One year to go - Previewing Brazil 2014

Players to look out for:

Neymar (Brazil) - For as long as Brazil find themselves in the 2014 World Cup, Neymar will be the most scrutinised football player in the entire world. Now that his long expected transfer to Barcelona has been completed, the young Brazilian will be one of the most popular players on the planet in 12 months’ time. Touted as the star to lead Brazil to glory on their home turf, there will be enormous pressure on the young striker to perform. He has the opportunity to become a national hero at 22 years of age. Let’s see if he can deliver.

Poster Boy: Huge expectations rest on the young shoulders of Neymar. (Getty Images)

Kevin Strootman (Netherlands) – Strootman is a relatively new name on the international scene. A highly-touted defensive midfielder, Strootman plies his trade for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league. His performances in the Eredivsie have led to him receiving a number of admirers, and he has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United among other clubs this summer. The 22-year-old has become a regular in the Dutch side since the World Cup final defeat four years ago, and is fast becoming a fan favourite due to his calmness in possession. If he does indeed move to the Red Devils this summer, his stock will only rise as more people across the world watch his excellence. He will be a key man for the Orange next summer.

Alan Dzagoev (Russia) - The young Russian midfielder made a real name for himself at Euro 2012 with good goal-scoring instincts; now he gets to test his mettle on an even bigger stage. Russia have had a fine qualifying campaign thus far, winning all but one game, and they will want to keep that form going in Brazil. Dzagoev, playing in the space behind the central striker, will be a vital cog in the attacking machine.

Isco (Spain) - Malaga’s young superstar Isco is a classic Spanish midfielder; diminutive but exceptional on the ball with real quickness in a short space. He has put in some eye-catching performances in the Champions League for Malaga this season, and has attracted the attention of most European heavyweights. He might not be a first team regular given the strength of the Spanish side, but all eyes should be on him when he does get his chances. If the paper talk is to be believed, Isco will be following Manuel Pellegrini to Manchester City very soon. That move, if he gets regular playing time for his new club, can only improve his chances of seeing more time on the field for Spain. Isco may well be a household name by this time next year.

The Boy Pharaoh: Stephan El Shaarawy has struggled to find the back of the net ever since Mario Balotelli moved to the San Siro. (Getty Images)

Stephan El Shaarawy (Italy) - The man with the least Italian sounding name in the world has burst on the scene for AC Milan in the past couple of seasons. El-Shaarawy could prove to be a real threat alongside the always entertaining Mario Balotelli at Brazil 2014. As one of the most exciting young players at the World Cup, he is not to be missed. However, there is a real concern that El-Shaarawy cannot play effectively with Balotelli, as the young striker’s goal-scoring has cooled dramatically since the former Manchester City striker’s arrival at AC Milan. The Confederations Cup, which kicks off in just a few days, will be a useful indicator of whether the concerns are legitimate.

James Rodríguez (Colombia) - Monaco’s new acquisition, James Rodríguez, is a strong and explosive forward. At only 21-years-old, the Colombian commanded a huge price tag (€45m – 10th most expensive transfer in history), and is considered to be one of the biggest talents to come out of South America in recent years. Carlos Valderrama, Colombia’s greatest ever player, has himself dubbed Rodriguez as his successor. While most who watch Colombia will fix their eyes straight on Radamel Falcao, it would be wise to grant Rodriguez your full attention in Brazil next year. He likely won’t disappoint.