Almost one week has passed since the opening ceremonies in Moscow. Each match day has been packed with shock results, heroic and woeful individual performances, and all the drama one could hope for. Read on for a look at which players strengthened their resume on Tuesday and whose footballing reputation is in peril.

Two players whose values have increased

Yuya Osako (Japan)- Tuesday night was one to forget for the favored countries as both Colombia and Poland fell. The knockout blow for Colombia came off of the head of 28-year old secondary striker Yuya Osako. Osako fired Japan into the lead with a 73rdminute match-winning goal to give the Samurai Blue a 2–1 victory. This massive goal comes for Osako weeks after he inked a deal to move from his 2017–18 relegation doomed club FC Koln to Werder Bremen. On the heels of the biggest transfer of Osako’s career, burying the Colombians in dramatic fashion to top off a match in which he accounted for three shots on target, two key passes, three successful dribbles, two key passes, and four aerial duals won makes it a night to remember for the Japanese international. Osako’s stock? Up.

2. Artem Dzyuba (Russia)- In the build up to the World Cup, many doubted Russia’s chances of advancing from Group A. Enter Artem Dzyuba. Two matches and eight goals later for Russia, the doubts have been all but erased. Dzyuba has contributed two goals, one in each of Russia’s two victories over Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Dzyuba is coming off of an 8 goal 4 assist campaign for Arsenal Tula in the Russian top flight on a loan spell from his home club Zenit St. Petersburg. Using his 1.94m frame, Dzyuba has been hailed through Russia’s first two matches for his hold up play and classic center forward instincts. The 29 year old could make a strong case for serious minutes as he returns to Saint Petersburg or could earn himself a move out of Russia if his positive play for country continues. Russia look to be going through to the knockout phase and Dzyuba’s stock looks to be trending up.

Two Players whose values have decreased

Robert Lewandowski (Poland)- The Bayern Munich star is on a short list to join the ranks of Champions League winners Real Madrid. More recent reports suggest the Polish center forward could be primed for a move to Stamford Bridge. Whatever the case may be, Lewa simply did not impress in Poland’s upset defeat at the hands of the Senegalese. Lewandowski did not score in Poland’s 2–1 loss on Tuesday and spent the match in the pocket of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly. Lewandowski is the reason Poland was drawn as a Pot 1 nation and if the White and Reds wish to survive the group stages he cannot go missing again. Next up for Poland is a clash with Colombia Sunday with both countries desperately searching for their first points of the tournament. Lewandowski’s presence will be a must this weekend; for the sake of his own value and his country’s World Cup survival.

2. Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)- The 25-year old defensive midfielder has logged 72 caps for English giants Arsenal over the past two seasons. But after his club failed to finish in the top four in the 2017–18 Premier League season, Gunner fans are ready to give their Egyptian midfielder a ride to the airport after he only featured in roughly 30 percent of league matches. Elneny’s woes are continuing into the summer as his country has dropped both of their opening matches in group play. Elneny did not even go the full ninety for the Pharaohs, as he was subbed off in the 64thminute of Egypt’s 3–1 loss to Russia. Egypt takes on Saudi Arabia Monday night as the Egyptians stare down the barrel of a premature elimination from the World Cup. Elneny needs to turn in a much-improved performance in his country’s final group stage in order to halt the downward spiral his value is currently taking.

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