CaughtOffside decides on the most impressive 2014 FIFA World Cup group stage performer for each of the 32 nations.
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With the Group Stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup now having drawn to a close, the tournament already has its heroes and villains, with half of the teams having progressed to the last sixteen and half having exited the tournament already.
To mark this point in the competition, we’ve taken a look at each teams’ performances so far and picked out one stand-out performer from the group stage from each of the 32 competing nations.
Brazil / Group A / Neymar
Neymar is the poster boy of the competition and, so far, the Barcelona forward has lived up to his star billing. The former Santos man scored twice against Croatia on the opening night and, despite a disappointing showing in the 0-0 draw against Mexico, he was back on form to score two fine goals as the host sealed their progress with a 4-1 win over Cameroon.
Croatia / Group A / Ivan Perisic
Croatia may have run out of steam against Mexico in their final match, losing 3-1 in a result that saw them eliminated at the group stage, but winger Ivan Perisic has had a superb tournament for Niko Kovac’s side.
The 25 year-old Vfl Wolfsburg winger, who has already been linked with a move to Everton this summer, had a fine tournament, scoring against Cameroon and impressing with his pace and direct running.
Mexico / Group A / Guillermo Ochoa
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has had a superb group stage, with Ivan Perisic’s late goal for Croatia being the only goal that the free agent has conceded so far.
Ochoa, who has been linked with numerous clubs this summer, was man of the match after a superb displays in the 0-0 draw against hosts Brazil and is available on a free transfer after leaving relegated French side AC Ajaccio.
Cameroon / Group A / Joel Matip
Cameroon have had a disastrous World Cup, losing all three games and returning to Africa with just one goal, scored by FC Schalke midfielder Joel Matip.
Matip was one of few players to do himself proud at the tournament, despite only earning a place in the team after Alex Song’s absurd sending off in the 4-0 defeat at the hands of Croatia.
Spain / Group B / Andres Iniesta
Spain are another team who have had a miserable tournament, with the reigning champions having been eliminated after just two games – defeats to The Netherlands and Chile.
La Roja did beat Australia 3-0 to round off their campaign, however, with the only man to truly impress in all three games being diminutive Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta, one of few Spaniards who can return home with his head held high.
The Netherlands / Group B / Arjen Robben
Holland have been particularly impressive in the group stage, with Louis van Gaal preparing for life at Manchester United with three wins out of three as the Oranje breezed into the knock-out stages.
Bayern Munich’s explosive winger Arjen Robben has been at the forefront of everything good about the Dutch, scoring three goals and proving to be a constant threat to opposition defences, something that he will look to continue in their last sixteen clash against Mexico.
Chile / Group B / Eugenio Mena
Left wing-back Eugenio Mena has been a key part of Chile’s impressive side, with the Santos full back’s ability to burst up and down the flank at will being integral to Jorge Sampaoli’s high-pressing system.
Mena has spent his entire club career in South America, playing for Chilean club sides Santiago Wanderers and Universidad de Chile before moving to Brazilian giants Santos.
Australia / Group B / Tim Cahill
With two goals in the group stages for an unfancied Australia side, former Everton and Millwall man Tim Cahill can consider himself to have had a superb 2014 FIFA World Cup.
In what is likely to be his last major global tournament, Cahill headed home against Chile before scoring one of the World Cup’s finest goals, a stunning left-footed volley against The Netherlands.
Colombia / Group C / James Rodriguez
Colombia have been one of the most impressive teams in the tournament so far, but the undoubted star of their entertaining, counter attacking play has been AS Monaco playmaker James Rodriguez.
The former FC Porto star has scored in all three of Colombia’s wins so far, with his trickery and vision in the attacking midfield position making him one of the best players to watch in the tournament.
Greece / Group C / Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Greece’s undoubted strong point is their defence, with the Greeks recovering well from an opening day hammering at the hands of Colombia to take four points from Japan and the Ivory Coast as they edged through into the second round.
The man holding the defence together is often Borussia Dortmund’s Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and the former Werder Bremen man has been the Greek’s star man so far.
