The festivities are over. Germany are four-time world champions after their 1-0 triumph over Argentina at the Maracana. It was the culmination of twelve years of hard work, dating back to the 2002 final in Japan against Brazil. In truth, the Germans were the team to beat from the moment the tournament began and it is no surprise they provided a number of standout players at the World Cup. However, other players made their mark too and will remember 2014 as the year they enhanced their reputation.

Now that the 2014 FIFA World Cup is over, Inside Futbol gives you the best starting eleven this tournament has witnessed.

Goalkeeper – Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)

Arguably La Liga’s best goalkeeper of the 2013/14 season was immense in the World Cup as he guided his nation to an unlikely quarter-final finish, despite Costa Rica being pitted in the “Group of Death” next to Uruguay, England and Italy, all former winners of the competition. Nonetheless, his immense displays ensured that Costa Rica qualified to the next round as group winners, having conceded a single goal in the process. His luck ended against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals as Costa Rica bowed out via penalties, but three clean sheets in five games are great testament to his strength.
 

 

 

Right-back – Phillip Lahm (Germany)

Fast-forward four years into Russia 2018 and it is possible to imagine Lahm marauding down either flank or playing in this year’s newly-conceived midfield role. The Bayern Munich captain defies logic and he seems to be only getting better as the years pass by. His picture lifting the 2014 FIFA World Cup is the perfect cherry on top of an illustrious career.

Centre-back – Mats Hummels (Germany)

The 2013/14 season started on the wrong foot for the Borussia Dortmund centre-half. He was involved in an injury that confined him to the sidelines for most of the season, and many had raised questions as to whether the defender was able to guide the Mannschaft’s defence. Luckily for Joachim Low, Hummels seemed as if he never missed a day, scoring in the 4-0 drubbing against Portugal and the sole goal in the 1-0 victory over France in the quarter-finals. His success in keeping Lionel Messi at bay during the final proves just why he is amongst the world’s elite centre-backs.


Centre-back – Javier Mascherano (Argentina)

Prior to the 2014 World Cup, it seemed as if Mascherano’s stay at the top of European football was coming to an end as he was close to leaving Barcelona after four years at the club. The story of his World Cup is truly an amazing one, as the player had 28 tackles to his name prior to the final – more than any other – and completed a tournament high of 509 passes. His last-grasp tackle on Arjen Robben prevented the Netherlands from reaching the final, while his destruction of Germany’s play proved to be important for Alejandro Sabella and his side.

Left-back – Andres Guardado (Mexico)

The 2014 FIFA World Cup festivities were Guardado’s third edition at the age of 27. The former Valencia man has now more than one hundred caps under his belt for Mexico, and it was his displays for the Tricolor that ensured they ended the group stage as joint leaders next to hosts Brazil. His efforts, particularly against Brazil and Croatia, were crucial in his nation’s attempt to establish themselves amongst the World Cup’s big boys. 

Right midfielder – Thomas Muller (Germany)

He might not have captured the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot, but Muller proved to be as decisive as always for his national side. He scored a hat-trick against Portugal, as well as the only goal against the United States that ensured the Germans topped Group G, before finishing off a tally of five strikes in this World Cup – he now has ten to his name in World Cup competition – with a goal in the 7-1 drubbing of Brazil. He might not be the most gifted member of the Germany squad, but he never gives less than 100%.

Central midfielder – Toni Kroos (Germany)

Almost discarded by Bayern Munich’s Josep Guardiola, the 2014 FIFA World Cup was a personal battle for Kroos. Deployed in the centre of the German midfield next to Sami Khedira, the former Bayer Leverkusen loanee was a crucial presence for Low, guiding his team’s play from a withdrawn position. With two goals and four assists to his name in the tournament, he will most certainly leave Bayern Munich in the upcoming weeks. Considering his pedigree, he will not have a shortage of suitors.
 

 

 

Left midfielder – James Rodriguez (Colombia)

With Radamel Falcao missing the tournament through injury, the eyes were on his Monaco team-mate as Colombia’s hoped to make a name for themselves at the World Cup. The attacking talent did not disappoint his nation, as he managed to score six goals in five games for the South Americans, against Greece, the Ivory Coast, Japan, Uruguay and Brazil, winning the tournament’s Golden Boot trophy in the process. Blessed with wonderful technique on the ball and the ability to be deployed in the right, left or centre of the pitch, his displays will tempt most of Europe’s giants to bid for him.

Right winger – Arjen Robben (Netherlands)

As Louis van Gaal chose a mixture of veterans and newcomers for the Netherlands heading into the tournament, the onus was on the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben to carry a nation many brushed aside before the start. However, the Dutch eventually finished in third position, led by the inspiration of Robben. The former Chelsea man established his nation as one of the tournament’s best with a 5-1 win in their opening match against Spain, as the likes of Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas could not cope with his lightning pace. His three goals against Spain and Australia meant that the Netherlands had a real chance of finally breaking their World Cup duck, before being put to the sword by Argentina in the semi-finals.
 

 

 

Striker – Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Eventually, Messi failed to win the World Cup, and talk of him being the game’s best ever player will continue for the upcoming four years at least. With Angel di Maria and Sergio Aguero struggling with injuries and Gonzalo Higuain well below his best, the four-time Ballon d’Or winner almost single-handedly drove the Biancoceleste at times. Named Man of the Match in each of Argentina’s group stage games, it was his four goals and two assists that allowed the South American nation to live the dream for little more than 110 minutes in the final. The Golden Ball trophy is the best award to his dedication.

Left winger – Neymar (Brazil)

Hope appeared to be bright for Brazil until Juan Zuniga’s knee to the back of Neymar effectively ended all dreams for the five-time world champions. In their first match after Neymar’s absence, the Selecao fell down to a 7-1 goal drubbing against Germany – arguably the nation’s biggest embarrassment in their history. All of this serves as a true testament to Neymar’s ability as the forward had earlier scored four goals for his nation and assisted in another. Had the Barcelona star avoided his clash with Zuniga, many would have placed their bets on Brazil reaching the final on home soil.