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It would be a struggle for the European teams, they said. They cannot cope with the heat, they said. It would be Latin America’s time to shine on the big stage, they said. While two of Latin America’s biggest footballing nations are still in the tournament, they face a stern test from two of Europe’s biggest. The perennial bridesmaids, the Netherlands, and the consistent as ever Germans.
While the Netherlands’ progress might be seen as rather surprising, Germany’s journey to the semifinal was on rather expected lines. The canny, experienced Louis van Gaal has shown that under his guidance, the Dutch will be a very hard side to beat. And the Germans will be looking to break the curse of the semifinal under Joachim Loew.
The Europeans have given us some of the most stunning matches of this World Cup as well. Be it the Dutch thrashing defending champions Spain 5-1, or Germany’s 4-0 romp over Portugal, or even Greece making it to the Round of 16 after a terrible start against Colombia. European countries have put in performances that have exceeded most people’s expectations.
Here is a look at Europe’s top performers at this World Cup.
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer
The big man was the reason for the Germans avoiding embarrassment in the Round of 16 against Algeria. The Africans found gaps that they exploited in the high German back line, and it was Neuer who saved Germany’s blushes with a brilliant display as a sweeper. In the quarter-final against France, Neuer was once again the hero, as he made two stunning saves to deny Mathieu Valbuena and Karim Benzema.
Neuer beat off competition from Jasper Cillessen and Thibaut Courtois to take his spot as Europe’s best goalkeeper at this World Cup. Any talk about European goalkeepers at this World Cup will not be complete without the mention of Tim Krul. The Newcastle United custodian came on as a 120th minute substitute in the Quarterfinal against Costa Rica, and saved two penalties in the ensuing shootout, to ensure that the Dutch sojourn would continue into the final weekend of the tournament.
Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy – Mats Hummels – Stefan de Vrij – Ricardo Rodriguez
France’s best defender at this tournament, Mathieu Debuchy formed a frightening partnership with Valbuena that gave headaches to opposition defenders. Debuchy played in 4 matches, and was responsible for 25 turnovers in possession from the opponents. The offensive side of his game has also improved remarkably and he put in some delicious crosses for the likes of Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud to attack.
Mats Hummels has been authoritative in this World Cup. His aerial prowess, composure on the ball, and an eye for a pass make him a complete centre back. At Euro 2012, he earned rave reviews, with many comparing him to the legendary Franz Beckenbauer, but Hummels has not had as great a time of it since. But, in this World Cup, he has been a pillar at the back for Germany. He has also chipped in with important goals, scoring in the win against Portugal and the eventual winner in the quarter-final against France.
Stefan de Vrij has been a silent star for the Netherlands. With the offensive options that Louis Van Gaal has for himself, the defence was always going to be what made or broke the tournament for the Oranje. And so far, de Vrij along with the likes of Ron Vlaar and Bruno Martins Indi have stood firm. De Vrij has been brave and has shown that he is not afraid to fly into tackles. He also got the third Dutch goal in the 5-1 romp against Spain, which settled the Dutch and enabled them to express themselves late on.
Ricardo Rodriguez showed last season for Wolfsburg, that he is one of the brightest young talents across Europe. And at this World Cup, he did not disappoint. In Switzerland’s opening game against Ecuador, he set up both goals in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory that set Switzerland on their way to the Round of 16. Even in that game against Argentina, Rodriguez and co. had the measure of the much flaunted Argentine attacking force, until a bit of Lionel Messi magic set up the winning goal for Angel Di Maria.
Midfielders: Gokhan Inler – Paul Pogba – Wesley Sneijder
Gokhan Inler led the Swiss by example throughout the tournament, with steely grit and determination. That was exemplified in the knockout game against Argentina, when he had Messi in his clutches throughout the game, until the 118th minute, when the little magician came to life and set up Di Maria.
Paul Pogba was one of France’s shining lights at the World Cup putting in powerful performances in midfield to help Les Blues breeze through the group stages. He scored only one goal in the tournament, but that was a crucial goal that set the French on their way to winning their Round of 16 clash against a gritty Nigerian side. For a man with his natural strength and power, to have that amount of skill on the ball and such athleticism is surely the making of a future superstar.
Wesley Sneijder has had a rather quiet tournament, when you compare his performances with what he did four years ago in South Africa. But he has been instrumental in the Dutch team's prolonged progress in the tournament. He has pulled the strings in attack for the Netherlands and it was his goal with two minutes to go against Mexico in the Round of 16 that gave the Dutch a lifeline before Klaas Jan Huntelaar won it for them. He almost won the game for the Oranje twice against Costa Rica but was denied by the post and the crossbar.
Forwards: Arjen Robben – Xherdan Shaqiri – Thomas Muller
Arjen Robben has been among the best players of the tournament. His goals against Spain, especially the second one, will be remembered for a long, long time. Robben has worked tirelessly for the cause playing either up front alongside Robin van Persie in a 5-3-2 or on the right side of a front three in a 4-3-3/3-4-3. Robben’s commitment was exemplified in the quarter-final against Costa Rica when he kept running at full throttle, even during Extra Time – something highly commendable given the climate in Brazil.
Even though Switzerland went out in the Round of 16, they find a third representative in Europe’s best XI for the tournament. Xherdan Shaqiri was a constant thorn in the opposition’s flesh as his willing running and trickery ensured that he was very difficult to mark. He even grabbed one of two hat-tricks in the World Cup when he scored all three goals in a 3-0 win over Honduras. In the game that the Swiss eventually went out in, Shaqiri was desperately unlucky not to have had a goal or two, as he was denied on a couple of occasions by the brilliance of Sergio Romero.
Thomas Muller has epitomized what the Germans are all about – efficiency. He started the tournament off with a bang, with a hat-trick against Portugal, and followed that up by scoring the winner against USA. Even in the knockouts, although he hasn’t scored for the Germans, he has always put in a shift and ensured that he gave the opposition defenders a tough time.
Substitutes: Jasper Cillessen, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Konstantinos Manolas, Nigel de Jong, Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema, Robin van Persie.
Manager Louis van Gaal
The Dutch manager takes the cake as Europe’s top manager at this World Cup. His tactics have been spot on, and he got the Dutch playing splendid football in the group stages, before turning it around and being defensively solid in the knockouts. Van Gaal’s tactical changes have also worked wonderfully. Be it taking off Robin van Persie when the Dutch desperately needed a goal against Mexico, or the audacious move of bringing on Tim Krul against Costa Rica with penalties looming. Tactical genius or lucky man, we’ll never know. But he has led the Dutch to exceeding all expectations at this World Cup.
