Gary Meenaghan was in Brazil for all of the World Cup 2014 action and picks his three stars of the tournament, along with other top players, a few substitutes and the best manager.
THREE STARS OF THE TOURNAMENT
GK: Keylor Navas (Costa Rica) This summer's World Cup has produced a long list of quality goalkeeping performances, from Guillermo Ochoa in Mexico's draw with Brazil to the US's Tim Howard against Belgium and Algeria's Rias Mbohli against Germany. Nobody was more consistent, however, than Navas.
The Costa Rican was immense in his country’s surprise showing in the group stages. Key saves in the victories over Uruguay and Italy saw the Ticos claim famous wins over former champions, while he also ensured England failed to score.
In the last 16, he saved a Greek penalty shoot out to book his country a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, and he kept a clean sheet against the Dutch in the quarter-finals, his third in five games. Eventually lost on penalties.
Employed by Levante in Spain, he has already been strongly linked with a big-money move to Bayern Munich. As shown by his place in our team of the tournament though, Navas, 27, is too good to play second fiddle to Manuel Neuer, who incidentally is the back-up on our substitutes’ bench.
Want more pictures? Click here to see a photo gallery of the top XI from World Cup 2014
CB: Ron Vlaar (Netherlands) After an unremarkable season at Aston Villa in which his side conceded more than any other side that survived relegation, the Dutch defender began the tournament with some believing he was the weak link in his country's defence.
Yet as Louis van Gaal’s side went undefeated – they lost only on penalties to Argentina in the semi-finals – Vlaar was exceptional. Holland conceded four times in seven matches and only once – against Mexico – in the knockout stages.
Against Argentina, Vlaar proved impenetrable, racking up six interceptions, 13 clearances and winning three of his four headed duels as he ensured Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero rarely got a sight at goal. He also stepped up to hit the Dutch’s first penalty of the shoot-out after another player refused. Even though he missed, the confidence he showed to accept the responsibility is commendatory.
Against Brazil in the third-place game, he recorded his fourth clean sheet in seven matches and was never troubled. Helping to rid Holland of their rough-and-tough image, Vlaar defended with style, never collecting a booking and always looking assured on the ball.
An aerial threat, also, the 29 year old will be a popular player when he returns to Villa. Manchester United, coached by Van Gaal, have already been linked.
AM: James Rodriguez (Colombia) The Colombian playmaker enjoyed his breakthrough tournament, making the €40m (Dh199.8m) that Monaco paid Porto for his services last summer appear a bargain. In his country's run to the quarter-finals, he scored six times in five games and claimed two assists.
The stand-out strike, a long-range effort against Uruguay at the Maracana, was a picture of perfection as he took a pass on his chest with his back to goal, swivelled and volleyed it in off the crossbar from 25 yards. As good a goal as the tournament witnessed.
In Colombia’s quarter-final with Brazil, the opposition at times reverted to kicking him in order to stop him from impacting the game, yet he still scored and, on the final whistle and with tears running down his cheeks, was singled out for praise by David Luiz and Dani Alves in an image that will live long in the memory.
The Real Madrid PR machine has already fired up in an attempt to tempt him back to western Europe. If he was valued at €40m last year, the Uefa Champions League winners will need to cough up a lot more now, courtesy of his performances over the past four weeks.
Read more: Gary Meenaghan picks his five disappointing flops of World Cup 2014
THE OTHER EIGHT
RB: Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina) The Argentine came into the tournament off the back of another fine title-winning season with Manchester City and picked up where he left off. A solid presence in the back four, he also complemented his country's counter-attacks with runs down the right flank.
Kept four clean sheets en route to the final. Beats out competition from Philipp Lahm, since the German was deployed in midfield during the group stages.
CB: Mats Hummels (Germany) Hummels showed his worth perfectly when returning to his side after missing the match with Algeria with the flu. Against the Africans, Germany had looked ropey, but with Hummels reinstated at the heart of defence for the last-16 match with France, Germany's solidity returned.
He scored the only goal of the game to become only the third German defender to score twice at a World Cup.
LB: Daley Blind (Netherlands) The Dutch wingback produced two of the passes of the tournament in the group stages. Against Spain and with his side trailing 1-0, Blind hit a magnificent 50-yard cross onto the head of Robin van Persie, while his assist for Arjen Robben later in the game was exceptional.
In the third-place playoff against Brazil, he showed composure to control a loose ball and fire in his country’s third score.
CM: Javier Mascherano (Argentina) The perfect defensive shield in midfield, his quality this month has made Barcelona's insistence on playing him in central defence all the more ludicrous. A tireless terrier with a reputation of having an aggressive streak, he came through his side's six-game run to the final without collecting a booking.
Against Holland, he made a late, sliding tackle when Arjen Robben broke through that was as valuable as any goal.
CM: Jermaine Jones (United States) The American, born in Germany and employed in Turkey, arrived in Brazil relatively unknown and with a slightly lumbering gait.
His all-energy performances, during which he broke up opposition attacks and quickly turned defence into attack, however, were crucial to the American run to the last 16. Netted a fantastic, curling strike against Portugal, which appeared to catch even him by surprise.
LM: Toni Kroos (Germany) Although he notched two assists in the rout of Portugal, it was not until the knockout stages when Kroos became arguably the best player of the tournament.
He struck the free-kick that led to the solitary goal against France and was unstoppable in the semi-final demolition of Brazil, scoring twice, claiming a fourth tournament assist and forever floating between the lines, causing problems for the befuddled opposition.
RM: Arjen Robben (Netherlands) Critics say Robben is predictable. Critics say he always cuts in on his left. Yet the 30 year old continues to cause panic in defences the world over. The Dutchman appears to be getting more energetic with age and often grows stronger as games grow long.
Started the tournament with three goals in two games and finished it with a man-of-the-match performance against Brazil in the third-place game.
FW: Neymar Twenty-two years old. World Cup debutant. Playing on home soil. Two hundred million people expecting him to shine. It would have been easy for Neymar to crumble under the pressure, but instead he rose to the occasion and was Brazil's star.
He produced four goals in the group stages and injected flair in an otherwise workmanlike team. His importance – physically and psychologically – was obvious as his country crashed and burned without him against Germany.
FIVE SUBSTITUTES
Manuel Neuer (Germany) Solid defence helped limit the goalkeeper's action, but when called upon, he appeared dominant and impenetrable. His greatest performance, as sweeper-keeper, came against Algeria.
Marcos Rojo (Argentina) Making his World Cup debut, he grew in confidence as the tournament progressed. Scored his first international goal against Nigeria, but caught the eye for his speed and solidity at the back.
Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) Played out of position at left-back, he conceded just three times in five matches and constantly offered an attacking threat, exemplified with his crucial late goal against South Korea.
Thomas Muller (Germany) The pest with the perfect touch. Always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Only 24 and looks certain to beat Miroslav Klose's World Cup all-time goalscoring record.
Juan Cuadrado (Colombia) Cuadrado was consistently quality for his country, providing four assists and a goal in five games. Full of flair and pace, he was a delight to watch on the flank.
TOP MANAGER
Jorge Luis Pinto, Costa Rica The Costa Rica tactician led his team to the quarter-finals and left the tournament undefeated. With the players he had at his disposal, the achievement is all the more remarkable.
Pinto’s side, ranked No 28 in the world, were supposed to be the whipping boys of Group D, yet finished top after wins over Uruguay and Italy.
With the team set up to defend in numbers and counter-attack, they proved too much for their World Cup-winning opponents, and in the quarter-final with Holland, they lost on penalties.
For leading a country with a population of just four million to their best finish in history, Pinto deserves much credit.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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