Ivory Coast / Group C / Gervinho
The Ivory Coast’s golden generation once again failed to make it out of the group stage at a World Cup, with an injury time penalty from Greece’s Giorgios Samaras enough to see Greece through at the expense of the Ivorians.
It wasn’t down to the efforts of former Arsenal man Gervinho, however, with the AS Roma star’s pace and dribbling ability seeing him find the net against both Japan and Colombia.
Japan / Group C / Keisuke Honda
Japan had a disappointing World Cup campaign, picking up just one point ahead of elimination, despite starting the competition in fine form when Keisuke Honda blasted home against the Ivory Coast.
The Japanese went on to lose that game, however, but despite their frustrating performances it was AC Milan midfielder Honda who always looked like their most likely goalscorer.
Uruguay / Group D / Diego Godin
Uruguay’s World Cup campaign has been overshadowed by the biting antics of star striker Luis Suarez at the other end of the pitch, but centre back Diego Godin has had a fine tournament whilst also scoring the goal that sent them through to the second round.
Atletico Madrid man Godin, who also scored crucial goals in the Champions League final and on the last day of the La Liga season, has held a flimsy defence together in crunch games against England and Italy.
Costa Rica / Group D / Yeltsin Tejeda
Whilst Arsenal striker Joel Campbell has grabbed the headlines for Costa Rica as Los Ticos stunningly qualified for the second round of the tournament, midfielder Yeltsin Tejeda has held the team together with his intelligent displays.
Tejeda, who has made more than 100 appearances for Saprissa in the Costa Rican league, could well be looking to move to Europe this summer having proven himself on the biggest stage.
England – Group D – Daniel Sturridge
Despite England’s miserable World Cup campaign, striker Daniel Sturridge still got into the positions to miss a number of fine opportunities in his nation’s three group games.
Sturridge, who scored in the opening defeat to Italy, must improve his finishing if he is to establish himself as an international standard forward, but this was still a solid debut at a World Cup.
Italy – Group D – Antonio Candreva
Much like his nation’s tournament, Italy and Lazio midfielder Antonio Candreva’s tournament went downhill after their win over England, but he was still impressive enough against the Three Lions to take this accolade.
The wide midfielder is a fine footballer, with his ability to drift inside and into space having troubled Serie A defences all season and caused England left back Leighton Baines all manner of problems.
Switzerland – Group E – Xherdan Shaqiri
One of just two players to score a hat-trick in the group stages of the tournament, Bayern Munich star Xherdan Shaqiri’s decisive contribution against Honduras was key to Switzerland’s qualification.
Allowed something of a free role within the confines of Ottmar Hitzfeld’s usually rigid system, Shaqiri’s silkiness and dribbling skills are key to the hopes of the Swiss against Argentina in the second round.
Ecuador – Group E – Enner Valencia
With three goals in the group stage, Ecuador striker Enner Valencia can consider his 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign to have been a roaring success.
Considering the powerful displays and explosive finishing that Valencia displayed against Switzerland Honduras, it is no surprise that the Pachuca player has been linked with a move to the Premier League already.
France – Group E – Blaise Matuidi
Whilst Karim Benzema has grabbed the headlines for France in Group E with his goalscoring form, the midfield exploits of Blaise Matuidi have been more integral to Les Bleus’ comfortable passage through the group stage.
The Paris Saint Germain box-to-box player has been in superb form, scoring a crucial goal against Switzerland and generally helping his team to dominate the centre of midfield in all three matches.
Honduras – Group E – Carlo Costly
Having scored Honduras’ only goal of the campaign, and their first World Cup strike for some two decades, striker Carlo Costly is the clear choice as the most impressive Honduran of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
With much of the rest of the team criticised for their particularly physical style, Costly was often left to plow a lone furrow up front, something he usually did to respectable effect.
Argentina – Group F – Lionel Messi
Level on four goals with Neymar for the top goalscorer award after the group stage, Argentine legend Lionel Messi is beginning to make the 2014 World Cup his defining tournament.
