10 young players to watch

By Harvey Cruz | Jun 11, 2018

TOPSHOT - France's foward Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring a goal during the friendly football match between France and Italy at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, southeastern France, on June 1, 2018. (Photo by VALERY HACHE / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images) /

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TOPSHOT – France’s foward Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring a goal during the friendly football match between France and Italy at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, southeastern France, on June 1, 2018. (Photo by VALERY HACHE / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images) /

4. Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele is a once-in-a-generation talent. The winger is more than capable with both feet, has an incredible burst of speed and has the skill to beat defenders in tight spaces. He’s the complete modern winger. He also has a lot to prove after a disappointing, injury-hampered first season with Barcelona.

Learning and training with the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta can only have helped him, and while he struggled initially following his mega-money move to Barcelona, there were signs toward the end of the season the 21-year-old was settling in. Now he gets a chance to shine with France at the World Cup.

He’s not a guaranteed starter, such are the attacking riches at Didier Deschamps’ disposal, but he should at very least get opportunities off the bench. France are in what looks like a relatively weak group with Australia, Peru and Denmark, which should give Deschamps an opportunity to try different lineups as he settles on his best starting XI.

Fully fit after a season dominated by injuries, Dembele could be a difference maker for a France side with hopes of lifting the trophy. He’ll be vying with the likes of Olivier Giroud, Nabil Fekir and Thomas Lemar to start alongside Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe. He may be the most talented player of the lot.