Germans surprisingly few and far between in statistical team of the tournament…
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Based on ratings by WhoScored (a stats aggregator which judges a player based on his overall performance to a game), this is the best XI from this summer’s World Cup.
It features just the one German, but three Dutchmen make the XI…
GK) Tim Howard – USA – 7.87 rating
Verses Belgium in the Last 16, Howard made more saves in one match than any keeper has in a World Cup match since 1966! The Everton man was heroic, although it wasn’t enough to get his side into the quarters.
DR) Serge Aurier – Ivory Coast – 7.65 rating
Surprisingly, the young Ivorian is statistically the best right-back of the tournament – having registered two assists in the opening match victory over Japan. His team didn’t get out of the group stages though, and his proposed move to Arsenal seems off with the Gunners close to signing Mathieu Debuchy instead.
DC) Ron Vlaar – Holland – 7.7 rating
The Aston Villa man was especially brilliant verses Argentina in the semi-finals, but unfortunately for him, he missed his penalty in the shoot-out, having been brave enough to take the first one. He will have done his reputation in England no harm whatsoever, however.
DC) Stevan de Vrij – Holland – 7.76 rating
de Vrij’s form has earned him links to Lazio and Manchester United, where he could link up with his national team manager Louis van Gaal, who has of course taken the Old Trafford job.
DL) Ricardo Rodriguez – Switzerland – 8.12 rating
The talented young left-back was incremental to Switzerland qualifying from the Group Stages, assisting two goals – with his side unlucky to be knocked out during Extra Time in the Last 16 against finalists Argentina.
MC) Toni Kroos – Germany – 7.8 rating
The pass-master oozed class throughout the tournament, completing 91.2% of his passes. Real Madrid are signing him this summer, and are getting a truly exceptional talent. Interestingly, he’s the only German to make this side.
MC) Miralem Pjanic – Bosnia – 8.2 rating
The surprise entrant to this team, Pjanic makes this side on account of his creative passing. He averaged four per match, which was more than any player in the tournament bar Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri. He also scored and assisted a goal apiece.
AMR) Arjen Robben – Holland – 8.44 rating
Robben assisted one goal, and scored three times on Holland’s route to the semis. His diving earned him criticism, but his class was evident throughout.
AMC) James Rodriguez – Colombia – 8.4 rating
The tournament’s top scorer with six goals, Rodriguez won the Golden Boot, and the admiration of every football supporter on the planet. He is the jewell in Colombia’s football crown.
AML) Neymar -Brazil – 8.22 rating
Brazil’s Golden Boy was cruelly injured in the quarters, and after scoring four goals during the tournament, he had to watch his side embarrassed 7-1 by Germany in the semis. He did his personal reputation a world of good however.
FC) Lionel Messi – Argentina – 8.77 rating
Messi won the tournament’s Golden Ball, awarded to its best player, and judging by these stats, it went to the right man. However, Messi failed to perform to the levels expected of him in the quarters, semis and final – and despite scoring four goals early on – the little Argentine didn’t do it when it really mattered.
