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The goalkeepers in this World Cup have been in phenomenal form and have won plaudits and respect of their countrymen with mesmerizing displays be itblocking oppositions shotsor coming out of their traditional role and playing as a sweeper.We take a look at the best goalkeepers at the 2014 World Cup until now.(Stats prior to the Quarter Finals)
#5 Guillermo Ochoa - Mexico
Ochoa led his team to inspiring displays against Brazil in their group fixture which ended with Ochoa being awarded the Man of The Match award for keeping the score at 0-0 at full time. Mexico qualified behind Brazil from the group and set up an encounter against the Dutch. Eventually, it was the Dutch who tasted victory.
Ochoa maintained a save rate of 77% throughout the tournament. The Dutch would have certainly felt as if they were up against a brick wall stopping them from scoring in each of their attacks.
Ochoa played for Ajaccio in the French league and is now a free agent, which means he is looking for a new club. It shouldn’t be too difficult for him to find new suitors considering his brilliant form in the World Cup and the most important reason is he won’t come with a huge price tag.
#4 Keylor Navas - Costa Rica
Keylor Navas boasts the highest save rate in the World Cup with 87.5% and that is the kind of record that saw Costa Rica advance after topping the group of death consisting of Football’s three power houses; England, Italy and Uruguay. Navas also won the Man of the Match award against Greece in their Round of 16 match as 10-man Costa Rica emerged on top in an intense penalty shootout.
He emerged as one of the best keepers in Spain after earning the No.1 spot for Levante, rivaling Atletico Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois. His World Cup performance for Costa Rica has reportedly put him on the radar of two top English clubs – Arsenal & Liverpool. And with a buy-out clause of just 6.5 million, his signature would be highly desirable.
#3 Vincent Enyeama - Nigeria
It is not easy being the goalkeeper of a side that is known for risk taking plays. But Enyeama proved himself adept at rescuing his team when needed. In the World Cup, he boasts a save record at 80%. He was undoubtedly the best player for Nigeria throughout the World Cup and almost inspired his side to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Enyeama seems to enjoy stopping French teams – in the 2013-14 season at Lille he had 21 clean sheets to his name leading the side to Champions League qualification. With his efforts in Ligue 1, he was already in the lime light and now with such performances at the World Cup, his transfer value would have certainly multiplied if at all he decides to make a switch.
#2 Manuel Neuer - Germany
Manuel Neuer is a well known commodity and thus rated one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Neuer displayed the modern style of goalkeeping at the grandest stage with a game changer of a performance in the round of 16 when he acted as the fifth defender or the sweeper-keeper for the German side.
He tackled the Algerian attackers and cleared the ball many times, making up for the sluggishness of the German defenders. He is certainly the man responsible for standing between the German net and the Algerian attack; it was his inspirational performance that led Die Mannschaft to victory over the desert foxes.
Neuer has two clean sheets to his name against USA & Portugal and a save rate of 81% throughout the tournament, living to his name and reputation thus far.
#1 Tim Howard - USA
Tim Howard had an inspirational season for Everton and was one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. Howard has been phenomenal for the American Football team as they conceded the least number of goals in their World Cup qualifying campaign. His form has only been better as the World Cup progressed earning two Man of the Match awards and an amazing save rate of 82% throughout the tournament.
Howard’s performance against Belgium was the best in the tournament since 1966 (since statistics were collected) as no keeper had made 16 saves in a World Cup match before. But his brilliant performance did not have its perfect fairytale ending as the Belgians succeeded in finding the back of the net in extra time to send the Americans packing.
There doesn’t seem a reason for Howard to quit Everton unless he has ambitions of playing amongst the top teams of Europe in the Champions league.
