Quote of the week

“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are.” – Muhammad Ali

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

2014 World Cup Dream Team

The main criteria in selecting this 2014 World Cup dream team was how deep any said candidate went into the tournament which, fair or otherwise, ruled out some superb performers such as the Chile trio of Alexis Sanchez, Gary Medel and Arturo Vidal. The team is also chosen with balance in mind – an XI that could function, not just a bunch of names on paper. So, here is my 2014 Fifa World Cup team of the tournament.

2014 World Cup team of the tournament

Goalkeeper
Manuel Neuer, Germany
Goalkeeper or defender?... All!
Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer is the world’s best goalkeeper and this World Cup proved it. Neuer was exceptional throughout and in Germany’s last 16 tie against Algeria he took the interpretation of the sweeper keeper to new realms registering a crazy 59 touches of the ball, 19 of which were outside of the penalty box.

Manuel Neuer’s heat-map v Algeria
Graphic via Squawka

Yes, he had a good defence in front of him, however, Neuer still pulled off some incredible goalkeeping feats in Brazil.

Total Saves
Player
Country
Total saves
Tim Howard
USA
27
Manuel Neuer
Germany
23
Vincent Enyeama
Nigeria
22
Keylor Navas
Costa Rica
21
Diego Benaglio
Switzerland
20
Rais M'Bolhi
Algeria
20

Most clean-sheets
Player
Country
Clean-sheets
Goals conceded
Minutes played
Manuel Neuer
Germany
4
4
690
Sergio Romero
Argentina
4
4
720
Keylor Navas
Costa Rica
3
2
510
Hugo Lloris
France
3
3
450
Vincent Enyeama
Nigeria
2
5
360
Jasper Cillessen
Netherlands
2
4
688
David Ospina
Colombia
2
4
445
Thibaut Courtois
Belgium
2
3
480

(Special Mention: Keylor Navas, Costa Rica)

Right-back
Philipp Lahm, Germany
Phillip Lahm has cemented his place as the finest fullback of his generation and an all-time great.  Lahm is the perfect footballer and clearly a wonderful leader as well. He’s an example. His move to midfield at club level last season only served to expand his game further and, although he clearly enjoys midfield more than right-back these days, Lahm remains largely faultless in defence.

Most Touches
Player
Country
Total Touches
Toni Kroos
Germany
730
Philipp Lahm
Germany
723
Javier Mascherano
Argentina
689
Stefan de Vrij
Netherlands
516
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany
510

(Special Mention: Pablo Zabaleta, Argentina)

Centre-back
Mats Hummels, Germany
Hummels was immense throughout the tournament and, were it not for the one group game missed due to flu, would be the obvious Golden Ball winner in my opinion. Defenders always have to do more, though, unfortunately.
(Special Mention: Giancarlo González, Costa Rica)

Centre-back
Stefan de Vrij, Netherlands
A Relative unknown going in the World Cup, de Vrij had an inauspicious start to the tournament giving away a penalty early in the Netherlands’ opener against Spain. But, he grew in stature as the tournament progressed, helping the Netherlands to third-place with some assured performances.
(Special Mention: Mario Yepes, Colombia)

Left-back
Daley Blind, Netherlands
Left-back was the most difficult position to pick as there was no spectacularly standout performer. Nevertheless, the Orange’s Daley Blind was the most consistent and headline grabbing. He provided three assists during the tournament, bettered only by Colombia’s Juan Cuadrado.

Most Assists
Player
Country
Assists
Juan Cuadrado
Colombia
4
Thomas Müller
Germany
3
Toni Kroos
Germany
3
Daley Blind
Netherlands
3
James Rodriguez
Colombia
2

(Special Mention: Ricardo Rodriguez, Switzerland)

Central midfield
Javier Mascherano, Argentina
Stop-Nonsons...
Monster Masch
Javier Mascherano was a colossus and this is backed up by the stats.  He played every single minute and made the most tackles. Mascherano protected Argentina’s back four with aplomb and his midfield partnership with Lucas Biglia (who also deserves a mention) was superb. You want your anchorman to not only breakup opposition attacks but also be able to command the game and instigate offence. Mascherano showed at this World Cup that he’s somewhat wasted at centre-back for Barcelona.

