10 U-23 Players To Keep An Eye On During The World Cup

At the start of the season, things weren't looking great for Uruguayan centre back José Giménez. The Atlético Madrid man was struggling for game time, with Diego Godin and Stefan Savic proving to be manager Diego Simeone's preferred defensive partnership.

An injury to Savic gave Giménez the chance he needed to show what he could do, and he hasn't looked back since. The physically-imposing and versatile Uruguayan went on to earn a starting spot in Simeone's first eleven, winning countless aerial duels, racking up countless clearances and proving to be a composed, reliable presence at the heart of one of Europe's strongest defensive outfits.

Now, Giménez will be looking to take his excellent form onto the international stage. He's only 23 but has already played for his nation 37 times, scoring 4 goals in the process. The youngster used to be known for his reckless attitude and tendency to dive into tackles but has majorly improved his game in recent months and could prove to be a real rock for Uruguay.