effective passing

Though he typically starts deep, you’ll often see Fofana driving up the pitch with purpose once he’s retrieved possession—either carrying the ball himself or picking out teammates with long, ambitious passes rather than keeping things overly simple, as the others might.

It’s a skillset that’s made him an invaluable asset for both club and country in recent years—a dynamic Frenchman who offers more than meets the eye.

Adam Wharton doesn’t have the flashiest name—and he’s certainly not the flashiest player. But make no mistake: the Crystal Palace midfielder is the real deal.

Calm, composed and endlessly reliable, Wharton has built a reputation for outplaying some of the biggest names in the game—without ever breaking a sweat. Just ask Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, who were both stifled by the 20-year-old in the 2025 FA Cup final, as Palace shocked Manchester City to lift the trophy.

Tracking every run, breaking up every attack and distributing with the kind of precision that would make De Bruyne proud—Wharton controlled the midfield with smart, effective passing.

Mention Denis Zakaria in England or Italy and you’ll probably get a shrug.

His time at Juventus and Chelsea didn’t amount to much. A few flashes, little consistency and even less faith shown in him. For fans of the Premier League and Serie A, Zakaria was a flop.