The greatest spectacle in the beautiful game, with millions watching as 32 teams create history and realise their dreams. We here at Outside of the Boot, as ever will focus our attention at the Young Players in this tournament. See all our 2018 World Cup coverage here.
Kasper Dolberg // Denmark // Forward // 20: Dolberg has had a difficult season at club level with Ajax, struggling with injuries. However, he’s fit and ready for the World Cup, and that is a very positive sign for Denmark. The Danes will be quietly optimistic about this tournament and going through after France in their group. The likes of Eriksen and Dolberg add some shine and quality to their line up. The classy and skilful forward will be relied on to find the back of the net for his side.
Kylian Mbappe // France // Forward // 20: Another talented 20 year old striker, it’s safe to say that Mbappe is no unknown quantity in world football. He’s officially made his move to PSG permanent this summer, seeing as they managed to stave off relegation the previous season. With that out of the way, he will be free to focus on securing a world title for Les Bleus. The French have one of the strongest teams on paper going into the tournament, and most people are expecting no less than a semi final spot from Deschamps’ men. Important to fulfilling that hope will be the pace and scoring prowess of Kylian Mbappe. His combination play with the likes of Griezmann and Giroud will be no less crucial as France look to leverage a Golden Generation’s worth of talent to win a trophy.
Renato Tapia // Peru // Midfielder // 22: Peru are making an appearance at the World Cup for the first time since 1982. Their build up has been fraught with some controversy surrounding their captain Paolo Guerrero, but with that being cleared, they have a major boost. Important to their hopes will be midfielder Renato Tapia. Peru generally play attacking football with a host of talented young forwards, and if they are to harbour any hopes of seeing the next round, the performance of defensive players like Tapia will be crucial.
