On Saturday, the FIFA Confederations Cup – seen by many as a warm-up to the World Cup – kicks off. Eight nations, placed in two groups, will battle it out for the coveted trophy.
Russia, Portugal, Germany, Chile, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Cameroon are the participants. This means several superstars will be on show during the summer.
We have already taken a look at the biggest names to watch during the tournament. Now we present the top five players who have a point to prove in Russia.
5. Claudio Bravo
Once a well respected goalkeeper in La Liga, the Chilean moved to the Premier League to join up with Pep Guardiola. What followed was nothing short of embarrassing.
Blunder after blunder saw him lose his starting spot to Willy Caballero. With Ederson set to arrive at the Etihad, Bravo needs a strong performance this summer to remain in Pep’s plans.
4. Aleksandr Golovin
"This player is not talented enough for European level and it's unrealistic to discuss his transfer to a top EPL club,” an Arsenal scout told Sport amid claims the Gunners will sign Aleksandr Golovin.
The Russian starlet won the Russian Premier League with CSKA Moscow in his second season with the club. His impressive displays last season led to rumors of a £10m Emirates Stadium switch.
That move looks dead now, but he could prove the north London giants wrong by shinning in the Confederations Cup.
3. Andre Gomes
Barca paid £29.3m – and an additional £16.7m in add-on fees – for Andre Gomes. After helping Portugal win the Euro 2016, he looked like the man to shake up the Blaugrana’s midfield.
He only made 17 starts in La Liga, and five in the Champions League. It’s fair enough to say it was a disappointing season for the midfielder. Impressing in Russia might win him points with new manager Ernesto Valverde, however.
2. Timo Werner
Unlike the three previous players, Timo Werner’s 2016/17 season wasn’t bad. In fact, it was near perfect. The 21-year-old scored 21 goals in 31 games to help newly-promoted side RB Leipzig finish a surprising second in the Bundesliga.
Why does he need to shine in Russia? With Klose retired and Mario Gomez’s best days behind him, Germany have struggled to find a reliable striker. If Werner performs well, he could convince Low to make him die Mannschaft’s number 9 for the World Cup.
1. Andre Silva
He costs £33.5m and has been tipped as the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo by none other than the four-time Ballon d’Or winner. Before joining new club AC Milan, Andre Silva will join up with the national side for the Confederations Cup.
Although Ronaldo will take center-stage, the 21-year-old must carry his weight or risk becoming an expensive flop.
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