The single most important player of each of the 32 nations present at the finals in Brazil.
Brazil – Neymar
A lot is expected of the young Barcelona man and the weight of a nation will be propped up on the 22 year old’s shoulders and his ability to deliver, or otherwise, could reflect just how well Felipe Scolari’s side fare as the host nation.
Neymar put in a sterling display during the Confederations Cup last summer but will be all too aware that there is a world of difference between that competition and the 2014 World Cup finals.
Croatia – Luka Modric
The schemer has been in outstanding form for Real Madrid this season and the experienced midfielder will be pulling the strings in a creative Croatian side that has it’s work cut out just to make it out of the Group A.
The former Tottenham man made 51 appearances in all competitions in 2013/14 so coach Niko Kovac will have to hope the pint sized performer isn’t worn out by the exertions of a busy season at the Bernabeu.
Mexico – Marco Fabian
The 24 year old attacker has been in fine form of late and will look to continue in a similar vein as his side looks to fight their way out of Group A.
Fabian has scored in recent friendlies against Ecuador and Israel and whilst on loan at Cruz Azul helped the Mexico City side to a CONCACAF Champions League.
Cameroon – Samuel Eto’o
Though not used regularly the veteran striker did make an impact during his season at Chelsea, scoring against top sides and going some way to challenge Jose Mourinho’s assertion that he was in fact older than he claimed to be.
Experienced forward knows this is more than likely his last major tournament and will want to go out with a bang, likely to be more than a handful against even the best defences.
Spain – Andres Iniesta
Vicente del Bosque’s all conquering side is certainly aging and a player who will be expected to make a real impact at the finals is Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta.
The 30 year old can always be counted upon to deliver the goods at the highest level and will look to offer a commanding presence in the final third whilst keeping hold of the ball and rarely losing possession and on hand to score a crucial goal or two.
Chile – Alexis Sanchez
Fresh from his most productive season at Barcelona and the subject of a ton of transfer speculation the adaptable attacker has shown great form in warm-up matches and is a player that coach Jorge Sampaoli will be relying upon to provide the spark in the final third.
Holland – Robin Van Persie
Back to full fitness after a tough second season at Old Trafford the experienced forward will lead Louis van Gaal’s front-line and is more than capable of causing opposition defences all sorts of problems.
The Man United man is rightly considered one of the favourites for the Golden Boot and would hope to grab a hat-ful against the Aussies.
Australia – Mile Jedinak
The tough tackling midfielder had an excellent season, more than proving himself in the English top tier, and playing a key role in keeping Tony Pulis’s side not just clear of the drop but up towards the top half of the table.
The uncompromising enforcer may however want to tone it down a notch or he could be the recipient of more than a few cautions, or worse.
Colombia – Jackson Martinez
With Radamel Falcao failing to recover from injury in time for the finals a lot will depend on how FC Porto man Jackson Martinez performs.
The powerful forward will be the man enlisted with the job of busting past defences as Jose Pékerman’s side look to continue with the fine form that saw them finish second in the South American qualifying group.
Greece – Giorgos Karagounis
With 134 caps to his name the Fulham midfielder will be looked upon as the man to get the most of a hard working, if not spectacularly skillful, Greek side as they look to qualify from a very average group.
Having suffered relegation to the Championship the much traveled veteran may look upon the World Cup as something of a shop window for his talents.
Ivory Coast – Yaya Toure
Man City man cracked in 20 Premier League goals and was one of the big successes of the 2013/14 season and is a player in the peak of his powers.
The rangy attack minded midfielder should have a field day in a group that The Elephants should comfortably qualify from.
Japan – Shinji Kagawa
Though something of a bit-part player at Old Trafford the 25 year old is a key member of the Japanese international squad and a player who bears a great deal of responsibility.
On his day the former Borussia Dortmund man can be a joy to watch and a player who can make something out of nothing, however he is also frequently guilty of vanishing from the action and drifting in and out of games.
Uruguay – Luis Suarez
Even though the Liverpool man is something of an injury doubt his importance to his national team’s ability to make real progress at the World Cup can not be underestimated.
Whilst PSG forward Edinson Cavani is more than capable of netting regularly Suarez offers a far more rounded attacking weapon for Oscar Tabarez and the Uruguayan coach will be praying the 27 year old is fighting fit for his side’s encounters with Italy and England.
Costa Rica – Celso Borges
The rangy central midfielder will be a player coach Jorge Luis Pinto counts on as his Costa Rica side prepare for three monumental fixtures.
Borges has been in good form with Swedish side AIK and impressed in the qualification campaign.
England – Steven Gerrard
After a superb season with Liverpool, his best for years, Roy Hodgson will hope that the veteran skipper can make an impact in Brazil where his ability to link midfield and attack will be key.
Given the conditions Gerrard may well be employed in a similar withdrawn role to the one he has enjoyed under Brendan Rodgers and clearly has the experience to cope with the incredible pressure the England squad will be under during the competition from expectant fans back home and an insatiable media ready to tear the team to shreds if they are deemed to have failed.
Italy – Andrea Pirlo
Another veteran performer who is at the top of his game and another player who’s ability to shine on the highest stage could be key to their nation’s performance in Brazil.
The Juventus midfielder has been outstanding for his Turin side in 2013/14 and Cesare Prandelli will look to the bearded magician to produce the usual level of expert distribution and provide his fair share of inch perfect set piece deliveries.
