Sunderland’s World Cup stars set Premier League pace with seven goals | OneFootball

Sunderland and Crystal Palace are surprisingly setting the Premier League pace at this summer’s World Cup finals. According to Sunderland Echo, several Black Cats have already made their presence felt.

Sunderland have 12 players representing their countries in North America. Brian Brobbey has three goals for the Netherlands, and Granit Xhaka, linked with a move to Chelsea in recent days, has led Switzerland with nous and one goal.

Wilson Isidor delivered one of the tournament’s standout strikes from distance in Haiti’s defeat. Nilson Angulo fared better, his goal helping Ecuador shock Germany and reach the knockouts.

Habib Diarra became the Black Cats’ fifth scorer at the finals when he finished from close range in Senegal’s comprehensive win against Iraq on Friday. His strike took Sunderland level with Palace as the Premier League clubs whose players recorded the most group-stage goals, seven apiece.

Behind that pair sit Newcastle United, Arsenal and Manchester United on five, with Liverpool and Manchester City on four. Wolverhampton Wanderers have three, Brighton and West Ham United two, and Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur one each. Erling Haaland leads the Premier League contingent on four, with Brobbey, Ismaila Sarr, Matheus Cunha and Yoane Wissa on three.

Isidor now heads home before turning attention to pre-season, but a host of Sunderland players prepare for knockout ties in the coming days. Their tournament contributions could yet grow.

Source: Sunderland Echo