possess the otherworldly ability. But quietly behind them sits a striker who has just recorded 19 goals and six assists in 28 Bundesliga games – making him one of the league’s most effective strikers. He then scored twice against Finland days before the squad flew out.
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann trusts him. Germany will have games where it has to break something up from the bench. Undav has been waiting his whole career for exactly that moment to break out of the shadows on the international stage and become one of the main men to lead the squad.
Esmir Bajraktarević, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Photo by Samir Jordamovic/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Age: 21
Position: winger
Club: PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
Born in Appleton, Wisconsin. Raised in a Bosnian household. Came up through the New England Revolution. Switched his international allegiance from the USA to Bosnia – then stepped up and converted the decisive penalty to knock Italy out of their third consecutive World Cup.
He is only 21 and plays for PSV. He is a left-footed inverted winger who takes people on and creates. Bosnia are in a group with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar – a realistic path to the knockouts. Opposing sides haven’t studied him properly yet, and most fans can’t pronounce his last name. However, Esmir’s game speaks for itself. He is one of those players who would stand out immediately on a futsal court. He glides effortlessly with the ball. He has that fascinating technique when he takes on his defender.
Goal and assist production has yet to materialize at home, but he is still young and inexperienced. The personality he showed in the World Cup final against Italy is a telling sign of his personality and confidence – shining in the biggest moment of his career.
Antonio Nusa, Norway
(Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)
Age: 21
Position: winger
Club: RB Leipzig (German Bundesliga)
Everything in this Norwegian squad revolves around Erling Haaland. Every defensive structure collapses inward the moment the big blonde receives the ball in dangerous areas. This is precisely why Nusa, the 21-year-old right back/winger, is so dangerous. The space exists thanks to the black hole that swallows defenders in the form of Haaland. Nusa will make the most of her one-on-one opportunities. He is a direct, quick and tricky winger who plays with plenty of tricks.
Manager Ståle Solbakken’s predicted lineup has him starting. Norway won eight wins from eight in the qualifiers. This team isn’t just here to make up the numbers, and Nusa could be one of the main reasons it makes a deep run in the tournament.
Nico Paz, Argentina
(Photo by Cristina Sille/image alliance via Getty Images)
Age: 21
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Como 1907 (Italian Serie A)
Argentina arrive as defending champions with a familiar question hanging over everything: What happens when Messi can’t take it anymore? The answer might be to wear the team number right next to you. Paz is 21, plays for Como and has just had the best season of any midfielder in Serie A by most accounts – 21 goals and assists in all competitions.
Paz has elite vision and an honest work rate off the ball, and he moves with a rare elegance. He is not expected to start for Argentina and that is fine. Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni will use Paz as a substitute. My feeling is that he will make the most of his first few minutes and make them a start at some point in this tournament.
