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Goalkeeper: Vozinha, 40
As precocious bloomers and cult heroes go, fewer person made an effect connected a World Cup rather for illustration nan goalkeeper who first defied Spain’s attackers and, aft Cape Verde’s qualification for nan knockouts, reduced Lionel Messi to a azygous goal. Vozinha departed Chaves successful Liga Portugal 2 astatine nan extremity of past season, having antecedently played successful Cyprus, Slovakia and Moldova. With 27.5m Instagram followers, he would beryllium a societal media marketers dream, arsenic good arsenic a useful goalkeeper pinch a sensation for nan large occasion.
Right-back: Takehiro Tomiyasu, 27
Arsenal fans ne'er sewage to spot thing for illustration nan champion of a defender of whom Mikel Arteta was a confirmed fan. A precocious callback for Japan’s squad aft 2 years of wounded absence person fixed “Tomi” a chance to reassert his qualities. Capable of playing crossed nan defence, a subordinate released by Ajax and nan Gunners played each of Japan’s last-32 nonaccomplishment to Brazil. It is hoped his knee problems are down him.
Centre-back: John Stones, 32
England’s top centre-half, Bobby Moore, almost entered nan 1966 World Cup without a nine contract, which would person made him ineligible. No specified rules forestall Stones, whose clip astatine Manchester City has travel to an end, from being astatine this tournament. Now astatine 92 caps, he showed disconnected his bid of his position successful starring England’s rearguard effort astatine nan Azteca aft coming on. A Premier League nine will surely travel calling for him a decade of glory astatine City. He has overmuch near to give.
Centre-back: Chancel Mbemba, 31
A subordinate antecedently champion known for his pre-match wearing of a tuxedo erstwhile a Newcastle player, and a 2013 contention wherever his reported 4 birthdays required investigation, has departed Lille aft seeing retired a one-year contract. His displays for nan Democratic Republic of nan Congo showed disconnected his usefulness arsenic a centre-back and protect organiser.
Left-back: David Alaba, 34
Austria’s prima man for truthful galore years, tin of playing astatine full-back, centre-back and moreover successful midfield, Alaba will not beryllium portion of nan Real Madrid gyration nether José Mourinho. Few players person specified top-level acquisition arsenic nan four-time Champions League winner. Injuries did curb his effect astatine Madrid but he has expressed a desire to “stay astatine nan highest imaginable level”. A Serie A move is mooted.
Midfielder: Luka Modric, 40
His farewell to nan World Cup came erstwhile Croatia mislaid to Portugal successful nan past 32 and North America did not spot nan champion of a subordinate who has dressed up nan world shape since 2006. A statement hold astatine Milan remains unsigned but is reportedly a privilege for nan new coach, Ruben Amorim.
Midfielder: Franck Kessié, 29
Highly experienced, coming disconnected 3 seasons successful Saudi Arabia pinch Al-Ahli, nan Côte d’Ivoire skipper was a large tourney deed until his state were fixed nan Erling Haaland curen successful Dallas aft reaching nan knockouts for nan first time. That has made him nan target for a number of Serie A clubs, including Roma, Juventus and Atalanta, for whom he first played European football.
Midfielder: Leon Goretzka, 31
The Bayern Munich champion departed nan nine he had served since 2018. Selected by Julian Nagelsmann, his erstwhile FC Hollywood coach, he will dream his costs demands arsenic a free supplier person not been harmed by Germany’s latest World Cup disappointment. His adjacent nine will person nan usage of an all-action subordinate though ought to beware that Bayern seldom fto apical players depart without bully reason.
Right-side forward: James Rodríguez, 34
The breakout prima of nan 2014 finals was released by Minnesota United aft nan latest short move successful a nomadic profession that has ne'er rather deed nan expected heights that looked apt erstwhile he took Colombia to nan quarter-finals 12 years ago. Like Neymar, besides 34, he ne'er managed to make nan unbridgeable spread to nan Messi-Ronaldo axis but his performances pinch his state successful 2026 person shown location remains important latent talent.
Centre-forward: Bamba Dieng, 26
A World Cup wherever a number of teams person struggled to find a serviceable centre-forward is replicated successful nan free agency market. Dieng had a very constricted domiciled for Senegal, only playing arsenic a sub against France, nan in-demand Nicolas Jackson being nan incumbent, but has been linked pinch a number of Championship clubs, including Portsmouth and Derby,
Left-side forward: Mohamed Salah, 34
The biggest sanction of each is saved until last. At 1 point, location were chaotic rumours of a return to Liverpool now that Arne Slot has departed but that ne'er seemed likely. Even wilder was a proposal connected Egyptian TV that staying connected Merseyside and playing for Everton was a possibility. David Moyes was forced to swerve that, calling specified a move “impossible”. Salah’s early is opaque, a cautiously guarded concealed because he has preferred to attraction connected inspiring his state to nan past 16. Saudi Arabia remains nan astir apt destination.
