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

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) /

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BRUSSEL, BELGIUM – MARCH 27: Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium during the international friendly match between Belgium and Saudi Arabia on March 27, 2018 in Brussel, Belgium. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

Belgium: Kevin de Bruyne

This might be it for Belgium’s golden generation. They’ve entered the last two major tournaments they’ve played in as the dark horse favorites and on both occasions have failed to live up to the hype, with underwhelming quarterfinal exits in the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016.

With defensive issues plaguing Roberto Martinez’s side, their success is likely to depend on their quality in attack. Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Co. have come and fallen flat in previous tournaments for Belgium, especially in the last World Cup, where they needed late goals in most of their group games and also couldn’t get past the United States in regular time in the first knockout round.

Belgium got a relatively easy group in the Euros, which masked disappointing showings against Italy and Wales. Belgium have plenty of fire power, but lack a genius midfielder to make it all click. That’s where Kevin De Bruyne comes in.

The key figure in Manchester City’s Premier League title win, De Bruyne has had one of his most prolific seasons to date under Pep Guardiola, and could take Belgium to another level should he be at tip top form in Russia this summer. His skill set is everything Belgium need to create more chances and with the likes of Lukaku and Hazard up front, all that is required of De Bruyne is to continue providing the high quality chances he produced at City this season.

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