Ilkay Gündogan
This German midfielder is basically the team's engine—he controls the pace of the game, makes pinpoint passes, and can score from distance when defenders aren't paying attention. At this World Cup, he's crucial because Germany needs someone who can string together smart plays and keep possession, which is how they typically dominate matches. What makes him worth watching is how calm he stays under pressure; even when things get hectic, he'll pick out a teammate with a perfect pass or suddenly fire a shot from 25 yards out. If you see a midfielder who looks like he's playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers, that's probably him orchestrating things from the middle of the field.