World Cup 2018: 5 world-class registas expected to shine in Russia

#2 Koke (Spain)

Koke can fill the Xavi-shaped hole for Spain

Full names, Jorge Resurrección Merodio, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will provide the Atletico Madrid star the perfect platform to show to the world his world-class attributes. Attributes that have been obvious to keen watchers of the Spanish La Liga for a while now.

Blessed with incredible balance and agility that allows him to skip into space and past a marker, Koke is most adept at playing long searching balls either in the air or the ground, passes that are unique to the world’s truly elite registas.

His set-piece abilities will be of great value to Spain as his pinpoint deliveries from corners and free kicks would give players like captain Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Diego Costa and others a chance to score goals.

He is able to retain possession under pressure and dribble past opponents into space in order to create chances for his teammates, His work-rate is exemplary and given Diego Simeone’s legendary demands for defensive work, he will run, tackle, jump and put in the work needed for La Furia Roja to achieve the desired objective

Koke will be up against Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara for the battle to play alongside Sergio Busquets at the heart of the Spanish midfield but given his battling attributes in addition to his classy technical skills, the 26-year-old should get the nod to start.