With the big clubs having scouting networks stretching to all corners of the world, there are very few players who go under the radar these days.
The World Cup used to be the ultimate shop window for players looking for a move, especially from some of the lesser known nations.
But while today's players are all over the internet (and familiar to fans of video game Football Manager), they still need to show they are in form and worthy of the millions being spent on them.
Here's a selection of those who impressed in Russia and should come under consideration for clubs in the English Premier League eager to boost their squads ahead of the new season.
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Yerry Mina - Colombia
As a Barcelona player, he certainly had the pedigree to stand out at the World Cup, but who would have thought he would become the tournament's most prolific defender with three goals?
Aside from his aerial threat at set pieces, Mina is huge and mobile, making him very difficult to get around, as England's Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling discovered.
His Colombia centre-back partner, Davinson Sanchez, is already in England, having joined Tottenham Hotspur last year, and there is plenty of speculation about Mina's Barcelona future after just five appearances since signing for them from Brazilian club Palmeiras in January. A loan deal could be in the offing.
Potential destination: Top 10 club such as Everton or Leicester City, especially if Harry Maguire moves on
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Hirving Lozano - Mexico
Scored the winner against Germany and was a livewire throughout the tournament following a productive season for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands where he scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists.
There is reported interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, but he could find more game time in the Premier League.
Potential destination: Tottenham or Arsenal - especially if Mesut Ozil fails to liven up. Chelsea may also need a new wideman if Eden Hazard departs.
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Ivan Perisic - Croatia
If Inter Milan want to cash in then now is the time. The Croatia wide man was close to joining Manchester United last summer and after three goals in the World Cup - including one in the semi-final and final - he is at the peak of his powers. However, at 29, this could be Perisic's last chance of a big move to the Premier League.
"He went from Croatia to [Borussia] Dortmund, goes to Wolfsburg, goes to Inter. I do not know why he did not come to Manchester United when I wanted him," Jose Mourinho told RT.
His efficiency in front of goal and workrate would make him a popular addition, though in Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford, United are currently overstocked in Perisic's position on the left side of the attack.
Potential destination: Manchester United, or, like with Lozano, Chelsea if Hazard departs
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Artem Dzyuba - Russia
He may lack elegance but since when has that stopped strikers being a hit in the Premier League - just look at Peter Crouch.
Dzyuba is a throwback to the era of the target man, a lumbering giant able to fend off rugged defenders and a threat at set pieces and crosses.
He showed at the World Cup he has more in his locker though - his goal against Egypt was fantastically taken - and he went on to score three times for the hosts.
The 29 year old is currently on the books of Zenit Saint Petersburg but spent time on loan at Arsenal Tula last season.
Potential destination: Mid-lower tier club such as Watford or Crystal Palace
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Denis Cheryshev - Russia
Another to benefit from Russia's prolonged stay at the World Cup - the hosts bowed out to Croatia in the quarter-finals - and it was largely down to Cheryshev that they went so far.
He didn't start the first match but he finished it having scored one of the goals of the tournament against Saudi Arabia, and then scored another scorcher against Croatia in the quarter final - both were on Fifa's shortlist of best goals. He also added two more to his tally.
Having grown up in Spain, he came through the ranks at Real Madrid before moving on to Villarreal. The 27-year-old left winger has struggled for game time over the past two seasons, but he could be worth a punt at the right price.
Potential destination: Mid-table side such as Newcastle United or Everton, or newly-promoted sides splashing the cash, particularly Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Read more:
Extra Time podcast: A look back on the highs and lows of the 2018 World Cup in Russia
2018 World Cup talking points: Europe reigns supreme as France show teamwork is key
In pictures: France's world champions in parade down Paris' Champs-Elysees
From Mbappe to Perisic and De Bruyne: How the World Cup's key players rated
2018 World Cup team of the tournament: Mbappe leads five-man French contingent
Didier Deschamps tells France players 'nothing comes above' winning the World Cup
RESULTS
Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18
Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
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Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
MO
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Read more about the coronavirus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RECORD%20BREAKER
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Match info
Arsenal 0
Manchester City 2
Sterling (14'), Bernardo Silva (64')
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE SQUAD
UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards
Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi
MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia