World Cup 2018: The most underrated player to watch out for in each group

Group C- Florian Thauvin

Training Session and Press Conference French Football Team

Florian Thauvin probably had the most understated yet excellent season for an attacking player in Europe’s top 5 leagues. In fact, Thauvin finished 5th in WhoScored’s player rating in Europe’s top 5 leagues, with only Neymar, Lionel Messi, Coutinho, and Ronaldo performing better. Even more impressively, Thauvin finished the Ligue 1 season with 22 goals and 11 assists. The only players who matched those numbers in Europe’s top 5 leagues? Messi, Salah, and Suarez. That is how good Thauvin was last year (despite being less discussed than all of the aforementioned players).

The Frenchman also finished 5th in Ligue 1 with 2.2 key passes per game and 3rd in dribbles per game with 3.4. Thauvin’s excellent play was the main reason that Marseille finished 4th in Ligue 1, only two points away from 2nd place. Yet, despite such impressive statistics, Thauvin will probably not even start for the French team with manager Didier Deschamps probably preferring the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, and Thomas Lemar. However, as France advance in the tournament (as they are likely to do), Thauvin will be crucial for the team as a super-sub or even a potential starter on the left-wing.