Well, the group stages are over and 16 teams are heading home in varying degrees of shame. We’ve picked nine players we’ll genuinely miss during the knockout stages.
Notable by his absence? CR7.
Enner Valencia – Ecuador
Three goals in three games for the 25-year-old striker, who is actually a converted right-back. Having scored 18 goals in 23 games for Mexican side Pachuca last season, he is a cert to join namesake and compatriot Antonio in the Premier League next season. Would be perfect for the likes of West Ham and Sunderland.
Luka Modric – Croatia
If there’s one team we’re quite sad to see the back of in this tournament, it’s Croatia.
The scorers of the first goal of this extraordinary World Cup, albeit through a Marcelo own goal, they actually matched up to a dull Brazil side for much of the opener but were undone by the quality of Neymar and a dodgy refereeing decision. Central to this, and the 4-0 hammering of Cameroon, was Real Madrid playmaker Modric.
The former Tottenham man is gradually getting the plaudits he deserves but he truly is one of the world’s greatest midfielders, with a sublime first touch and killer passing ability, shown time after time despite the lack in confidence shown by his Croatian team-mates as they eventually crashed out of the tournament. We could see Modric earning Pirlo-style levels of acclaim the older he gets.
Andre Ayew – Ghana
Another player strongly linked with a move to the Premier League, Ayew has been turning it on for Marseille for years now and it’s hard to believe he’s only 24.
Showed touches of brilliance against Germany in particular, and his header to equalise was superb.
Andrea Pirlo – Italy
JOE got a little bit excited (ahem) down there when news emerged that we could see Pirlo at another major international tournament.
The Juventus midfielder says he’ll be available to whoever the Azzurri boss is for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and something tells us a 37-year-old Pirlo will still be a joy to watch in two years’ time.
While he never quite matched the brilliance of his performance against England in the clashes with Costa Rica and Uruguay, he still gets on to this list for his sheer, brilliant indifference and THAT free-kick.
Serge Aurier – Ivory Coast
The hype seems to be justified, with the young right-back superb throughout the tournament and single-handedly turning the clash against Japan around with his Beckham-esque crosses.
The fear for Arsenal fans is that everyone now knows how good he is, so a signing that looked nailed-on before the start of the World Cup now looks like being usurped by Paris Saint-Germain and their millions upon millions of lovely monies.
Miralem Pjanic – Bosnia and Herzegovina
With Edin Dzeko reverting to ‘cow’s arse with a banjo’ status for the majority of the tournament, much of the focus was on the only other truly world class talent in the Bosnian ranks. Pjanic may not have shown the creativity of Modric and Pirlo but he was still an energetic presence for Bosnia and scored in the ultimately superfluous win over Iran.
Tim Cahill – Australia
Undoubtedly his last World Cup but he made the most of it.
Fatau Dauda – Ghana
Not a man that Cristiano Ronaldo will want to meet again any time soon, as the Ghanaian kept the World Player of the Year at bay during both sides’ swansong on Thursday evening.
Dauda was impressive throughout the tournament, and it’s hard to believe that the 29-year-old has been plying his trade with the Orlando Pirates in South Africa.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – England
The one man to leave England’s World Cup campaign with his reputation enhanced.
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