The Qatar World Cup is now only four months away. But which Premier League stars are about to receive their first ever invitation to world football’s biggest party?
Kalvin Phillips – England and Manchester City
A couple of weeks before Gareth Southgate’s boys jetted out to Russia in 2018, Phillips’ Leeds United side were limping to a bottom half finish in the Championship under Paul Heckingbottom. How far both club and player have come in such a short space of time.
Phillips, England’s 2021 Player of the Year, is one of the first names on Southgate’s team sheet these days. In fact, he’s kept Jude Bellingham on the bench more often than not.
Bruno Guimaraes – Brazil and Newcastle United
The first truly marquee signing of the Saudi Arabian era at St James’ Park, Guimaraes wasted little time in justifying his £33 million price-tag, embarking on the sort of goalscoring purple patch few expected of a man who arrived with a reputation for creating chances rather than putting them away.
Compared to Kevin de Bruyne by Brazil coach Tite, Guimares could add some guile to Casemiro’s grit.
Diogo Jota – Portugal and Liverpool
Like Phillips, Diogo Jota was a Championship player last time Portugal featured in a World Cup. Now, he’s arguably his country’s must consistent attacking threat. Apart from a certain number seven that is.
Jota averages a goal every three games under Fernando Santos.
Bukayo Saka – England and Arsenal
Whether on the left, on the right, through the middle or even at full-back, Saka is already the picture of consistency at the age of just 20. His maturity and flexibility has earned him a place in Southgate’s heart already, with a terrific 2021/22 campaign at club level proof that he’s bounced back better than ever from that penalty miss.
Saka is tailor-made for tournament football. Versatile, reliable and uninhibited.
Cristian Romero – Argentina and Tottenham Hotspur
The best right-sided centre-back anywhere in the Premier League? Romero’s debut season in North London was a beguiling glimpse into a dazzling future for him and Spurs. Alongside Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez, Argentina could have one of the most well-balanced central defensive pairings in Qatar.
Phil Foden – England and Manchester City
The so-called ‘Stockport Iniesta’ had only played 45 minutes of Premier League football by the summer of 2018. Four years on, he’s one of the most influential attackers not just for the English national team but also arguably the finest club side in world football.
Julian Alvarez – Argentina and Manchester City
Perhaps the most exciting young attacker to come out of Argentina since a baby-faced Sergio Aguero, Alvarez’s 24 goals fired River Plate to the Argentine title in 2021 while earning him a place in Lionel Scaloni’s Albiceleste plans.
Richarlison – Brazil and Tottenham Hotspur
The former Watford and Everton forward made his international bow just two months after Kevin de Bruyne broke Brazilian hearts in Kazan. Since then, he’s blossomed into a major player for Tite, scoring 14 goals in just 36 caps. Expect to see Tottenham’s new number nine cutting inside from his favoured left-wing position in Qatar.
Rodri – Brazil and Manchester City
With Sergio Busquets losing a yard of pace in his old age – and he wasn’t exactly the quickest in the first place – Rodri’s emergence as a truly elite-level defensive midfielder could hardly have been better timed as far as Luis Enrique is concerned.
The former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid enforcer narrowly missed out on Spain’s World Cup squad in 2018. You’d get long odds on history repeating itself four years later.
Kai Havertz – Germany and Chelsea
Havertz’s penchant for scoring the biggest goals on the biggest of occasions is well-documented. If Germany reach the final again, who would bet against him popping up with the winner?
The one-time Bayer Leverkusen talisman might not have developed as hoped at Stamford Bridge but he remains but expect to see him feature regularly for Hansi Flick’s German side in Qatar, whether up front or a little further back.
Havertz has eight goals for his country, and could add to that tally soon enough.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
