11 players who turn it on more for their countries than they do for their clubs.
People are always questioning the commitment of players to their nations, with withdrawals from friendly squads at the forefront of the club vs. country debate. It can work the other way, however, such as in the case of these 11 players who all reserve their finest performances for when they’re wearing the shirt of their nation, despite underwhelming form in club football.
GK) Julio Cesar
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is Brazil’s undisputed number one for the World Cup, but he can’t get into Harry Redknapp’s Queens Park Rangers team ahead of Robert Green. Cesar’s lack of football at Loftus Road became so serious that he had to be loaned out to MLS side FC Toronto just to get some football under his belt ahead of the big one kicking off.
RB) Mauricio Isla
Juventus right back Mauricio Isla is a largely peripheral figure for the Serie A champions, finding his route to the team blocked by Swiss international Stephane Lichtsteiner, but for Chile he is crucial, with his stamina and runs forward from right wing back being vital to Jorge Sampaoli’s side.
CB) Kenneth Omeruo
Chelsea centre back Kenneth Omeruo’s name may not even be known by some fans of his club side, such is the lack of impact that Kenneth Omeruo has had on Jose Mourinho’s first team squad. The Nigerian centre back has impressed sufficiently in loan spells with ADO Den Haag and Middlesbrough, however, to make him a key member of the African champions’ side.
CB) Gonzalo Jara
Chilean centre back Gonzalo Jara doesn’t even have a club, with the former West Brom man having been released by English Championship side Nottingham Forest and the end of last season. His performances for the national side are outstanding, however, as a composed centre back who is comfortable at bringing the ball out of defence.
LB) Thomas Vermaelen
Whilst he plays in the centre of defence for his nation, Belgium, Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen is a player who continues to be integral to the fortunes of Marc Wilmots’ side despite his diminishing influence at the Emirates Stadium. Vermaelen has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United after falling out of favour at Arsenal, but he should still have plenty of time to show his worth for Belgium at the World Cup.
CM) Shinji Kagawa
Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa has struggled to settle since arriving at Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund in 2012, but he remains a key player for his country. The Japanese are one of the World Cup’s most entertaining nations to watch, largely due to the creative talents of players such as Kagawa and Keisuke Honda.
CM) Gary Medel
Known as “The Pitbull” for his determined displays, Cardiff City midfielder Gary Medel failed to live up to his significant price tag last season as the Bluebirds were relegated from the Premier League. For his national team, Chile, however, Medel is a ball-playing centre back who was vital to their shock World Cup win over Spain.
CM) Paulinho
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho struggled to force his way into the team under Tim Sherwood in the final months of the 2013/14 Premier League season, but he is a key cog in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Brazil team. The former Corinthians man even has an impressive goalscoring record for the Selecao, having struck 5 goals in 28 caps for his country.
ST) Kostas Mitroglou
Greek international forward Kostas Mitroglou is Fulham’s record signing, but failed to register a goal for the club who were relegated to the Championship after concerns arose about his fitness following a January move from Olympiakos. Despite this, Mitroglou is seen as Greece’s biggest goal threat at the World Cup and could be key to their hopes of escaping from Group C.
ST) Joel Campbell
Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell has yet to make a senior appearance for Arsenal, largely due to work permit issues, but he burst onto the world stage with a goal and fine performance against Uruguay for his nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Having impressed in loan spells with Real Betis and Olympiakos, Campbell is likely to finally get his chance to impress for his club side sooner rather than later.
ST) Edin Dzeko
Despite an excellent goalscoring record for Manchester City, Edin Dzeko has never quite established himself as undisputed first choice for the club. This is in stark contrast to his role for Bosnia & Herzegovina, for whom Dzeko is the undoubted star of Bosnia football. Tasked with leading the line alongside Vfb Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisevic, Dzeko is comfortably Bosnia’s most important and most recognisable footballer.