Unpredictable. Controversial. High-scoring. Chaotic.
Beautiful. The World Cup has been all that and more. Undeniably, so far, this
has been the best World Cup ever. From Messi’s left footed curlers to Ronaldo’s
whining to Jermaine Jones’ wonder-strike to Spain’s implosion to Robben’s runs
to Suarez’s bite to Costa Rica’s emergence, this World Cup already has
a boatload of memorable moments. We can just hope as fans that the knockout stages get
even better.
Team of the Tourney (2nd string)
Because there has been no defense so far, and there has been a strong
showing of the 3 man backline (thank you Chile and the Netherlands), I have
decided to go with a very attacking 3-2-3-1 formation.
GK- Ochoa (Navas) – Ochoa barely edges out Keylor Navas
because of his game of a lifetime performance against the WC favorites. While
most of his stellar saves had more to do with luck and being well positioned,
the save on Neymar’s header was the save of the tourney so far. Simply world
class and makes fans like me confused on why he can’t show these skills for an
elite club team. Navas, on the other hand, was stellar for Levante all season
(rated #2 keeper in Spanish league this season behind Courtouis) and has remained
stellar for Costa Rica’s shock run.
LCB- T. Silva (Blind) – Cheating a little bit here putting Blind
slightly out of position but he was absolutely superb against Spain and was
solid against Chile and Australia as well. He was one of the young studs to
watch for this tourney and has proven why so many top teams are after him.
Silva is simply the best defender in the world and will need to play like that
in order for Brasil to win it all.
CB- Godin (Hummels) – Yes Godin should have gotten a second
yellow for his off the ball bump against England. Yes Uruguay probably would
have lost and he wouldn’t have sniffed the team of the tourney (and would have
been in my top disappointments list below). But I am not a ref and since that
non-call, he has arguably been the most important player so far. He absolutely
destroyed England’s front line and made Balotelli look like a middle schooler.
Add in his ability to score extremely important game winning goals for club and
country and you got a top class defender. Hummels deserves mention as he has
fully recovered from his ligament tear and is back to the fantastic form he
showed a year ago for Dortmund.
RCB- Marquez (Costa Rica’s entire backline) – Marquez has
made history by becoming the first player to captain his nation in four WC
tourneys. From what he has looked like in the last couple years, I, like many,
thought he had nothing left in the tank. Oh how he has proved me wrong. His
marshalling of Mexico’s backline and presence in the air has been top notch and
at his prime age of 35, that is no easy feat. Costa Rica’s entire defense gets
credit here as they have played brilliantly together and thoroughly deserve to
be in the knockout stages. Special credit to Giancarlo Gonzalez as he’s been
the best of the bunch.
CDM- De Jong (Lahm) – De Jong looks like the De Jong from the
last WC. Everyone remembers his flying kick against Alonso’s chest in the final
but what people don’t remember was that he, at that time, was regarded by many
as the best defensive midfielder in the game. While he isn’t close to the best
in the world anymore, he has been in this tourney. Relentless, uncompromising, clever,
and fierce- all traits you want from that position. Lahm, who is the best CDM
in the world, as this is now his main position, just keeps clocking away. Keeping
possession intelligently and winning the ball back repeatable- there is no one
better.
CDM- Egidio Rios (Matuidi) – Rios is the destructive bull
force that Uruguay has needed in their overall underperforming play. He does
all the little things that go unnoticed throughout the game and primarily made
my squad due to superb performance against Italy where Italy’s top class
midfield couldn’t get a sniff of the match. Matuidi has been doing what he’s
done all season for PSG as his all-around play and non-stop motor make him one
of the most underrated players in the world. With Pogba and Cabaye not hitting
the form they are capable yet, he has kept France on the front foot.
LW- James Rodriquez (Benzema)- James has been the star of
the tourney and is showing why Monaco splashed out so much cash for him last
year. While different players, he reminds me of A. Sanchez from last WC in that
after watching him for 5 mins all I thought about is “who the fuck is that guy”.
He has the endurance of a Vidal, the passing of a Pirlo, the dribbling of a
Neymar, and the finishing of a Messi. Add in some fine tackling from an
attacking player and a header goal to boot, and he is truly a world class
player in the making. Oh ya and he’s only 22. Benzema has played up top and on
the left when Giroud is in and really should have won the Golden Boot by now.
CAM- Neymar (Mueller)- And I thought the pressure would get
to Neymar. He truly is never frazzled and has shown the world his best in the
world dribbling skills (sorry Ronaldo) and intelligent finishing. With Scolari
letting him and Oscar change positions all over the pitch, he has been given
the freedom to do what he does best- put pressure on the defense. If he keeps up
his stellar play, and Brasil gets a favorable call (or two), they should win it
all. However, being put in the knockout corner with three other South American
teams makes his path a lot harder than the little genius below. Mueller has
started up top but looks far more dangerous in support of Klose. He took his
goal brilliantly against the USA and will need to keep scoring for Germany to
take home the trophy.
RW- Messi (A. Sanchez)- In the first 60 mins against Bosnia,
Messi was the worst I have ever seen him. He kept giving the ball away, was
unconfident, didn’t have his usual quickness and sharpness, and looked like his
nerves were getting to him. People won’t remember those 60 mins but I will.
Since then, however, he has shown why many regard him as the best of all time.
The drastic difference a brilliant goal makes to a player is shown throughout
the history of soccer, but never at this magnitude. Too bad his teammates haven’t
shown up yet and Argentina lacks any resemblance of defensive structure for
them to win it all. He can’t do it on his own. Sanchez hasn’t hit the heights
of last WC where he made his name known but he has still been superb
throughout. His stamina, like many of his country mates, is top notch and like
Neymar, he just goes to another level when he puts on his nation’s shirt.
CF- Robben (Van Persie)- Someone still needs to come up with
a name for these virtuosos- The Dutch Duo, The Flying Dutchman, The Roasting
Robbens,…. Anyways, Robben gets the nod over Van Persie due to Van Persie’s
suspension in the final group game (FIFA needs to change this rule already).
Both have been absolutely brilliant for the Dutch, scoring some phenomenal goals
and allowing Van Gal to play the perfect defensive counter attacking tactic
that suits them best. As Robben’s gotten older, he has somehow transformed
himself into Usain Bolt and has gone on the best solo runs of the tourney. His
ability to run at full speed with the ball and still have precision/power with
his left foot makes him impossible to defend and is only surpassed by Messi.
Somehow, at the age of 30, when speed dribblers are almost always at their
decline, he is playing the best football of his career and has been a complete
joy to watch.
Biggest Disappointments- ESPN’s analysis crew, Africa, Fabio
Capello (really couldn’t get out of that shitty group), Palacios’s tackling,
Song, Balotelli (great against England then horrible in last 2 games), ESPN
again, having to listen to Alexi Lalas, Messi’s teammates and coach’s lack of
defensive shape, Croatia and Bosnia (and kind of England) getting screwed by
refs, Ronaldo (a happy disappointment for us USA fans), the abrupt end of Spain’s
Reign, ESPN one more time for hiring guys who can’t speak English.
My take on Suarez ban- FIFA should not have banned him from
any club level games. There are definite legality issues here that will only
cause more controversy. I would have banned him for 1 year of International
play and that is it. 1/1 odds he gets sold to Madrid or Barcelona which will
only make the situation even more complicated.
Special last shout out to CONCACAF for the absolutely superb
out of nowhere performance so far. Unlike Nigeria, the USA, Mexico, and
Costa Rica not only all deserve to be in the knockout stages, but have progressed
in 3 of the top 4 groups in the tourney. This is truly a special achievement.