Switzerland – Xherdan Shaqiri
Young winger has struggled to retain a foothold in the Bayern Munich first team set-up and will be looking to impress this summer in the hope of persuading Pep Guardiola of his worth or alternatively helping to attract interest from Europe’s ‘Elite’.
Shaqiri is arguably one of the only members of Ottmar Hitzfeld’s defensively sound but attackingly unspectacular squad able to make something out of nothing.
Ecuador – Luis Antonio Valencia
Hugely important member of Reinaldo Rueda’s squad and a player who regularly delivers the good for his country and a player who may well benefit from playing without the same level of pressure he’s been under at Man United during the Old Trafford side’s disastrous season.
France – Karim Benzema
Real Madrid forward received a fair amount of abuse during a barren run that saw the 26 year old go 16 months without a national team goal but is now back to somewhere near his best.
Benefited from Gonzalo Higuain’s sale to Napoli, leaving Bernabeu boss Carlo Ancelotti to use Benzema almost exclusively as his starting centre-forward and Benzema netted 24 goals in all competitions and goes into the finals on a high after helping the Spanish giants to ‘La Decima’.
Honduras – Carlo Costly
Experienced striker scored seven goals in qualifying and has netted in friendlies against Ecuador and Israel since booking their spot in the finals.
National team favourite will hope to be up for the challenge against the top defence of France and could fancy his chances against Ecuador and Switzerland.
Argentina – Lionel Messi
After an average, by his own high standards, season during which the Barcelona man managed just 41 goals in 46 appearances the 26 year old captain’s his national team in Brazil and we expect Lionel Messi to deliver the goods.
2013/14 was very much a troubled season for Messi, with court cases, in-fighting at Barcelona and the loss of a La Liga title no doubt taking it’s toll on the diminutive attacker but free from the Nou Cam shackles Messi will be a player Alejandro Sabella pins a lot of hope on.
Bosnia – Edin Dzeko
Man City man’s form at the tail end of the 2013/14 campaign made all the difference as Manuel Pellegrini coped with the absence of first choice striker Sergio Aguero for much of the final months of the season.
Powerful forward is a good outside bet for the Golden Boot as he seeks to help his nation to a solid showing in their first World Cup finals campaign.
Iran – Reza Ghoochannejhad
Charlton Athletic forward netted three goals in World Cup qualifying and top-scored for Iran in their Asian Cup qualifying campaign and is a player who is likely to lead Carlos Queiroz’s attack.
Iran are expected to be the whipping boys of group F and a goal or two would be considered something of an achievement.
Nigeria – Vincent Enyeama
Quality keeper had an excellent 2010 World Cup finals and will once again be expected to provide a strong last line of defence as Stephen Keshi looks to secure passage to the last 16.
Enyeama enjoyed a phenomenal season at Lille during which he racked up 11 consecutive clean sheets.
Germany – Mesut Ozil
Playmaker will look to make a impact in Brazil after an average debut season with Arsenal, very much a player Joachim Low will look to cause real problems in the final third.
25 year old had a superb qualifying campaign, netting eight goals for Germany as they breezed into the finals and cause all sorts of problems for opposition defences.
Portugal – Cristiano Ronaldo
Injury fears are rife and Paulo Bento knows full well that without the Real Madrid man his side could struggle to book their way to the knockout stages, such is the importance of the 29 year old national team captain.
It would be impossible to overplay the importance of Ronaldo to Portugal’s hopes, his hat-trick during the A Selecção play-off win over Sweden goes some way to illustrating just how the attacker can make or break his nation’s chances.
Ghana – Sulley Muntari
The AC Milan man will provide the Black Stars both midfield bite and creative endeavour, the 29 year old has the experience for the occasion and will hope to drive his side through the Group of Death to the second phase.
Could benefit from a less than spectacular San Siro campaign now that he can perhaps play with some more freedom where in many ways not a lot is expected from his Ghana side given the level of opposition they face.
United States – Clint Dempsey
Former Tottenham man has enjoyed a return to his native United States and is a member of Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad truly capable of causing a nuisance against the best defence, that’s if he is at his very best.
Dempsey has netted nine goals in 15 appearances for the Seattle Sounders and goals in friendly action against Belgium and Germany bodes well.
Belgium – Eden Hazard
Pint sized Chelsea man enjoyed a good season at Stamford Bridge on a personal level, finishing the campaign as the west London club’s leading assist maker and top-scorer.
A lot is expected of Marc Wilmots side at the 2014 World Cup finals and the Belgium coach will want Hazard to be at his very best if his side is to push on to the later stages of the tournament.
Algeria – Sofiane Feghouli
Valencia wide-man had an excellent season at the Mestalla, the 24-year-old scoring seven goals and providing 10 assists, and is key to Vahid Halilhodzic’s hopes of guiding Algeria through group H and into the knock-out stages.
Feghouli scored in Algeria’s narrow key victory over Burkina Faso in the final round of African qualifiers.
Russia – Alan Dzagoev
Talented playmaker who can turn a game on it’s head with his attacking abilities and a player who has previously proven himself at the highest level.
The 23 year old scored three goals in Euro 2012 and was a key performer for a Russian side that under-performed in Poland & Ukraine but could be ready to repeat the trick in Brazil having helped his CSKA Moscow side to a domestic title.
South Korea – Son Heung-Min
Hugely talented youngster is rightly considered one of the hottest prospects in Asian football who has impressed during his debut season at Bayer Leverkusen.
The strong forward could help South Korea to mount a genuine push to make it through Group H.
SEE ALSO: The Fastest Players on Fifa 14