COBUS PRINSLOO, Graphics24

Mateo Kovai
(Croatia)
Age: 20
Position: Midelder
World Cup matches: 3
Minutes played: 111
Croatias unlucky run at the World Cup
deprived the global audience of watching
more of Kovai, the highly rated Inter Milan
midelder. His ability to take on opponents is
underlined by his sheer ball control, which is complemented
by great vision. Kovai was mainly utilised as an impact
player and he is worth a place on this list despite limited
game time in the tournament
Memphis Depay (Netherlands)
Age: 20
Position: Striker
World Cup matches: 4 (2 goals)
Minutes played: 173
The pacy winger came off the bench to
score twice during the group stage with a
winning goal in the 3-2 victory over Australia
and a late strike in the Oranjes 2-0 victory
over Chile. Such impact by the youngster
prompted coach Louis van Gaal to hand
the PSV Eindhoven player a starting
berth against Costa Rica in the
quarternals. Van Gaal is believed
to be eyeing the young lad to
follow him to Manchester United
in the English Premier League
Chelsea coach Jos Mourinho once
hailed Varane as the best young
defender in the world when he
coached Real Madrid. Varane has lived
up to his reputation as the emerging
talent on the international scene since
his national debut a year ago. For a
player whose key responsibilities include
thwarting attacks from opposing strikers,
Varane left the tournament in the last 16
stage without a caution or a red card.
This points to his tactical maturity and
efciency
Divock Origi (Belgium)
Age: 19
Position: Striker
World Cup matches: 5 (1 goal)
Minutes played: 245
Hes got excellent technique, hes quick, hes very
strong in the duel and he can make a good entrance
at any moment during a game. No one could have
summed up the characteristics of Origi better than
his national team coach Marc Wilmots. Origi
responded well as an impact player at the World
Cup. He scored in Belgiums 1-0 win over Russia
to become the youngest scorer at Brazil 2014,
beating Memphis Depay of the Netherlands.
Wilmots rewarded Origi with starting berths against
the US and Argentina in the knockout stages. The lad
was called up in place of the injured Christian Benteke
despite boasting just one top-ight season under his
belt with Lille in France
Jos Gimnez
(Uruguay)
Age: 19
Position: Defender
World Cup matches: 3
Minutes played: 270
Paul Pogba (France)
Age: 21
Position: Midelder
World Cup matches: 5 (1 goal)
Minutes played: 354
A world champion at Under-20 level, Pogbas imposing frame offers him good
balance. He is blessed with sublime technique and good vision. The man of the
match accolade he received against Nigeria in the last 16 was a perfect reward for
him after he provided 60 passes and a goal to cap a good show. He made his
senior international debut in March last year having come through the French
youth team ranks
Raphal Varane (France)
Age: 21
Position: Defender
World Cup matches: 5
Minutes played: 389
Gimnez showed tactical awareness in the heart of the
Uruguayan defence alongside his captain Diego Godin,
where they alternated in repelling prolic strikers such
as Italys Mario Balotelli and the England duo of
Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge. With just nine
international caps under his belt, the Atltico Madrid
defender is already lauded by international football
pundits as a great future defensive talent
Also worth mentioning...
Adam Taggart (Australia)
Age: 20
Position: Striker
World Cup matches: 2
Minutes played: 59
The newly signed Fulham striker came on as a substitute in
the Aussies gutsy 3-2 loss against the Netherlands, and started
against Spain. He came to the World Cup with a record of 16
goals in the Australian A-League
Raheem Sterling (England)
Age: 19
Position: Striker
World Cup matches: 3
Minutes played: 182
Sterling had a stellar run with Liverpool last season but
Englands tactical limitations at the World Cup overshadowed
even what the youngster offered in Brazil
Juan Quintero (Colombia)
Age: 21
Position: Midelder
World Cup matches: 3
Minutes played: 93
The FC Porto midelder forged a good understanding with star
team-mate James Rodrguez in the few minutes he was on the
eld. Quintero came off the bench to score his rst goal for
Colombia in the 2-1 win over Cte dIvoire in the group stages
Brazil 2014 wunderkinds