Top Ten: International Debutants to Keep an Eye on this Week
As competing nations gear up for the World Cup, the March friendlies represent the last real chance for newcomers to stake a claim, and we’ve identified ten potential international debutants to keep an eye on over the next week.
Argentina - Lautaro Martinez
It seems bizarre that a nation with such an array of outstanding options up front would have struggled so badly to find the right man to partner Lionel Messi up front, but Argentina are still experimenting ahead of the World Cup. Lautaro Martinez is the up and comer in the ranks putting pressure on the likes of Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi, with the 20-year-old attracting widespread interest having scored 10 goals in 14 league appearances for Racing Club this season, earning the highest WhoScored.com rating (7.72) in the Argentine Primera Division in the process.
Brazil - Anderson Talisca
In the absence of Neymar in the build-up to the tournament, Anderson Talisca is the man to have been handed the chance to impress this week, with the 24-year-old hoping to impress head coach Tite along with prospective suitors this summer. The attacking midfielder has spent the last two seasons on loan at Besiktas from Benfica, and boasts an impressive goalscoring record from behind the lone striker in the Super Leg, with 23 goals in 47 league appearances and a further four in this season’s Champions League.
England - Nick Pope
Much has been made of England’s goalkeeper dilemma, and rightly so given how rare it is for a team to approach a tournament without knowing it’s number one. However, if the decision was made based on form there would be little doubt that Nick Pope would get the nod, boasting the second best save success rate to David de Gea in the Premier League this season and at least three more clean sheets (10) than any other Englishman.
France - Lucas Hernandez
Lucas has seen plenty of action under Diego Simeone this season, both at left and centre-back, and that versatility has attracted Didier Deschamps to take a closer look at the youngster this week. It’s at full-back where the 22-year-old has perhaps been more impressive this season - earning an excellent rating of 7.55 in 12 league and European starts compared to 7.12 at the heart of the defence - and where he looks set to finish the campaign in the absence of Filipe Luis. It’s a place that could be up for grabs for les Blues too, with Lucas Digne not seeing enough minutes at Barcelona, Benjamin Mendy injured and Layvin Kurzawa not in the squad this time around.
Italy - Patrick Crutone
They may not be preparing for a World Cup but this is still a crucial period for an Italy side in limbo, without a permanent head coach and in drastic need of facelift. Cutrone could be the face of that change, with the 20-year-old Milan striker having scored 13 goals in all competitions for the club this season, starting 22 of 31 appearances.
Netherlands - Justin Kluivert
Another side not competing in Russia this summer but keen to bring through the next crop of young stars to revive their international prospects, Ronald Koeman has a big job to restore Netherlands to their former glories. A familiar name could be at the forefront of that mission, with Justin Kluivert - son of Orange legend Patrick - earning his first senior call up having enjoyed a breakthrough season at Ajax. Still just 18, the wide forward has seven goals and four assists to his name 24 Eredivisie appearances, flourishing off the left flank to average 2.6 dribbles per game.
Portugal - Mario Rui
The eldest of the potential debutants discussed here, Mario Rui has earned a first senior international call-up at the age of 26. Profiting from the absence of clubmate Faouzi Ghoulam, the left-back has started 16 league games for Napoli this season, scoring twice, registering two assists and completing 88.5% of his passes. With Raphael Guerreiro having struggled with injuries for much of this season, the former Empoli defender will hope to come into contention this summer.
Spain - Rodri
While Pablo Fornals has taken most of the headlines in front of him, the work of the industrious Rodri has not gone unnoticed at Villarreal by Julen Lopetegui. The 21-year-old has played with great maturity and offers a technical ability that could see him emerge as the eventual successor to Sergio Busquets. With the Barcelona man not in the squad for the upcoming friendlies, Rodri will hope for a chance to impress and occupies a similar physical frame and skillset to the Spain mainstay, completing 89.2% of his passes this season and 2.6 tackles per game.
Switzerland - Dimitri Oberlin
If there is one thing this Swiss side has been lacking for some time now it’s a goalscorer, and Dimitri Oberlin will hope to profit from the profligacy of Breel Embolo - who was earmarked as the next big thing some time ago but has been hampered by injuries since a move to Schalke. The 20-year-old Oberlin is on loan at Embolo’s former club Basel but is sure to attract interest this summer having scored four goals in the Champions League group stages.
Uruguay - Lucas Torreira
It’s something of a mystery as to why Lucas Torreira hasn’t received international recognition until now, with the 22-year-old more than capable of starting for a Uruguay side that isn’t inundated with talent in midfield. The Sampdoria man has bags of it after all, and his ability in and out of possession is clear to see, both retaining (87.1% pass accuracy) and regaining possession (2.9 tackles per game) with real efficiency. The diminutive South American packs a punch from distance too, with all four of his goals this season coming from outside the box.
