With the World Cup just around the corner, it is safe to say that there is a huge buzz around the world of football. Fans are beginning to make their predictions and keep an eye on the form of playing heading to the tournament. This is set to be one of the most competitive World Cups to date, so it is worthwhile for any sports fan to tune into.

Of course, one of the main reasons why so many people love the World Cup is due to the elite levels of talent at the tournament. You can expect amazing performances from the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar. However, there are always some breakout stars when it comes to the World Cup.

Smaller nations are well capable of causing other teams issues in the World Cup, especially when they have some underrated talent at their disposal. Of course, this is a hard thing to predict. However, here are some players that might end up having a big impact on this World Cup.

Takumi Minamino

There is no denying that Japan has a really strong team going into the World Cup. They are a constant feature in the tournament. However, this might be one of the strongest squads they will be bringing to a World Cup. Many would have favoured Japan to be dark horses when they originally qualified. However, that changed when they were drawn into the same group as both Germany and Spain. They might be able to pull off an upset, however.

Their main forward Takumi Minamino is now playing regular football for French side Monaco. After notching 10 goals in qualifying for Japan, he is capable of pulling off a great performance against Spain or Germany. If you are not confident in Japan and Minamino progressing from the group, it is best to do your betting elsewhere. For example, you might want to check out online casino real money for more assured gambling away from the World Cup.

Alexander Mitrovic

Serbia are another side that are often competing at the World Cup. However, they are never really contenders. They are one of the stronger sides in Europe; however, they just fall short of being real trophy contenders. However, they are going to cause a lot of problems for teams in this World Cup.

They have a strong squad going into this campaign and would be strong contenders to progress from the group. One player who could have a big impact could be Alexander Mitrovic, who is in flying form for both club and country going into the tournament.

Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen has had an amazing turnaround since he collapsed on the pitch at Euro 2020. Now, he is one of the most in-form players on the planet. He will look to lead a very strong Danish side far into the tournament, with his role being one of the most important in the squad.