World Cup 2018: 5 quality young wingers to look out for

The sight of a player dancing past opponents, delivering accurate crosses and scoring is one that has delighted fans, coaches and the viewing public across various World Cup tournaments.

Wing play has always been an integral part of the dynamics for teams and Mundials. In various World Cups, certain wingers have stood out and played leading roles for their nations.

Sir Stanley Matthew's trickery down the right flank was a major feature of England's triumph at the 1966 World Cup. In recent times, Arjen Robben's devastating pace and wizardry down the flanks was chiefly responsible for lifting three very average Dutch national teams to 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Russia 2018 looks like it is will be one of the best world cups in terms of wing play as a lot of quality wingers are going to feature. Here is a look at five of the top young ones expected to perform at a high level.

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#5 Marko Pjaca (Croatia)

The Juventus loanee could provide the X-Factor for the Croats

The one player in a very talented team that promises to offer genuine width and pace, Pjaca has not had the best two years of his career since moving to Juventus in 2016 for €23m.

The 23-year-old will be very important for the Vatreni at the World Cup, as a very talented midfield featuring players like Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic and Milan Badelj may have no one to aim passes to, given the paucity of options down the flank.

Against opposition who sit deep and play very narrowly, Pjaca's explosive pace and dribbling could come in handy and help the attack do better. This would be key in helping to stretch the opposing defence and break through tight defensive set-ups.

Due to the lack of pace up front from the strikers expected to start - Mario Mandzukic and Nikola Kalinic - Pjaca's ability to operate effectively on either flank will be key to getting support to any of the strikers - it is expected that coach Zlatko Dalic will only start with one striker.

He may not have had the best of seasons on-loan at Bundesliga side Schalke 04, but his explosiveness may be an option for the Croats.

#4 Gelson Martins (Portugal)

Martins' trickery will be key for Portugal

The latest product in a long line of exceptional Portuguese wingers, the 22-year-old Cape Verde-born winger is already getting admiring glances from some of Europe’s top clubs and has been described as 'the next Cristiano Ronaldo'.

A speedy and inventive wide player, who is effective on both flanks, he excels more on the right and like a younger Ricardo Quaresma, he has the skill to beat his man time and again. While not the strongest player, Martins' style of play and love for hogging the ball helps him retain possession.

He is very much a classic-style winger, who loves to beat his man on the outside and cross the ball into the area. His ability beat his marker and send in low crosses will be of great benefit to captain Ronaldo and the team's other striker, Andre Silva.

His dribbling skills will be useful in stretching defences that sit deep and will also help the team in drawing out defenders on either flank.

While Ronaldo is expected to start as a nominal winger, he also carries the biggest goal threat for the A Seleção das Quinas, so Martins will probably compete for a starting spot on the right with Goncalo Guedes.

#3 Hirving Lozano (Mexico)

Lozano will be Mexico's go-to guy in Russia

The hottest property in Mexican football right now and one on whose shoulders, a lot of responsibility for El Tri's attacking play will go through.

The young winger who plies his trade in the Eredivisie for champions PSV Eindhoven was a major hit in his first season in European football scoring 17 goals and 8 goals in a thrilling campaign for the Dutch giants.

Coach Carlos Osorio has a good number of capable wingers to call upon, captain Andres Guadardo, Giovani dos Santos but the 22-year-old is expected to be the main man.

His pace, crossing ability, directness, and willingness to take on defenders will be a huge part of Mexico’s attacking threat. His ability to play on either flank or behind the main striker would also be of great value to the manager, in the event that he chooses to play with a single striker.

With 7 goals in 23 international appearances, the youngster certainly knows how to find the net and may come in handy given the scratchy form of strikers Javier Hernandez and Raul Jimenez.

#2 Julian Brandt (Germany)

Brandt fits Germany's model style better than Sané

The dropping of Manchester City's in-form winger Leroy Sané from Germany's 23-man party to the World Cup has raised some dust (ironically more in the British media).

The man that has been chosen in place of the PFA Young Player of the Year is no slouch, though. The 21-year-old Brandt was one of the standout performers in the just concluded Bundesliga season.

A fresh-faced, chubby-cheeked wide man, the graduate of Bayer Leverkusen's famed academy is a devilish trickster who loves nothing more than to run at defenders and cause havoc to the opposition's backline.

Capable of playing on either flank or behind a striker, Brandt’s intelligence, dribbling skills and ability to come into the midfield and affect play make him a better fit for Die Mannschaft than Sané at this moment.

He is also adept at putting in more than his fair share of defensive work. Given that coach Joachim Low's first choice full-backs: Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich are encouraged to bomb forward, Brandt's hustling and pressing will give Germany an extra defensive option.

#1 Ousmane Dembélé (France)

Dembélé's scorching pace will be of great benefit to France

Few wingers will be as closely watched at Russia 2018 as Ousmane Dembélé, as he has been one of the most exciting wingers in world football, either playing on the counter or when his side is in possession.

The youngster has risen really fast in less than 4 years as a professional footballer. His performances will be under scrutiny because he is expected to play an integral role in the progress of Les Bleus at the finals.

His pace and ability to take on defenders will be crucial for Didier Deschamp's attacking play as he will be tasked with drawing out fullbacks to create space for Antoine Griezmann and fellow tyro, Kylian Mbappe.

Given how France have played in friendlies, it seems that the manager is leaning towards a frontline of Antione Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, and Dembélé.

In this set-up, the youngsters will be responsible for stretching the opposition's back-line and ghosting into scoring positions, a role Dembélé looks set to deliver on with aplomb.

He may have had a rough first season at FC Barcelona, but the 20-year-old has looked at home and slotted in seamlessly for Les Bleus.