Total Passes
Player
Country
Total passes
Pass accuracy
Toni Kroos
Germany
605
89.92%
Philipp Lahm
Germany
583
90.74%
Javier Mascherano
Argentina
576
89.41%
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany
429
89.51%
Jerome Boateng
Germany
391
82.86%
Stefan de Vrij
Netherlands
378
85.71%
Mesut Özil
Germany
365
86.85%
Fernando Gago
Argentina
363
90.36%

Most Minutes
Javier Mascherano
Argentina
720
Pablo Zabaleta
Argentina
720
Ezequiel Garay
Argentina
720
Sergio Romero
Argentina
720
Lionel Messi
Argentina
693
Philipp Lahm
Germany
690

(Special Mention: Sami Khedira, Germany)

Central midfield
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany
His performance in the final is enough to get him in the team – the biggest game of the tournament and he was the biggest player. Despite missing Germany’s first game he picked up as the tournament progressed and shone brightly by the time he was needed most. Words can’t adequately describe the level Schweinsteiger has reached, both as a fantastic footballer individually and as a symbol for club and country. He has reached the god-like level of Lothar Matthäus and Franz Beckenbaeur before him.

Final third passes
Player
Country
Passes
Accuracy
Mesut Özil
Germany
210
81.43%
Toni Kroos
Germany
210
80.00%
Philipp Lahm
Germany
167
79.04%
Lionel Messi
Argentina
160
69.38%
Thomas Müller
Germany
142
64.08%
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany
140
85.00%
Wesley Sneijder
Netherlands
116
66.38%
Marcelo
Brazil
112
70.54%
Ángel Di María
Argentina
110
59.09%

(Special Mention: Paul Pogba, France)

No. 10
James Rodriguez, Colombia
It’s blasphemy to leave Toni Kroos out of a World Cup XI when he was perhaps the tournament’s best midfielder, but this selection is a tribute to James Rodriguez rather than any shortcoming on Kroos’ part. No player broke out like Rodriguez in Brazil. He was already a known talent having been signed for €45 million by Monaco last May, but the World Cup announced the 23 year-old as a world star. Rodriguez won the Golden Boot with six goals, became the first player to score in his team’s first five matches of a World Cup since 1970 and scored a goal widely considered the goal of the tournament, against Uruguay . In addition to his six goals, Rodriguez also registered two assists in his five appearances. A breath of fresh air.
(Special Mention: Toni Kroos, Germany)

Wing
Arjen Robben, Netherlands
The last living machine... Arjen Robben
The player of the tournament in my book, Arjen Robben was lively in every single game and only came up short of another World Cup final appearance because of Mascherano’s studs (see earlier above pic) and the lottery of penalties.  A freak of nature who seems to be getting better with age, Robben had the most shots from counterattacks at the World Cup, with four. He is an absolute machine.
(Special Mention: Mesut Özil, Germany)

Wing
Thomas Müller, Germany
The most undercoverly dangerous footballer alive? Yes. Whenever Thomas Müller is on the pitch there is a threat for goals. His versatility was key for Germany at this tournament. He started off as a false nine but was then moved wide to accommodate Miroslav Klose as Germany looked to have more of a focal point in attack and also more work power on the flanks.

Big chances created
Thomas Müller
Germany
5
Arjen Robben
Netherlands
4
Lionel Messi
Argentina
4
Toni Kroos
Germany
3
Josip Drmic
Switzerland
3
Andrés Iniesta
Spain
3
Sami Khedira
Germany
3
Wesley Sneijder
Netherlands
3

Because he works so hard, Muller was able to help Germany defend from the front, while also adding dynamism on offence whenever Germany were on the attack. As a result, no one in Brazil was involved in more goals than Muller. An incredible football player.
(Special Mention: Bryan Ruiz, Costa Rica)

Striker
Lionel Messi, Argentina
The World Cup Golden Ball winner, though that’s maybe acknowledgment for what Messi achieved at this tournament after the heavy criticism he’s been subjected to in the past. He faded somewhat as the tournament reached the final stages but Messi was still brilliant and played a massive part in Argentina’s first World Cup final in 24 years. Superstar.

Assists open play
Lionel Messi
Argentina
16
Mesut Özil
Germany
14
Thomas Müller
Germany
13
Xherdan Shaqiri
Switzerland
13
Eden Hazard
Belgium
11

(Special Mention: Neymar, Brazil)

    The Dream Team #2014
    Neuer
  Lahm    Hummels   De Vrij   Blind
      Mascherano   Schweinsteger
     Rodriguez
 Robben   Messi    Müller