CARL DARLINGTON proudly boasts that Wales set all the trends at the Euro 2016.

Now he can't wait to see who will tick all the boxes at this summer's World Cup Finals that kick off this afternoon with hosts Russia taking on Saudi Arabia.

Wrexham-born Darlington, who will continue as coach at Wrexham under new manager Sam Ricketts this season, is also Head of Coach Education for the Welsh FA Trust.

And he'll be using the World Cup as a key tool in his coaching programmes that will take part next week in Cardiff.

"I'll enjoy the World Cup but because of the nature of my job, I can't go out to the pub with friends and watch games on television, because I'm always analysing the matches, the formations etc.

"Wales set the trend at the Euros by using three at the back and two wings backs - and a lot of Premier League teams followed that example last season.

"There was also a trend at the Euros that saw the underdogs do well. Wales reached the semi-finals with a gameplan that worked and other teams also used the counter-attack system very much to their advantage.

"I look forward to seeing the technical part of the game and we'll be using the World Cup games as part of the coaching programme next week."

Former Wales and Spurs winger Simon Davies and ex-Chelsea midfielder, Michael Essien, who played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cup Finals for Ghana, are two of the big names on the course.

But who will be the star players making a name for themselves at the finals this time around?

"I think it will be a European team who wins it. Belgium have some great players but Wales knocked them out of the Euros in the quarter-finals.

"Roberto Martinez and Thierry Henry both did their Pro licence courses with us in Wales and they have what people are calling a golden generation of players.

"But I was talking to Thierry a couple of weeks ago and he said that you can only call them a golden generation if you win something.

"I'm interested to see how they get on because they've using Kevin De Bruyne as a holding midfielder and playing Carrasco as a wing back.

"I like the way Spain play and they've had a good run going into the tournament.

"You can't rule out Brazil either. They under-achieved last time in front of their own fans and they have so many good players.

"They'll be determined to go further this year.

"England have got their best chance for years. They've got a young squad and there's plenty of pace in their team.

"The test is whether those young players can show character when they get into the knockout stages.

"The good thing for England this time is that they are underdogs and the press have not built up their chances and the country's expectations.

"But that could change when they get into the last 16 stage."