His finest moment was a twenty-five yard free-kick against Nigeria, with Messi’s devilish left foot lifting the ball over the wall and into the corner of the net, leaving Lille ‘keeper Vincent Enyeama rooted to the spot.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Group F – Miralem Pjanic
AS Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic was tipped in many quarters to be one of the stars of the tournament and, whilst an underwhelming effort by Bosnia has put paid to that, Pjanic has impressed on all three occasions for his nation.
Scoring against Iran in the final match, the former Lyon man had an excellent tournament, with his ability to make things happen from central midfield constantly in evidence for Bosnia.
Iran – Group F – Jalal Hosseini
At least until they were forced to go for it in the final game against Bosnia, Iran’s defence was one of the most impressive back lines in the group stage, marshaled impressively by experienced centre back Jalal Hosseini.
Hosseini was rarely troubled against Nigeria and Argentina, with only an injury time wonder goal by the irrepressible Messi being enough to ruin the Iranian clean sheet run.
Nigeria – Group F – Ahmed Musa
Nigeria made it through Group F at the expense of Bosnia and Iran, largely thanks to the performances of Ahmed Musa in midfield.
The talented 21 year-old CSKA Moscow man rounded off a fine start to his World Cup campaign with two wonderful goals in the Super Eagles’ 3-2 defeat to Argentina.
Germany – Group G – Thomas Muller
The third and final player to be tied on four goals at the top of the leaderboard after the group stage is German Thomas Muller, who added to his wonderful hat-trick against Portugal with the winning goal against the USA.
Bayern Munich man Muller has become known for his intelligent and determined displays, although he was also involved in the unsavoury incident that saw Pepe sent off for Portugal in their opening game.
Portugal – Group G – Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite struggling for fitness and clearly unable to put everything into Portugal’s three group games, Cristiano Ronaldo was evidently still the finest player on show for Paulo Bento’s team.
He contributed as much as he could to a frustrating campaign, providing a wonderful assist for Silvestre Varela’s injury time leveler against the USA and scoring the winner against Ghana.
USA – Group G – Clint Dempsey
Experienced USA forward Clint Dempsey got Jurgen Klinsmann’s team’s campaign off to a flyer, giving them the lead against Ghana within one minute of kick-off in their opening match.
Whilst also contributing a goal against Portugal, Dempsey showed both skill and determination in playing largely on his own upfront for a fairly conservative American side.
Ghana – Group G – Andre Ayew
Ghana could perhaps count themselves to be somewhat unlucky to have missed out on a place in the knock-out stages, having arguably dominated all three of their group games, despite winning none of them.
Marseille forward Andre Ayew was their best player, having impressed massively with his pace and power, attributes that helped him to score two World Cup goals in his three appearances.
Belgium – Group G – Vincent Kompany
Centre back Vincent Kompany has been holding together an unconvincing Belgian side, whose passage to the next round has largely been thanks to them not having conceded a goal from open play in the tournament so far.
The Manchester City captain, who is also the undoubted leader of his national team, will have to be on top form if the young Belgian side are to live up to their billing and go far in to the tournament.
Algeria – Group G – Sofiane Feghouli
Whilst Islam Slimani was the goalscoring hero for Algeria against South Korea and Russia, the creativity of Valencia man Sofiane Feghouli was probably the deciding factor in their maiden qualification for the second round.
Blessed with incredible skill and superb vision, Feghouli has emerged as one of the leading attacking midfielders in the tournament.
Russia – Group G – Alexander Kokorin
Criticised by many for his performances against Belgium and South Korea, young Russia striker Alexander Kokorin actually performed as well as could be expected in Fabio Capello’s negative system.
Despite missing a simple chance against Belgium, Kokorin lead the line well and linked play decisively, deserving his first World Cup goal with a superb headed finish against Algeria.
South Korea – Group G – Son Heung-Min
On paper, Bayer Leverkusen forward Son Heung-Min looked like South Korea’s most impressive talent, and so it proved – Son was the only Korean who looked likely to drag his side through the group stages.
Despite his team failing to win a game at the World Cup, Son was always dangerous, impressing in all three games with his pace and direct running.