Jesse Lingard crucial to England's success

Harry Kane is the tournament's Golden Boot leader, Jordan Pickford pulled off three wonderful saves against Sweden and Harry Maguire has been a rock at the back for England so far in this World Cup, but let's not forget the role played by Lingard.

The Man Utd player was only given his international debut at the end of 2016, but despite only having 16 caps to his name he has become an integral part of the 'Three Lions' set up and looks at home on the international stage.

'J Lingz' has come on a lot in the last year, initially being deployed as a winger at Man Utd before making the transition in to a more central role which saw him have an impressive campaign for his club side, notching up 48 appearances in all competitions for the 'Red Devils'.

At the age of 25 it now feels as though the Man Utd academy graduate is hitting his stride for club and country, with the player forming a vital link between the midfield and attacking areas of the pitch. 

In fact, his passing accuracy is one of the best for a midfielder in the tournament, managing to get an incredible 93% of his passes on target which has helped Gareth Southgate's fluid style of play to succeed in attacking areas.

Going in to the tournament it was unclear whether Lingard would start ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the team, but with the Liverpool player falling to injury in the Champions League just before the tournament, it left Lingard as an almost certain starter, and he has not looked back since.

"Jesse is fantastic at recognising space and working away from the ball to provide a great link between midfield and attack," his manager Gareth Southgate has said of him, with the system employed by Southgate suiting the player incredibly well by giving him the freedom to create those spaces.

Lingard and his team will face their toughest test of the tournament to date as they line up in the World Cup semi-final against Croatia, with the side hoping to get through to their first final of a major tournament in 52 years.