Tag: Lionel Messi

With less than a week until the start of the World Cup and with 32 teams and around 736 players heading to Brazil it’s going to be tough to keep track of everything once the tournament kicks off on June 12. Below is a handy guide on which headline acts to focus on and some of the key battlegrounds to keep an eye on during the opening-group phase. We compile a list of players to watch. The list exhibits both talent fulfilled and potential untapped.

Cristiano Ronaldo

(Portugal)

Ronaldo quelled a great deal of burning ambition this season, finally beating Messi to claim another Ballon d’Or, helping Real Madrid clinch that long-elusive Decima of European Cups and finally convincing many that he, not the Argentine at Barcelona, is the best player in the world today. Why is he third here? Well, will he be fully fit at the World Cup? That could be the deciding factor as to whether CR7 can eradicate Portugal’s status as perennial also-rans and clinch them the major international trophy they’ve come close to in the past. “With a goal a game, when Ronaldo starts it feels like we start 1-0 up” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. Every Portuguese football fan will be praying that he remains fit enough to give them seven ‘head-starts’ in Brazil.

 

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

That Messi has endured his most disappointing season in recent years for Barcelona in the immediate run-up to this tournament hasn’t fooled many – especially when his national form has, to the contrary, picked up in the face of questions over whether Lionel applied himself as much for his country as he always did at Camp Nou. Messi remains THE man to be wary of, with his Argentine team-mates supplying superior service and back-up than Ronaldo’s Portugal or Suarez’s Uruguay, and his long run as the sport’s premier name offering far more experience of the ‘big dance’ than Brazil’s Neymar or Belgium’s Hazard. Do not be surprised in the least bit if Brazil 2014 is the setting for where Lionel Messi finally completes his trophy collection.

 

Neymar (Brazil)

Neymar has been Brazil’s top sporting celebrity for some time now – barely a week would pass without another amazing highlight reel of his skills at Santos – and now he has moved onto a bigger club platform with Barcelona, he returns home for what could be the crowning moment of a career which may yet have over another decade to run. Neymar stands a very strong chance of being the man who fires the host nation to an unprecedented sixth World Cup. Between his explosive attacking, mesmerising ball skills, versatile goal threat and much-maligned gamesmanship (face it: even a player going down easily from a light challenge could be enough to decide the final), the 22-year-old has the world – and this World Cup – at his feet.

 

Diego Costa (Spain)

Injury soured a great season for the Brazilian-born forward, as after Atletico’s Liga title win he was handed a start in the Champions League final in Lisbon despite not being fully ready to participate and was withdrawn before the 10 minute mark. However, signs are encouraging during Spanish pre-tournament training for a man who could provide the cutting edge up top which revives the ‘tiki-taka’ concept in time for a staggering fourth straight major international tournament win for the reigning world champions.

 

Eden Hazard (Belgium)

Many Chelsea fans and Belgian fanatics felt Hazard’s contributions to the 2013/14 season were largely overlooked, with names such as Ronaldo and Suarez on an absolute tear. As the creative star of the tournament dark horses, Hazard could do some serious damage to sides who expect to have too much experience or name value for Belgium. Hazard has constantly wowed over the last four years for Lille, Chelsea and his country, and the World Cup in Brazil will be his biggest platform yet.

 

Luis Suarez (Uruguay)

Suarez proved in the past season what he can do when he isn’t bringing football into disrepute with his reprehensible antics. Tempered by Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, Suarez was deservedly crowned England’s best player in 13/14 as he broke goalscoring records and almost inspired the Reds to an unthinkable league title. Some feel Uruguay do not have enough as a team to go all the way in Brazil but Suarez’s talent, form and undeniable desire to win (like it or not, that 2010 handball against Ghana paid off) makes it impossible to jump to conclusions.

 

Mario Balotelli (Italy)

Controversial, unpredictable but also lethal in front of goal, Balotelli showed what he can do on the big stage at Euro 2012 and could be key to whether Italy are amongst the trophy contenders in Brazil. If he’s firing on all cylinders throughout the month, the nation’s team spirit laced with Balotelli’s goals and Pirlo’s threat at set pieces will be extremely difficult to beat. Of course, the key reason ‘Super Mario’ doesn’t make it any higher than 10 was highlighted by his hot-and-cold first full season at AC Milan. Which Balo will show up?

 

Thiago Silva (Brazil)

Silva is one of the world’s top centre-backs, and though the eyes of a nation will focus on the likes of Neymar as Brazil strive for a sixth World Cup in front of their own, the PSG man will be just as crucial at the other end of the pitch if the tournament’s greatest-ever participants are to extend their trophy record. The next month serves as the perfect opportunity for Silva to underscore his leadership qualities and enter the history books with a potential seven inspirational performances from the back.

 

Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

In 2010, Ghana came agonisingly close to finally realising the potential most experts have claimed African nations possess at World Cups for yonks. And if you were to pick out one African talent in 2014 who could spark an even better campaign than the Black Stars’ run to the last eight four years ago, it’s box-to-box beast Yaya Toure. Though a magnificent, title-winning season with Man City was soured at the end by an unbelievable story casting doubt over his Etihad future because of how the club celebrated his birthday, such manoeuvring for a transfer/pay rise will be firmly on hold when he looks to help his nation (and continent) to new frontiers in Brazil.

 

John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)

In  a Chelsea shirt Mikel might be the sideways pass made flesh, but for his country he plays in the more adventurous role he was once earmarked for before he had the joy squeezed out of him at Stamford Bridge. In what could be a tough group against Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran, Mikel needs to make the difference for his country – and we don’t mean keeping his pass completion rate above 85%.

