The finest team from the final group of the tournament.
With the 2014 World Cup getting underway with hosts Brazil taking on Croatia, CaughtOffside has been looking at the statistically best XIs from each group.
It’s the final pool now, which contains Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea, and we have used stats from WhoScored from the 2013/14 season to determine who should be in the team.
Note we are playing a 4-4-2 formation and only Europe’s top five leagues are covered by the website.
GK – Thibaut Courtois, Belgium – 6.70
What a year it has been for the goalkeeper, who on-loan at Atletico Madrid from Chelsea played a key part in the Spanish club winning their first La Liga title since 1996 and reaching their first ever Champions League final.
RB – Aissa Mandi, Algeria – 7.03
The Algerians may be considered the weakest side in this group to many people, but stars such as this Reims right-back have the top-class experience to prove those doubters wrong.
LB – Park Joo-Ho, South Korea – 7.14
In recent times the South Koreans have become recognised as a decent force in international football since reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup back in 2002.
CB – Vincent Kompany, Belgium – 7.16
Having helped Manchester City to their second Premier League title in three years last term, Kompany is now regarded as one of the best centre-backs in world football.
CB – Jan Vertonghen, Belgium – 6.92
After making the PFA Team of the Year in 2012/13 last campaign was something of a disappointment for this Tottenham Hotspur star, who can play either centrally or as a left-back.
RM – Dries Mertens, Belgium – 7.20
It’s starting to become clear who are the favourites to win this group as the Belgians are considered many people’s dark horses and Mertens is one of their more experienced performers.
LM – Eden Hazard, Belgium – 7.65
On the opposite flank to Mertens is his national compatriot, who Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dubbed a future Ballon d’Or winner due to his brilliant talent.
CM – Yacine Brahimi, Algeria – 7.10
Another Algerian now and a midfielder who has caught the eye of some of Europe’s elite over the past year for his performances in Spain with Granada.
CM – Moussa Dembele, Belgium – 7.12
The English top flight is brimming with Belgian talent it seems and here is another from White Hart Lane, with the versatile midfielder having the ability to play almost anywhere in the middle.
ST – Son Heung-Min, South Korea – 7.41
After impressing in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last term – and scoring 11 goals – this 21-year-old will play a big part in any success the South Koreans have at the World Cup.
ST – Romelu Lukaku, Belgium – 7.29
Completing the plethora of talent from Marc Wilmots’ side is another Blues ace who impressed on-loan last campaign, scoring 15 league goals during a temporary spell with Everton.
SEE ALSO: The 50 best players at the 2014 World Cup.