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As we near the end of the group stages of the 2018 World Cup, the gap between the favourites and the underdogs still doesn't look as big as it was expected before the start. The reason is that national teams are pooled from the different clubs we are used to, and players who didn't seem as comfortable in the club set-up suddenly look lethal here.
In addition to that, players who have dazzled for their clubs this season have gone on to replicate their form for the national team, while others haven't been able to. A few more have gone from the thick of the action to warming the bench, not quite high on the pecking order when it comes to national duties.
Here's a look at 5 clubs whose players have taken the World Cup by storm:
#5 Tottenham Hotspur
Remember when the former Arsenal defender, Tony Adams said that England are not going to win the World Cup because of Tottenham players? A certain striker whose name is close to a natural calamity would beg to differ.
The attacking force of the club have all carried over their form into the tournament - Harry Kane leads the Golden Boot race with 5 goals to his name; Eriksen has been involved in both of his side's goals, an assist and scoring a banger; Son Heung-Min's goal against Mexico in the dying moments is the reason South Korea still have a little hope of making it through.
While Alli has not had the same success, Dier and Dembele have not been preferred in their respected squads. The defence too has been stellar - Vertonghen and Alderweireld (since he is still a Tottenham player) have been the backbone of the Belgium defence, while Trippier's crosses are the closest thing to creativity from England.
Hugo Lloris too has been his usual slightly-shaky-but-ultimately-good self, leading the French team and will have to deal with teammate Eriksen in the final group stage game. None of the players have been clear disappointments, which is always a good sign.
#4 Barcelona
Before you throw Lionel Messi in my face and call me names for putting Barcelona on the list, there are other players on the team as well and they have performed rather admirably. Although I agree with you on the Messi front.
Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez both have 2 goals to their names and are their side's leading goal scorers at the moment, while Ivan Rakitic has been even more solid than his time at Barcelona. He was an integral part of the Croatia team that ensured no magic from the Argentine, and Rakitic also scored at the end.
Dembele was dropped for the second game in favor of Giroud, and there is a chance he might stay there. France played a lot better with that formation, and Dembele will have to serve out the rest of the tournament as a super-sub.
Iniesta has been as stellar as he is, but is prone to the occasional lapse in concentration (see Morocco's first goal against Spain). Sergio Busquets has had a mixed tournament as well, probably overworked from his time with Barcelona.
In the defence, Pique and Jordi Alba have pretty much carried over their form to the national side, while Yerry Mina (you probably don't remember him) scored against Poland to keep the side alive in the tournament.
Keeper Ter Stegen, unfortunately, has to warm the bench due to Manuel Neuer's arrival. Even he acknowledges that Neuer is the better keeper and no hard feelings there.
#3 Chelsea
If we can count all the players who have played at Chelsea, they will probably at the top of this list, but counting only the players who are currently playing for the side, it is still a remarkable performance from their players.
Eden Hazard, with 2 goals, has been the driving force of the Belgium team and was awarded the man of the match for his performance against Tunisia. N'golo Kante, after having run all his way to Russia, has shown no sign of stopping and has been France's best player so far in the tournament.
Olivier Giroud might not have started the first game, but in the second game he showed just how important he is to the set-up with his hold-up play and France will need to play him as the striker if they are to live up to their favourite tag.
Michy Batshuayi (considering he was only on loan with Borussia Dortmund) scored 1 goal in 20 minutes and could have scored 3 times that number if only his luck was better.
Azpilicueta and Cahill haven't been part of their team's starting XI so far, and their chances of featuring in the coming matches also don't look so good. Victor Moses, on the other hand, has been more prominent in the Nigeria squad and offers a more attacking option than he is at Chelsea.
Thibaut Courtois hasn't had much to do much so far considering how attacking Belgium are but will have his hands full when they take on England in the final group game.
#2 Atletico Madrid
After the drama that is the Griezmann transfer saga came to an end, Atletico Madrid fans can finally let out a sigh of relief and the team has already started strengthening themselves with the signing of Lemar from Monaco. Another thing that will cheer them up is the performance from their players in the WC.
Diego Costa has scored 3 goals so far, and despite worries that he will not be able to combine with the Spanish midfield, he has been just as clinical as he is with Atletico. Griezmann might have scored only one goal (a penalty) but France is yet to come together as an attacking side, and when/if that happens, a lot more goals can be expected of him.
But the defence is where it is truly at. Diego Simeone's men have brought about the same defensive discipline and organization to their respective national teams, and it is remarkable. Lucas Hernandez has turned into a starter for the French team and is responsible for most of their attacks down the wings.
Diego Godin (who is probably the BEST centre back right now - I am willing to fight anyone on this) and Jose Gimenez sit at the back of the Uruguay team who have gone all three matches without letting in a single goal so far.
Sime Vrsaljko was as feisty as you would expect from a Simeone protege during his game against Argentina and was just as solid in defence. The Croat is part of a team that can go surprisingly long in the tournament if they put up similar performances, and is a player to watch out for.
#1 Real Madrid
Yeah, this was not even a close fight.
Cristiano Ronaldo came close to breaking the internet with his inspired hat-trick against Spain in the opening game and then scored the winner against Morocco to lead the Golden Boot race momentarily. With Portugal facing Uruguay in the RO16, he will take on familiar foes in Diego Godin and Gimenez.
Luka Modric has been the best Croatian player across both the games, having scored in both and winning the man of the match award twice. Toni Kroos, despite having a shaky tournament so far, was responsible for Germany's 3 points against Sweden by scoring the goal of the tournament so far (once again, willing to fight anyone on this).
Isco, having scored his first goal of the WC against Morocco, is the driving force of the Spanish attack, and pops up into the opposition box at every possible juncture.
Casemiro and Marcelo haven't had the best of times at Brazil, but they are nothing close to being called shabby. As the tournament progresses further, we might be able to see them in much more pronounced roles.
Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos, along with their Barcelona counterparts form the rest of Spain's backline, while Nacho Monreal scored a beauty against Portugal to make amends for his mistake earlier in the game.
With Costa Rica, Keylor Navas was unlucky to be knocked out of the tournament despite putting in a strong performance across both the games. After their surprise run in the last tournament, they were unable to replicate the same form and lost both their games in the group.
