The world cup is upon us, and it’s already shaping up to be a landmark tournament. Despite the controversy surrounding the selection of Qatar as its host, certain measures, including a landmark deal for both the men’s and women’s teams to share the prize money, are giving a certain edge to the tournament.
There’s also the opportunity for Chelsea fans to see their favorite players in action against some of the best teams in the world, and that’s a tantalizing prospect. While the full squads haven’t yet been announced, there are three players that are an absolute shoo-in for selection and are more than likely to be making waves come November.
Christian Pulisic
Few players have been as polarizing over the past year as Christian Pulisic. His performances for Chelsea have been hot-and-cold, and it isn’t yet clear exactly what his role in the team should be – is he a striker, is he a winger, or something different altogether?
The situation has grabbed the attention of onlookers, including Pulisic’s father, who was reported by the Independent to have described his Chelsea situation as ‘sad’. For the USA men’s national team – or USMNT, as fans call it – the situation couldn’t be more different.
The USA have had a few talented players come through their ranks over the years, from Clint Dempsey to Jozy Altidore, but few have the latent talent that Christian has displayed. Pulisic is already in the top 10 all time scorers for the country, with his 21 goals in 48 goals also the best ratio of his peers. Those who enjoy a bet will find dark horse odds for Pulisic; he’s currently sitting at 100-1 for the golden boot. If the USA go far, however, so will Pulisic, with good performances along the way.
Thiago Silva
Silva has been something of a revelation this season. He is a known quantity as one of the greatest defenders on the planet, but his age was thought of as a barrier – however, he has stayed fit and put in 46 excellent performances this season.
Silva is also a mainstay for Brazil, which he captains, but it’s likely this year could be his last, given that he will be 40 years old by the time the next World Cup rolls around. All eyes are on Thiago Silva to marshal and organize his side, and perhaps bring the World Cup home to Rio for the first time in 20 years.
Romelu Lukaku
A controversial selection, perhaps, but Lukaku undoubtedly turns it on for Belgium. With 68 goals in 101 games, he is the highest ever scorer for The Red Devils, and he delivers when required, too, being influential in qualification.
Oddsmakers are providing 16/1 for him to capture the golden boot in Qatar, just behind Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.
While Chelsea fans might feel aggrieved if Lukaku puts in the sort of performances he has failed to do so for the club, it will nevertheless be interesting to see a Chelsea mainstay performing on the biggest of stages. If Lukaku is still in the summer, he’s certainly one to watch in Qatar.
Chelsea features a huge amount of international stalwarts, of course. Mateo Kovacic, Andreas Christensen, and the England quartet of Chilwell, Gallagher, James and Mount are all likely to feature heavily – and that’s without considering French starter Kante.
The tournament is set to be packed with Blues stars and that’s good news for fans, meaning the tournament will be one to watch, rather than a snoozefest.