MY BEST 11 FROM THE GROUP STAGES

                                    

The group stages of this season’s World Cup has indeed seen some bigger teams eliminated with less anticipated teams progressing to the last 16 stage. Players have also risen to the occasion to publicize their names to the entire World. Some players have made it to their standards while some have performed even better than they were rated.  New stars have emerged while few common names have maintained their reputation. However most of the noticeable personalities have failed to perform to their level.

With the group stages coming to an end, let us look at some of the best players that can make a good 11 to compete with.

Team Formation: 4:2:3:1

No. 1 Guillermo Ochoa

The Mexican keeper has been impressive in their entire group A matches. Not all Brazilians will forget the effort of the Ajaccio man pulled to deny Neymar goals in several occasions. Cameroon and Croatia will also testify Ocho’s work which denied them glory in certain incidences. Mexicans will have to thank the keeper for where they are and will depend on him to deliver them past Netherlands.

Defense

In the guard line, a number of defenders stood their grounds to deny strikers from scoring while others have gone further to win it for their teams. The following are my pick in this category.

 Central defence: Rafael Marquez, Diego Godin

Rafael Marquez did everything for his country to ensure they made it to the next stage. The center-back produced a solid barrier against Brazil in their barren draw as well as keeping in check his former Barcelona teammate and Cameroon’s danger man Samuel Eto’o neutralising his scoring threats. His goal against Croatia and an assist was enough to kick out the Croats from the competition.

Alongside Marquez is Atletico’s Diego Godin. The Uruguayan defender was also tough to beat and scored a crucial goal against Italy that sent them through to the last 16. Although he lost balance in the Costa Rica’s 3-1 defeat, Godin found his feet back and did his job against England and the Italians.

Left back: Oscar Duarte

He is one of the players behind Costa Rica’s World Cup surprise triumph in what was viewed as the group of death. They came as underdogs but emerged top in the group. Duarte’s solidity in the left back denied England Uruguay and Italy chances to move past them.

Right Back: Sokratis Papastathopoulos

Sokratis is undoubtedly the best in this position, his hard work and stiffness gave the Greek hope against Japan and helping them past Cote d’ Ivoire. He will be vital in their next fixture against Costa Rica.

Defensive midfielders: Blaise Matuidi, Luiz Gustavo

Matuidi’s display in Brazil has been studding for the French team, bagging a goal against Switzerland and maintaining his position to keep off the opponents has been nothing to go by at this stage. His partnership with Brazilian Gustavo would make a perfect combination. Gustavo despite being one of the less celebrated in the Brazilian squad has always performed better for the hosts. He will always be the key in midfield tussles.

Attacking midfielders: Ajen Robben, Lionel Messi, Neymar

Ajen Robben has proved yet again that he can be the change in any game despite of his age. His amazing runs dribbles and two goals were responsible for Netherlands’ elimination of World Champions Spain as well as seeing off Australia and Chile to top the group after winning all their three matches.

Lionel Messi has done nothing new in the football but a confirmation that he is still the best. Four goals in his name so far and scoring a match-winning goal against a highly-defensive Iran has shown how important he is in international level amidst criticisms. This being the early stages in the competition, I believe we are yet to see more from the four-times balloon d’ or holder.

The Brazilian wonder kid continues to prove his worth in football by scoring more crucial goals for his nation. His amazing skills and goals have given Brazil what they need from him. With four goals in his docket, there is no doubt that the young Barcelona man will star and the chances of his nation winning the cup lies on his performance.     

Striker: Van Persie

The Manchester United forward has also made headlines in the tournament. Scoring an amazing equaliser against Spain, which gave him the name ‘flying Dutch’, will go down the history. His brace in the match and pace were instrumental. He however missed their last match against Chile due to suspension therefore unable to add to his goals tally. He will be ready for the next matches and is likely to score more for his country.

Coach: Luis Van Gaal

He is intelligent and always inspires and encourages his players. He is the key to unity in the Dutch team and will be important in the success of this team. 

Substitutes.

