Vozinha (Cape Verde, goalkeeper)<\/p>\n
A star was born, at 40, when a player whose highest-profile employers were Portugal\u2019s Gil Vicente denied Spain\u2019s all-stars in that historic 0-0 draw<\/a>. His Christian name being Josimar may well have pointed to his being a nascent World Cup cult hero. So huge was his impact that the US authorities, on the orders of the House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, waived the visa fee and $15,000 (\u00a311,300) bond for his mother, now able to fly in for her boy\u2019s continuing adventures. Seven saves from Spain have made him a global social media sensation, too.<\/p>\n Vozinha<\/a>Vladimir Coufal (Czechia, right-back)<\/p>\n With set-piece football so voguish in the club game, long-throw experts are at a premium. Coufal is 33, and at Hoffenheim these days, though is widely recalled as a West Ham player. That the Hammers let go the man with the golden arm who created his country\u2019s best chances \u2013 and their goal \u2013 against South Korea<\/a> will not have escaped the club\u2019s fans. In North America, he has been employed as a wingback in a team who have best embodied the physical approach of the European mid-rankers.<\/p>\n Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo, centre-back)<\/p>\n The passage of time means there are now tougher tasks in football than denying Cristiano Ronaldo a goal<\/a> but Portugal still possess other players of high attacking class. The Democratic Republic of the Congo closed every door down. Mbemba is not an unknown quantity, the Lille defender having been a Newcastle and Marseille player; he is best recalled in England for turning up pre-match at St James\u2019 Park in a tuxedo. As his country secured their first ever World Cup finals point, he led the defensive effort. The stats show that Ronaldo made 47 offers to receive the ball but got it only 10 times, as Mbemba was covering off the space, chopping down a tall tree as he did so.<\/p>\n Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s threat was curtailed by DR Congo defender Chancel Mbemba. Photograph: Troy Taormina\/Imagn Images\/ReutersWilfried Singo (C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, centre-back)<\/p>\n Ecuador took a painful lesson in Philadelphia, John Yeboah and Alan Minda hitting the woodwork before they succumbed to a late goal from Amad Diallo<\/a>. The architect of the winner was Galatasaray\u2019s Singo, surging forward, his long run from defence taking him beyond tired opponents, and setting up Amad\u2019s finish. Earlier, Singo\u2019s running battle with the Ecuador striker Enner Valencia set the tone for a physical contest. He also caught the eye with an ambitious attempt at a bicycle kick.<\/p>\n Richie Laryea (Canada, left-back)<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s buildup was dominated by the fitness doubts surrounding their captain, Alphonso Davies. Jesse Marsch has not needed to risk his talismanic left-back in the opening two games thanks to the performances of Laryea, who usually plays on the right. The Toronto FC defender is full of running and provides the sort of attacking threat Marsch demands, a real outlet in the 6-0 takedown of Qatar<\/a>. Davies\u2019s absence need not be such a hindrance.<\/p>\n Richie Laryea (left) has helped Jesse Marsch fill an Alphonso Davies-shaped hole in Canada\u2019s opening two games. Photograph: Bob Frid\/EPAAyyoub Bouaddi (Morocco, midfielder)<\/p>\n He only declared for Morocco on 15 May but the France-born Lille midfielder\u2019s performances against Brazil and Scotland have confirmed his reputation as one of the most promising players around. Almost a complete list of elite clubs are linked with an 18-year-old<\/a> who pairs physical presence with an innate reading of the game. Casemiro and Scott McTominay have been found wanting by Bouaddi\u2019s presence. \u201cA masterclass,\u201d said Achraf Hakimi, the captain used to playing alongside the very best. These performances will come as no surprise to scouts, who know all about a player who already embodies a new, expansive Morocco team.<\/p>\n Johan Manzambi (Switzerland, midfielder)<\/p>\n Granit Xhaka was not happy with the contribution of Switzerland\u2019s substitutes in their 1-1 draw with Qatar. Without naming Manzambi, the captain lamented the way the team \u201cno longer had the discipline in certain positions\u201d. The 20-year-old\u2019s impact off the bench against Bosnia and Herzegovina was emphatic. Xhaka denied the Freiburg forward the chance to complete his hat-trick with a late penalty, laying another marker that discipline and the collective remain key.<\/p>\n Switzerland\u2019s Johan Manzambi (centre) rifles home the opening goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina shortly after coming off the bench. Photograph: Mark J Terrill\/APYasin Ayari (Sweden, midfielder)<\/p>\n At the heart of Sweden\u2019s commanding opening performance against Tunisia<\/a>, and scoring two goals, was the Brighton midfielder, replicating early-season club form that fell victim to injury. Ayari, slight and willowy, pairs his creativity with energy and an aggression belying his physique. \u201cThat\u2019s why I didn\u2019t celebrate, because I feel a lot for the country,\u201d he explained after scoring against the country of his father\u2019s birth, having also shown why he is the latest Brighton player to be chased in the transfer market. He will cost a significant fee.<\/p>\n Elijah Just (New Zealand, right-winger)<\/p>\n Chris Wood, the striker expected to score his nation\u2019s goals, turned supplier for both the Motherwell man\u2019s ones against Iran. Just\u2019s first came from neat control of Wood\u2019s flick followed by a thunderous finish, the second involved a run from midfield, another Wood flick, and an even better finish. The North Islander is coming off a fine Scottish Premiership season and had been linked with a move to Celtic but has now alerted suitors far and wide.<\/p>\n New Zealand\u2019s Elijah Just thumps the ball past Iran\u2019s keeper Alireza Beiranvand to open the scoring in the 2-2 draw in Los Angeles. Photograph: Daniel Cole\/ReutersFolarin Balogun (USA, forward)<\/p>\n So far for the daddy hosts, Balogun has been the star of the tournament. The native New Yorker \u2013 by dint of an airline official \u2013 has been at the core of Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s high-transition, speed-demon attack. \u201cThe kid\u2019s insane,\u201d said Christian Pulisic, who has been able to take a back seat and was benched against Australia as a precaution, while the Monaco man assumes centre stage and becomes an all-American hero. It was Balogun\u2019s burst of speed<\/a> and unplayable delivery that caused panic in the Australia ranks for Cameron Burgess\u2019s opening own goal as progress to the last 32 was secured.<\/p>\n The World Cup team of the tournament so far (without the superstars). Photograph: GuardianJuli\u00e1n Qui\u00f1ones (Mexico, left-winger)<\/p>\n