International football is often labelled as the pinnacle of the beautiful game, where the world’s top stars show their talent and the high quality players are separated from the pretenders, but that isn’t always the case.
In the strange world that is professional football, there are a number of players who are castigated for their form at club level, but once they don the colours of the national side, an inner-beast emerges from within.
SEE MORE:
Arsenal FC news
(Video) Italy 1-1 England highlights: Andros Townsend saves Three Lions in Turin
England hero Andros Townsend responds to criticism from Arsenal legend via Twitter
Here are five players who blossom for their national sides but are practically invisible at club level.
1. Lukas Podolski
The German forward’s club football is in danger of entering into total obscurity, with his loan move at Inter Milan currently not going as planned amid criticism from the Italian press regarding his form since the move in January, Podolski even threatening to quit football (via Metro).
Podolski was struggling to get into the Arsenal team earlier on this season following the arrival of strikers Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, with one more year left on his deal, it’s difficult to see where he goes from here.
However for Germany, the former FC Koln man scored against Australia last week to take his tally to 48 for the World Champions to become their third highest goalscorer of all time , only behind Miroslav Klose and Gerd Muller (via Daily Mail)- a feat not to be sniffed at.
2. Gary Medel
The former Cardiff should be prevalent in any such lists and the contrast between his performances in the Premier League last season and for Chile at the World Cup is proof of that.
Medel looked out of his depth in the Premier League for Cardiff and could do little to prevent the Welsh club getting relegated after he was brought in by Malky Mackay in the summer of 2013 for £11m (BBC Sport).
However for Chile, Medel was sensational, anchoring a back three for one of the most exciting sides at the tournament in Brazil and were unlucky to get knocked out by the hosts.
3. Nicklas Bendtner
There seems to be an Arsenal theme appearing here but Bendtner is the epitome of an enigma, with his latest exploits for Denmark confusing many. Bendtner netted a hat-trick for Denmark against the USA and his international record now stands at 29 goals in 50 caps (via Daily Mail), a sensational return. At club level, well, the Dane is pretty non-existent and is currently plying his trade in Germany with Vfl Wolfsburg.
4. Andros Townsend
Every time Townsend produces an absolute worldy for England, we wonder whether this is the start of something special for the speedster but he struggles to produce the goods for Spurs. His call-up to the latest squad was a surprise in itself given his form at club level which was compounded by Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to withdraw Townsend after 30 minutes in the defeat to Man United earlier on this month.
However, Roy Hodgson is loyal to his players and the Spurs man repaid the faith to conjure up a stunning equaliser for the Three Lions against Italy.
5. Mamadou Sakho
The Liverpool defender’s inclusion in this list doesn’t do him complete justice as he does produce some decent performances for the Reds, but the difference in his stature for France is evident.
Consistently picked ahead of Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny, who many regard as one of the best in the Premier League, Sakho assumes leadership of the back four alongside the talented Raphael Varane.