 

 

Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

Jokes about his age aside, Eto’o showed in flashes during the Premier League season that he can still find the back of the net against quality opposition. He has scored 55 goals in 116 games for Cameroon and the Indomitable Lions will need his sharp shooting if they are to get out of a tough group. Eto’o is a free agent this summer and will look to show clubs that he’s still worth a big pay packet.

 

 

Tim Cahill (Australia)

Premier League fans know all about Tim Cahill, who could always pop up with a goal from midfield. Australia have a brutal draw with Spain, Netherlands and Chile, so will likely play a disciplined style and look to score from set-pieces where Cahill is particularly dangerous attacking crosses. He scored a trademark header against South Africa in a recent pre-tournament friendly and also scored for the New York Red Bulls in his last MLS game before joining up with the squad. An in-form Tim Cahill is a dangerous beast.

 

 

Alexis Sanchez (Chile)

If Chile are going to emerge from a group featuring 2010 finalists Spain and Netherlands, then they are going to need their talismanic forward on-song. Sanchez scored a rocket from a near-impossible angle against Atletico on the final day of the Liga season  a strike which would have secured Barcelona the title had their opponents not found a leveller. A skilful player on his home continent, Alexis could be the man to carry Chile into the latter stages of the tournament.

 

 

Karim Benzema (France)

Two international tournaments; no goals. A dire Euro 2008 campaign led to the national media labelling Benzema ‘impotent’ and he was dropped altogether for the World Cup in South Africa. He fared a little better at Euro 2012, setting up two goals as France reached the last eight, but it’s in the last two years that Benzema has belatedly sparkled for club and country. He spearheaded Real Madrid’s attack as they claimed La Decima and is now finally ready for his name to flash on the vidiprinter after firing home in Brazil.

 

Andres Iniesta (Spain)

The perennial nearly man of football’s major awards, Iniesta has been consistently overshadowed by Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi. Time, then, for the Spaniard to forget a dismal club campaign and add another bit of World Cup history to his tournament-winning strike in South Africa. Iniesta is closing in on 100 international caps, so what better time to remind the world that tiki-taka is very much alive?

 

Wayne Rooney (England)

Cast your mind back to Euro 2004. Wayne Rooney, 18, burst onto the international scene with four goals and was named in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament. The future looked extremely bright. But flash forward to the present day, and the once energetic striker has seemingly stagnated as a player  adding just one goal to his international tournament haul. Arguably Manchester United and England’s finest player last season, Rooney now has the opportunity to prove the doubters wrong and show that he truly is among the world’s greatest.

 

Paul Pogba (France)

Pogba has flourished since switching to Juventus from United and is now one of the best young footballers in the world. Serie A might have diminished over the last decade, but Pogba’s panache and power have not gone unnoticed by the big clubs who will be desperate to pry him away from Italy should he enjoy a fine World Cup. Given France are alongside Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in Brazil, the midfielder seems destined to sparkle.

 

Luka Modric (Croatia)

Croatia have assembled an imposing side for the World Cup, with Modric situated at the heart of it. The diminutive midfielder thrived during Real Madrid’s European run and his Group A opponents will be acutely aware of his ability to pick an inch-perfect pass while swarmed with opponents. If he can orchestrate keep-ball with team-mate Ivan Rakitic, then the Croatians might have enough to not only worry Mexico and Cameroon, but also hosts Brazil.

 

Arturo Vidal (Chile)

Vidal has the tenacity to disrupt the flow of the Spaniards, survive the relentless pace against the Dutch and spark ominous forays versus the Aussies. Quite simply, he is one of the finest box-to-box midfielders operating in the game. The World Cup is the perfect platform for Vidal to showcase his versatility and fiery attributes as Chile seek to dislodge a 2010 finalist. A summer switch from Juve beckons.

 

 

Daniel Sturridge (England)

Sturridge comes to Brazil on the back of his finest club season to date, having endured hit-and-miss tenures at Man City and Chelsea before finally settling in at Liverpool. His strike partnership with Luis Suarez was the Premier League’s finest in 2013/14 – though of course he will stand opposite his buddy when England meet Uruguay in the group stages. A versatile and confident finisher, Sturridge is capable of finding the goals which could counter-balance any complacency or climate-related struggles the Three Lions may endure.

 

 

Robin van Persie (Netherlands)

Though RVP did not enjoy the best season of his career as Manchester United sank under David Moyes, his efforts in almost single-handedly winning a just-as-weak Red Devils the 2012-13 Premier League in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season will be fresh in the minds of any defence who has to deal with the talismanic striker in Brazil. The classy van Persie will also be keen to offer outgoing Dutch boss (and next United manager) Louis van Gaal a glimpse of the next 12 months they spend working together, and the Netherlands being somewhat forgotten by some experts after a dismal Euro 2012 could play perfectly into the forward’s hands.

 

 

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)

The towering shot stopper, contracted to Chelsea, is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world today after helping Atletico Madrid to the most unlikely of La Liga title wins and being seconds away from adding a Champions League medal to his haul. The Belgians head to South America in a similar position to Atleti’s 2013/14 campaign, as very popular (and very formidable) dark horses. If the relatively goal-shy 2010 tourney in South Africa is anything to go by, teams’ reluctance to go all-out in attack for fear of making a fatal error could leave the door open for a back-five player to steal the show.