World Cup 2018: Tournament's 5 Most Unexpected Stars

#2 Andrej Kramaric

Russia vs Croatia: Quarter Final - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

For those who watch the English Premier League, seeing Andrej Kramaric doing so well in the Croatian attack throughout the World Cup will likely have come as a huge shock. After all, Kramaric had an ill-fated spell with Leicester City back in 2015.

Back then, the forward cost the Foxes a then-record fee of £9 million from Rijeka, but he only managed to make fifteen appearances for Leicester before heading out on loan to Hoffenheim. That loan move would be made permanent in 2016, and since then Kramaric has a record of a goal nearly every two games (currently 28 in 68) for the German side.

Still, even the staunchest supporter of the former Dinamo Zagreb man couldn’t have predicted just how much of an important part Kramaric would have to play at the 2018 World Cup.

So much of the attention is often on the Croatia midfield of Modric, Rakitic, and Brozovic, and the striking presence of Mario Madzukic, but Kramaric has quietly impressed as a workhorse forward or wide player for the Croatians; allowing the more illustrious names to shine and grab the headlines.