World Cup 2018: Spain's 5 Key Players to Watch

#3 Isco

Sergio Ramos knows how valuable Isco's right foot is

There was a time this season when critics asked one simple question: why didn't Isco play more minutes for Real Madrid? The midfielder was Spain's top goalscorer with five goals in the qualifiers but played fewer than 1,800 minutes in La Liga when he used to average more than 2,000.

Of course, one can't blame Zinedine Zidane considering the wealth of attacking talent he had at his disposal. Nevertheless, Isco seems a different class of player when he trades the all-white shirt for the fiery red kit of Spain.

One of his best performances this season came when he grabbed a hat-trick against Argentina during the international break in March. Lionel Messi did not play in the 6-1 demolition but Isco played like a man possessed to lead Spain to victory.

His clever runs in the final third, his close-quarter control, and unselfishness are what will be key to Lopetegui's new-look Spain. They play a lot more direct than a Del Bosque side and his vertical movement will be required to unlock defences.