It is often said that players don’t put in enough effort for their countries and save their best for their clubs.
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With many pulling out of international squads with mysterious injuries that clear up for their next domestic game it is very understandable. However, there are some who buck this trend, and here are ten of the best…
10) Andros Townsend
A bit part player for Tottenham, there are murmurs of discontent every time Roy Hodgson starts him for England. However, he has impressed on almost every occasion, scoring three goals in eight games so far.
9) Sergio Romero
A mediocre and erratic keeper at club level, the 28-year-old was brilliant for Argentina in the last World Cup. He now has 56 caps for his country, and is unlikely to ever hit the same levels for club Sampdoria.
8) Asamoah Gyan
With 46 goals in 90 appearances for Ghana, Gyan has been a fixture of recent World Cups. However, he hasn’t had the same impact at club level. Bar a short spell at Sunderland, the striker has been unable to score as regularly domestically.
7) Danny Welbeck
Hard working but without that extra touch of class for Arsenal last season, after Manchester United had already got rid of him the summer before. 14 goals in 33 England appearances seem to be describing a different player.
6) Lukas Podolski
Not able to make an impact at Bayern Munich and a bit part player for Arsenal, the German nonetheless has 48 goals in 125 matches for his country.
5) David Healy
Never looked like anything more than an average Championship forward with his many clubs. However, he was a hero for Northern Ireland, netting 36 times in 95 games. That included a very important one in a 1-0 win over rivals England in 2005.
4) Juan Cuadrado
Great at the 2014 World Cup, but was never brilliant for Fiorentina before or after. Chelsea seemed to sign him on the back of his international performances ,and haven’t been paid back for it.
3) Cuahtemoc Blanco
Mexico’s second highest ever scorer, with 39 goals in 120 matches. However, despite success in his home country, the extra speed of the European game was too much for him, failing to impress in his solitary campaign with Real Valladolid.
2) Jozy Altidore
80 caps and 27 goals for the USA, but an even worse version of Emile Heskey for his various clubs. Still 25-years-old though, so could turn this around.
1) Ali Daei
The highest scorer of all time in international matches with 109 goals in 149 games for Iran. However, he never matched this for his clubs, largely staying in his home country. Short spells with Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin showed that he wasn’t up to it in Europe.