Fansided

Russia 2018: The best player on every team at the World Cup

By Kristofer McCormack

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Mario Goetze of Germany celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Mario Goetze of Germany celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 32
Next
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 15: Aaron Mooy of the Australia gets past Jorge Claros of Honduras during the 2nd leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier between the Australia and Honduras at Stadium Australia on November 15, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 15: Aaron Mooy of the Australia gets past Jorge Claros of Honduras during the 2nd leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier between the Australia and Honduras at Stadium Australia on November 15, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Australia: Aaron Mooy

Australia qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup the long way around, eventually beating Honduras in a playoff to become the 31st side to qualify for Russia and round off a qualifying campaign that had lasted 22 games. Leading the Socceroos was Tim Cahill with 11 goals during qualifying and some crucial strikes in the playoffs to get his nation to Russia.

Cahill is Australia’s all-time top scorer and indisputably their greatest ever player. However, the former Everton man turned 38 last December which has prompted Australia to begin preparing for life without their star forward. Fans saw the young talents of Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy tested during qualifying and their experience will be further built on during the World Cup.

The key man for the Socceroos is without doubt Aaron Mooy. The former Manchester City midfielder has been catching eyes at Huddersfield, helping the Terriers secure safety in their debut season in the Premier League. Huddersfield coach David Wagner has opted to deploy Mooy as both a deep-lying playmaker and a number 10, which many feel is Mooy’s natural position.

Mooy has struggled on the international stage, but if Bert van Marwijk can do what his predecessor couldn’t and find the 27-year-old’s best position in the Australian setup before Russia, the combination of Mooy and Cahill could be dangerous.

Honorable mentions: Mile Jedinak, Tom Rogic, Tim Cahill

Home/World Cup