The FIFA World Cup: A tournament like no other, and an opportunity players can only dream of to represent their country. This year, Manchester City is sending a record-breaking 19 players across 12 nations to the World Cup, where many are already making themselves known on the biggest stage.
Here’s how Man City’s best performed throughout the group stages.
Norway
Erling Haaland has led his country to their first World Cup appearance since 1988, and in the group stage he set a record becoming only the sixth player in the tournament’s history to score multiple goals in each of his first two appearances, netting a brace in the first two matches against Iraq and Senegal.
Haaland would remain on the bench in the third match against France, which decided the winner of the group as Norway was defeated 4-1. But with their ticket to the knockout rounds secured, there would be few upset players and fans.
Haaland’s record performances have been crucial in getting Norway wins in their first two matches of the group stage, which have qualified them for the next stage where they will take on Côte d’Ivoire in the round of 32.
England
Four Manchester City players were called up to represent England at the World Cup: Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, James Trafford, and although he is leaving the club this summer, John Stones.
Guéhi would play just three minutes in their first game against Croatia but went on to start and play a full 90 minutes in their last two group stage games against Panama and Ghana, keeping a clean sheet in both matches.
O’Reilly was a bright spot in the 4-2 win against Croatia, playing up and down the wing, creating good chances in the attack and keeping Croatia in their own half. He had a short 24-minute cameo in the 0-0 draw with Ghana before returning to the starting XI, playing a key part in keeping a clean sheet and winning their group.
Stones started and played 87 minutes in the first game and has not since seen the pitch, being benched in both of the final group stage matches. Trafford has also not seen any action serving as a backup to starting keeper Jordan Pickford.
Though he hasn’t been announced by the club, Elliot Anderson has had a fantastic start to the World Cup, starting all three games and registering an assist against Croatia, continuing to show his talent.
Portugal
Rúben Dias, Matheus Nunes, and Bernardo Silva, who will play at Real Madrid next season, are all representing Portugal and Manchester City at the World Cup.
Dias did not see the field in the first match, which ended in a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, but has played a full 90 minutes in the remaining two games and the team has yet to concede a goal while he is on the field.
Silva, since the first game where he played a solid first half before getting subbed off at halftime, has seen little time. He only played 14 minutes against Uzbekistan, and he did not play against Columbia. Though he has seen a minutes decrease in the last two matches, he has embraced being a leader for his country from the bench.
Nunes has seen little action at the World Cup, making his first appearance in the final group stage match in the 0-0 draw with Columbia, but he only saw the field for one minute.
Netherlands
Two key City players were called up for the Netherlands World Cup squad in Nathan Aké and Tijjani Reijnders.
Reijnders has not played a full game through the group stages, but has started every match for Oranje, stringing together a number of strong performances and creating multiple chances, grabbing an assist in the last match of group play against Tunisia.
Aké only featured in 9 minutes of the Netherlands’ opening match against Japan, and he would be on the bench for their second match against Sweden, but he would make the most of his opportunity against Tunisia, putting together a strong performance over 90 minutes.
Croatia
Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić matched up against teammates O’Reilly, Stones, and Guéhi, representing Croatia in the same group.
Kovačić had a short 32-minute cameo against England where he completed 100% of his passes as they were trying to get back into the game. He started and played over 70 minutes in the other two group stage games against Panama and Ghana, creating a crucial assist that helped his team get three points and advance to the knockout rounds.
Gvardiol played the full game against England, and after his side conceded 4 goals in the match, he saw less time on the pitch each game. He started the 1-0 win against Panama, and put on a solid performance before getting taken off at halftime, only playing two minutes in the 2-1 against Ghana.
Algeria
The lone Algerian representing Manchester City at the World Cup is Ryan Aït-Nouri, who had a busy first game trying to stop Lionel Messi for 90 minutes. He had a good game in his country’s 2-1 win over Jordan, which ended up being a massive three points to help them advance from the group. He came off the bench and was part of the crazy finish in the 3-3 tie with two stoppage-time goals against Austria.
Belgium
Winger Jérémy Doku has been a dangerous attacker for Belgium, causing problems on the left flank. He put his pace and skillful dribbling on display against Egypt, constantly running at their fullback, giving him trouble. Doku would not be in the squad in the 0-0 draw with Iran as he left to return to England for the birth of his child, which sparked a lot of controversy amongst many. He returned to the team and the starting lineup in Belgium’s big 5-1 win over New Zealand, playing 54 minutes.
Egypt
Omar Marmoush is one of three City players representing an African country at this year’s World Cup, starting all three group matches. Marmoush has yet to get his first World Cup goal but has been a big part of his team’s success in attack, helping them qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history, going unbeaten in the process with a win over New Zealand and draws against Belgium and Iran.
France
Rayan Cherki, born to Algerian parents, chose to represent the country he was born and raised in, France, at the World Cup. France are one of the most complete squads at the tournament, which for Cherki, has meant he has seen little action, playing 25 minutes in the last two group matches against Norway and Iraq, while only having a short three minutes against Senegal in the first match. Though he has had little time on the pitch he has looked good with the opportunities he’s been given so far.
Ghana
City’s big January signing, Antoine Semenyo, has been crucial to Ghana in the World Cup, playing every minute of action throughout the group stages. He helped his team to a 1-0 victory over Panama in their first match, which gave his nation a sixth World Cup win, which was the most of any African nation at the time, before Morocco passed them with eight wins. Despite the 2-1 loss to Croatia in the final match, the win against Panama along with a 0-0 tie with England punched their ticket to the knockout rounds.
Spain
Rodri has been at the heart of Spain’s lineup, leading from the middle of the pitch as the holding midfielder. Spain has yet to concede a goal in the World Cup with Rodri being a big part of that while also creating chances going forward in attack. Six points in the group stages with a +5 goal differential has won Spain Group H as Rodri, similar to his role at Man City, continues to succeed and help his team win games.
Uzbekistan
Abdukodir Khusanov saw little success with his nation in their World Cup debut. He played every minute of the group stage matches and, despite the results, played very well for Uzbekistan, who, as a centre-back was under constant pressure against big nations like Columbia and Portugal as well as DR Congo, who have surprised many this tournament.