England’s Raheem Sterling branded himself "The Hated One" after becoming the target of online abuse at Euro 2016 - exposing the dilemma faced by players who try to connect with fans through social media.
Twitter, Instagram and other platforms are a godsend for players cooped up in their hotel rooms at the World Cup but their use represents a modern-day juggling act that can quickly overshadow almost anything that happens on the pitch.
In the eyes of many coaches, the use of social media while in Russia is at best a waste of time and at worst can trigger unnecessary controversy.
Players who