James Rodriguez for Neymar

James Rodriguez has also been important in success of the Colombian side at group stage. With Radamel Falcao missing the out of the tournament, Rodriguez has so far filled the void, with three goals from three matches he is a big threat to any opponents.

Thomas Muller for Van Persie

The German striker is currently joint tops corer with Messi and Neymar on four goals and his ability to score goals any time at any place has helped the Germans ease through to the next round. He will be a great substitute in this team.

Arturo Vidal for Matuidi

The Chilean star has also performed well in the tournament and is one of the key players behind Chilean cruise to the last 16. He will be an important addition in the squad.

Do you have any other name missing in the list or are you contented with the names? Feel free to add your views in the comment box below.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT SO FAR FROM THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2014

                          

When the draw of this year’s world cup was released last year, pictures of teams which would make it to the proceeding stages formed on people’s minds.  There was that belief that this team will make it to this stage and the other will prove nothing less than an early exit. However, this season’s competition has just shown how the underdogs can turn to be favorites even for a second. Former England captain Terry Butcher once said ‘the beauty of cup football is that Jack always has a chance of beating Goliath.’ The 20^th FIFA World Cup currently ongoing in Brazil is nothing short of prove of Terry’s words.

Let us look at some of the things we can learn from the nightmares experienced in the Spanish team, the glittering stars of the underdogs and potential winners.

Spanish team Packing!

Xabi Alonso’s goal from the spot seemed to have given the Spaniards hope of triumph but when Robin Van Persie scored with a flying header to level for the Dutch, things changed but there was no doubt that the reigning World champions could come back and win the game in the next half. In fact they were the better side in the first half. In the second face of the encounter, scary runs from Ajen Robern took the Spanish fans into moments of silence, two goals to one and I still held on that these are the world champions, they can still come back. And then there came, three goals to one, oh my! There needed a miracle, maybe a draw would be possible unless they strike a late winner. The fourth and fifth goal only sealed the Dutch victory and nothing could come out of my mouth. It was total humiliation, record-breaking, torture, disaster as the world champions suffered a 5-1 mauling by their last year’s runners-up. Ok, maybe they can pick themselves up in the remaining fixtures and proceed to even win it as they did in 2010 after losing to Switzerland in their opening game.

There came the Chile test last night, Del Bosque with a different squad opting to rest midfield dictator Xavi Hernandez and Gerard Pique giving way for Pedro Rodriguez and Javier Martinez. This too never scared the Chileans led by Barcelona striker Alexis Sanchez and Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal. The first goal came and later the second, with the defense looking completely confused and disorganized, unable to stop the goals. Zero points in two matches and the worse of it all, their lone goal in the tournament came from a disputable penalty-kick against the Dutch. Is this the end of an error that has been successful for a period of more than five years? Believe it or not, the Spaniards are out of the competition but will have to play Australia before jetting out to complete their group fixtures. Nothing can be done now, time to plan for the future.

The underdogs

Each competition comes with its underdogs and this season’s world cup is nothing to go by. From Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Iran, Algeria, South Korea among others. However, so far teams like Iran, Costa Rica, Algeria and South Korea have at least have proven that they are worth this category and should be lifted up the ladder. Iran surprised many after pulling a draw against favorites Nigeria, South Korea too drew with Russia, Algeria gave Belgium a hard fight for their victory while Costa Rica surprised many by defeating Uruguay by three goals to one.

Although this only comes at early stages of the competition, I fancy more yet to come but not to forget that this season’s victors may also be from an unexpected team. All games are important and kind of laxity and on-paper advantage may not apply anymore. Chile although are a great team, they were undoubtedly group B’s underdogs alongside Australia. But Chile proved to the whole World what they are capable of by seeing off the World Champions on a 2-0 win! Wait for more surprises in this year’s World Cup they are near just around the corner.

Potential winners

Judging from the matches played so far, there are teams which have shown strength and agility enough to be crowned champions, expect Netherlands, Argentina, Germany and Italy have done what people expected from them. Belgium and Chile are also among those expected to spark major shocks as well as hosts Brazil who still have more to prove from their fans after the Mexico draw.

As we bid farewell to one of the favorites in the tournament, expect more of them to match out but only few will survive.