The kick-off of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is just a few hours away as the competition takes place for the first time in the Middle East. 32 top nations of the world are preparing themselves to leave it all on the line in their quest to become the new world champions.
Before the grand event opens, let’s take a look at three underrated players who could shine in this edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Aleksandar Mitrović (Serbia)
The 28-year-old is having a terrific season at Fulham after putting in a handful of fruitful displays while acting as the spearhead of their attack. Mitrovic has found the back of the net on nine occasions in 12 matches for the Cottagers during this campaign across multiple competitions.
Hence, we can expect him to play a crucial role for Serbia when the World Cup gets underway on November 20. Mitrovic will probably get the nod to start in all of the European country’s matches in the tournament. Based on his form this season, he could do well for Serbia by banging in some important goals for them in the group stages.
Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
Eriksen has enjoyed an impressive season at Old Trafford as he has been responsible for putting in a run of solid performances at the centre of Manchester United’s midfield. The 30-year-old has scored one time and picked up six assists in 20 appearances for the Red Devils during this campaign across various competitions. He is averaging 1.5 shots and 1.4 key passes per game in Premier League football (stats via whoscored).
If Eriksen can continue to perform at a high level, he is definitely good enough to help Denmark go on a long run in this year’s World Cup. The talented playmaker has already represented his nation in 117 matches, scoring 39 goals in the process so far. His experience and current form make him a player to keep an eye on during the tournament.
Takumi Minamino (Japan)
The former Liverpool talent is currently playing for AS Monaco in France. However, he has struggled to find consistency with his productivity on the attacking end of the field. Minamino has found the back of the net once and earned three assists in 14 matches for the French club this season across all competitions.
We can expect him to play a big role for Japan when the World Cup kicks off soon. Minamino has netted 17 goals in 44 international appearances for his nation and will be an underrated player to watch out for in Qatar.
