We have seen it all before. El Hadji Diouf was Senegal’s talisman during their stunning run to the quarter-finals in 2002, going on to secure a transfer to Liverpool a few weeks after the tournament. James Rodríguez was another one, winning the Golden Boot at the 2014 edition before Real Madrid signed him for £63m that very same summer. Kleberson, Cody Gapko and Enzo Fernández all enjoyed breakout World Cups for their respective nations. A move to the Premier League followed not long after.
This summer, the sheer volume of talent on show has been incredible. One player that will be a sought after commodity once the tournament is done and dusted, however, is Johan Manzambi.
The Swiss sensation might have played in the Europa League final six weeks ago, but it has been his performances in North America that have made people stand up and take notice.
Murat Yakin has unearthed a new sensation
After 70 minutes of Switzerland’s second match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Murat Yakin’s men were toiling.
The Swiss had conceded a late equaliser against Qatar in their opener, dropping two crucial points in what was a performance littered with missed chances and a lack of any real clinical edge.
Now, it looked as though a second consecutive stalemate was on the cards. A result which might have threatened their chances of finishing either first or second in the group.
Manzambi came off the bench for the last 25 minutes against Qatar, but was largely ineffective at the heart of the midfield.
This time, he replaced Dan Ndoye, who was operating in a more advanced role, and the difference in intensity was staggering.
Three minutes after emerging into battle, Manzambi lashed a stunning volley into the Bosnian net to open the scoring.
That effort proved to be the spark Yakin’s side needed. Fellow substitute Rubén Vargas added a second ten minutes later, before Manzambi scored his second with a close range finish.
His splendid cameo convinced Yakin that the Freiburg youngster would be best utilised in the starting XI in the group decider against Canada.
The 20-year-old was deployed as a number ten, operating just behind Breel Embolo and delivered one of his finest displays in a Swiss jersey.
Not only did he provide an assist for Vargas’ opening goal, but Manzambi got in on the act just ten minutes later. He was perhaps fortunate that the goalkeeper made a hash of a fairly routine effort, but they all count in the end.
Another game, another decisive contribution. That victory meant the Swiss topped the group, thus setting up a clash against Algeria in the last 32.
Ahead of this tie, Yakin has a decision to make regarding Manzambi. Unleash from the start? Or introduce him off the bench when the opposition start getting tired?
Manzambi can lead Switzerland deep into this World Cup
Switzerland have lost all seven of their previous World Cup knockout matches in a run dating back to 1938.
A victory against Algeria can break this dismal losing streak. That will, in turn set up a clash against either Colombia or Ghana, with a first quarter-final appearance since 1954 now a realistic proposition for the Swiss.
Yakin, then, will need all of his key players to be at their best over the next few matches, but it could be the in-form Manzambi’ sheer presence that provide the different.
“Johan is just a very happy person with so many football qualities,” gushed Yakin following his brace against Bosnia.
“He had a very good season with Freiburg. He is very versatile – in defence, midfield, on the flanks, as a striker.
“He’s a player who can surprise us as well as the opponent.”
His versatility is certainly one of his major strengths. He has already featured across three different positions at the World Cup and Manzambi even played 70 minutes as a striker in the 1-1 draw with Australia in the final match before the tournament.
Despite starting just once at the World Cup so far, the youngster ranks in the top 6% for shots on target (2.09), the top 4% for big chances created (1.4) and top 1% for goals (2.09) per 90 when compared to his positional peers.
Elder statesmen Granit Xhaka, Embolo and Manuel Akanji bring plenty of experience to the starting XI, but Manzambi brings sheer power and unpredictability. Traits that could well make the difference for the Swiss during the knockout stages.
Whatever happens from now on, Zambani has certainly enhanced his ever-growing reputation with three goals during the group stages. And that, undoubtably, will see him feature in the transfer gossip columns for the rest of the summer, once his involvement in this tournament comes to an end.
The 20-year-old is one of the brightest talent the country has produced in years. Yakin will now be hoping his performance levels don’t dip.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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