Most Influential Players for the World Cup: Part 1

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When the World Cup arrives on June 12, nerves will be tested and players will have to stand up. Here I will cover the most important player for each team in the tournament. Groups A-D will be covered in part 1, and part 2 will cover Groups E-H. There will some glaring omissions but they have their reasons. We kick off with the hosts in Group A.

Brazil – Neymar

There were many standout choices to pick in a strong Brazilian team, but Neymar seems right as they have something lacking in the forwards department which he should more than make up for, no offense to Fred or Jo. He, along with a few of his Barcelona teammates will have something to prove going into the World Cup, especially after their quarterfinal exit in the Champions League. His international record for Brazil is exceptional and the twinkle-toed winger is vital to Brazil’s hopes of winning the cup on home soil (let’s hope they don’t lose in the final like in 1950). Brazil starts off a rather light group with the likes of Cameroon and Mexico underperforming and a weakened Croatia without Mandzukic (suspended) to face. A contender for the Golden Boot perhaps?

Mexico – Javier Hernandez

Miguel Herrera has had to fix the shipwreck that was Mexico in barely a year before the World Cup. He’s done this by integrating players he knows from his time in the Liga MX and so far it’s worked out “decently”, even if the US had to win their last qualifying fixtures to allow Mexico to sneak into the final qualification spot.

Now I could’ve picked a red-hot Oribe Peralta (see his performances against New Zealand, even if they are New Zealand) or Giovani do Santos, but Hernandez seems like the player Mexico needs the most. “Chicharito” has had a torrid time at Manchester United this season and seems out of his depth, but then again so did most of his teammates there (I’m looking at you, Maruane Fellani), and he’s been so clinical for Mexico. You don’t just score 35 goals in 58 matches by being average. His goals can fire Mexico into the knockout rounds.

Croatia – Luka Modric

A vital cog in Real Madrid’s midfield in their quest towards “la decima”, Luka Modric has finally started playing to the transfer fee Los Blancos played for the Croatian this season, now can he replicate it in Brazil? I believe he certainly can. Playing in midfield alongside another talented Croatian having an exceptional season in Ivan Rakitic should ease the pressure as well. His movement and passing will be vital in breaking through the cohesive midfields which Mexico and Brazil possess. The real question is whether the “Croatian Triumvirate” (Rakitic, Modric, and Mandzukic) can lead an inconsistent Croatian team far into the World Cup.

Cameroon – Aurélien Chedjou

You were expecting Samuel Eto’o right? Cameroon may be one of the weakest teams coming into the World Cup and an aging forward, while decorated and still showing glimpses of his younger self shouldn’t be under estimated, he isn’t what Cameroon needs. They go into a group facing players like Neymar, Mario Mandzukic, Hulk, and Javier Hernandez, all strong, potent forwards. Chedjou will have to marshall his defense in order not to concede. He will have to step up as a leader and hopefully, the attack will be able to produce something, but the odds are against The Indomitable Lions.

Spain – Andres Iniesta

El illusionista edges out his Spanish Compatriots to make it on the list. His creative ability and dribbling will not go unnoticed going into the group. While he may not necessarily be the most vital player in the group stages, as the Dutch are lacking their main midfielder Strootman and Chile may risk missing out on their hard man Arturo Vidal, in the knockout rounds, his ability will be ever so needed to break down the talented teams they might face.

Spain are facing a dilemma going into the World Cup, Diego Costa only has one cap and Spain play differently than his Atletico side, Negredo is in bad form, David Villa seems a little like an outsider, and despite having a good season, Llorente hasn’t found the net very often with Spain. This may be Spain’s Achilles heel as they try and defend their title. Iniesta and his fellow midfielders (Xavi, Silva, Busquets) will have to be at their very best when their rematch against the Dutch comes on June 13.

The Netherlands – Arjen Robben

The Flying Dutchman (figuratively and literally) has had a great season at Bayern Munich and has miraculously managed to avoid injury this season as they reached the Semifinals of the Champions League and won the Bundesliga in record time. The Oranje is in a stage of transition as their defense has completely changed since South Africa and their midfield has been introduced to new, young players who want to make their name with the national team. Sadly, their anchor Kevin Strootman has been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury which leaves the midfield resting on the shoulders of one man, Arjen Robben. Robin Van Persie will most likely start, but he may not be the star the Dutch need. Arjen Robben can ease the goalscoring duties on the Manchester United striker. Their best winger coming into Salvador for the opening game against Spain might just be what the Dutch need to make an impact on the biggest stage.

Chile – Alexis Sanchez

Arturo Vidal was initially the player who was going to make it on this list, but an injury to his right meniscus might see miss the World Cup, even if his surgery has been successful. While he isn’t ruled out for Brazil he only has a month of recovery time. Alexis Sanchez will be one of the players who will have to step up in his absence. He’s scored 18 for Barca in La Liga this season and is a goalscoring threat going into the opening game against Australia. He also tracks back and has a work rate which Jorge Sampaoli admires, and will need to work hard against the likes of Spain who love to monopolize possession. Chile could be a potential dark horse this World Cup, as long as Vidal recovers in time.

Australia – Mile Jedinak

The Socceroos have a daunting task ahead of them. Already a team who was written off to not even make past the group stages before the World Cup draw, now looks like they’ll be merely trying to snatch points against their more illustrious competitors. They’ve also lost Robbie Kruse which weakens their squad even further.

