4) Sanches emerges as genuine star
It has been really fun watching Sanches’ career flourish ever since his senior club debut with Benfica in November last.
Going from strength to strength from one week to the next, the 18-year-old became a teenage sensation, Portuguese title winner and multi-million pound signing for Bayern Munich almost overnight and now he is bringing his brilliance to the national set-up and looks set to build a foundation that should see him make the final few steps towards transforming from a next generation hero to a present day embodiment of what football means to the young professionals just like him trying to make it.
Against Biale Orly, he cut the figure of an experienced veteran in the prime of his career.
Not only did he score their only goal, but he also stuck away his kick from 12 yards in the shootout with incredible audacity and confidence. Moreover, he was charging around the field with unrivaled enthusiasm, hassled his markers whenever he was unfortunate enough to lose possession and generally did his utmost to fashion chances, openings and opportunities whenever he could.
He was a bit of a victim of their single-minded system but when he was bold enough to snatch the momentum and do something intuitive and inventive, he brought the contest briefly to life. If they are to snap out of their lull-inducing style, they will need to give him more licence to put his stamp on proceedings.
They need a leader, and even though he’s only a youngster it might be worth affording him a greater role in their creative movements.