Mile Jedinak has had a great season In the Premier League with Crystal Palace, helping them comfortably starve off relegation (I also give recognition, Tony Pulis). Jedinak will have to be the defensive midfielder to turn the tide against the opposition and break up play. As the first captain on this list, he will have a lot of responsibility to hold once the first whistle blows in Cuiabá on June 13 against the Chileans.

Colombia – James Rodriguez

In Radamel Falcao’s absence, James Rodriguez has stepped up in Monaco and helped lead them to 2nd place in Ligue 1. He’s also become a star for Los Cafeteros in this time as well. With Falcao probably arriving in Brazil without full match fitness, he will temporarily be replaced by either Adrian Ramos, Carlos Bacca, or Jackson Martinez. Do you know who will be the inventive midfielder tasked with supplying one of those forwards, Rodriguez will, and he’s certainly up to the challenge. The crafty midfielder will surely be one to watch as Colombia seek to make their presence felt next month.

Greece – Sokratis

I wish there were better pictures for Sokratis, particularly because he is a very good Center-Back. Fernando Santos’s Greece relies on compact, rugged play. They mainly score off set pieces and defensive mistakes from the opposition. In a group where all four teams can make it out to the knockout rounds, the Ethniki will need absolute concentration against a strong Colombian and Ivorian frontline. A strong season in a Dortmund team ravaged by injuries shows that Sokratis is experienced and ready to command the Greeks. Kostas Mitroglou was another candidate for Greece but his malignant time at Fulham has seen him drop off in form.

Ivory Coast – Yaya Touré

20 goals? 20 goals! As a midfielder? The Ivorian has been unleashed this season for Manchester City, being a force to be reckoned with, finally living up to his potential. Les Elephants will hope this form translates for his country as well. In a very contestive group, Yaya Touré will look to be a driving force for his nations as they seek to finally make it out of the group stages after being placed into two consecutive groups of death (eerily similar to Manchester City’s situation this season). Ivory Coast lack many established midfielders and Yaya Touré will more than make up for that. They are the highest ranked African team in the FIFA Rankings and they should start playing like it.

Japan – Keisuke Honda

The Samurai Blue have a plethora of able midfielders but Keisuke Honda is the X-Factor of the team. He (and Shinji Kagawa) brings incisive dribbling and passing to a midfield that is sometimes stiff. He scored 8 goals last year and while not being at full form at Milan, he might not be fazed going into the World Cup. In South Africa he had scored twice and won two man of the matches while scoring one of the goals of the tournament, a knuckleball free kick past the Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen from 30 yards out. Honda has only grown in ability since 2010, especially during his time at CSKA Moscow. He will be the key to progressing past a tricky group for the Japanese.

Uruguay – Diego Godín

Surprise, Surprise. Now, before you get your pitchforks and torches out, consider this. Uruguay had one of the worst defensive records in the CONMEBOL qualifying zone. They conceded 25 goals and scored 25 goals in 16 games! No matter how supreme Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and co. were, their defense almost caused them to miss out on the World Cup. What good does your attack do when you leak goals like that? You can’t outscore all your opponents.

This is where Diego Godín comes in. He’s had a truly spectacular season at Atletico Madrid, with a La Liga title and Champions League in his reach, by doing none other than playing exceptional defense. While Lugano is captain, it’ll be Godín who will be doing the hard work. Lugano’s age and decline is starting to show as he’s gotten slower, similar to Martin Demichelis. In order for Uruguay to make it anywhere near as far as the Semifinals like they did in 2010, they will need their best defender to be exemplary.

Italy – Mario Balotelli

Why always him? Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Pirlo were also considered, but Balotelli may be the player who starts as the Striker and he may decide how well Italy finds the net this World Cup. While not playing up to his standards in a rather mediocre Milan this season, scoring “only” 14 goals and providing 6 assists in 28 games should still be a decent season. Some people are making Balotelli out to be some sort of underperforming, overrated forward. While he may be considered overrated, he is still supremely good and while Ciro Immobile and Giuseppe Rossi are both great alternatives, Balotelli is more technical and a better dribbler than Immobile and Rossi is recovering from yet another injury. Can Balotelli prove his doubters wrong?

England – Wayne Rooney

While a great player, Wayne Rooney has always underperformed in the most important games. He was scoreless, giving an insipid performance at the 2010 World Cup, but those days look behind him now. He was the bright glimmer in a catastrophic season for Manchester United. He was England’s top scorer in qualifying and is one of England’s best chances in the hopes of making out of the precarious group they have been placed in. His willingness to drop deep and defend is admirable and he can play in midfield as well. Can he lead England, the way many expected him to in the past?

Costa Rica – Keylor Navas

Arguably the best goalkeeper in La Liga this season, Keylor Navas has found a rich vein of form as Costa Rica prepare to face a staunch and very improbable task, to advance from their group. Navas will be so crucial if Costa Rica are to limit the scorelines and not allow themselves to be humbled by the much stronger teams in their group. They lack the quality necessary to make a true impact in the group, but they could be a potential banana peel for either Italy, Uruguay, or England to slip on, and that might make all the difference in terms of who makes it and who doesn’t advance to the next round.