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World Cup 2014 in statistics: the best XI from the tournament World Cup 2014 in statistics: the best XI from the tournament
(about 1 month later)
Sunday's spectacle was billed as the best team against the best player. Germany had experienced a few hitches on their way to the final but they were hitting form at the right time. The same could not be said for Lionel Messi, who excelled in the group Sunday's spectacle was billed as the best team against the best player. Germany had experienced a few hitches on their way to the final but they were hitting form at the right time. The same could not be said for Lionel Messi, who excelled in the group games before waning a little in the knockout stages. But he can turn any game at any given moment.
games before waning a little in the knockout stages. But he can turn any The pre-match assumption didn't exactly play out, but the eventual outcome was what most people had expected. Germany, perhaps rocked by Sami Khedira's injury in the warm-up, were far from their free-flowing best, with Argentina having the better of the chances in normal time. Luckily for Germany, Messi wasn't exactly on song either, particularly when presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring early in the second half.
game at any given moment. The pressure was on the Argentinian to prove that he deserves the same iconic status Diego Maradona has for their national side and he didn't really look himself. The forward picked up his lowest match rating of the tournament in the final – a respectable 7.03 – and he looked a little laboured. His dip in form in the latter stages is understandable. Only four players (and only three outfielders) played more minutes at the World Cup (693) and he had struggled with injuries during the league campaign.
The pre-match assumption didn't exactly play out, but the eventual Argentina's need for Messi to play such a huge role was down to their inability to put matches to bed. Considering that they played 720 minutes (they were forced into extra time in three of their four knockout matches) it speaks volumes that they had the lead for just 208 of those. Their defence was stronger than their attack, which was a surprise in itself, and they trailed for just seven minutes in the tournament. Unfortunately for Alejandro Sabella's side, they were the most crucial seven minutes of the entire World Cup.
outcome was what most people had expected. Germany, perhaps rocked by Sami Khedira's injury in the warm-up, were far from their free-flowing best, In stark contrast, Germany were free-scoring but uncharacteristically open in a number of their games. They scored 18 goals and their willingness to commit numbers in support of attacks was rewarded, with Joachim Löw's side becoming the highest rated team at the tournament (7.17), just ahead of Holland (7.12). Germany had the third best pass accuracy at the tournament (86.3%) and were second in terms of possession (60%) behind the disappointing holders, Spain.
with Argentina having the better of the chances Oh how the mighty fell. Spain were brought back down to Earth with a bump in their opening match against Holland before being deservedly brushed aside by Chile. Their victors were among the best teams at the tournament, with honourable mentions for Costa Rica, whose defensive record was superb, and Colombia, whose fast counterattacking approach won them plenty of plaudits.
in normal time. Luckily for Germany, Messi wasn't exactly on song James Rodríguez scooped the Golden Boot award with six goals as he became the first player to score in his team's first five matches of a World Cup since 1970. The Monaco playmaker was a breath of fresh air, with his opening strike against Uruguay undoubtedly a contender for goal of the tournament. He ranked second in our player ratings (8.40), having also registered two assists over his five appearances.
either, particularly when presented with a glorious chance to open the The 23-year-old was one of many standout performers, with Tim Howard's heroic display in USA's last-16 clash with Belgium among the most memorable of the tournament. The Everton keeper made 15 saves in one of the finest matches at this World Cup – the most by any keeper in a single match – to earn one of only two perfect 10 ratings at the tournament.
scoring early in the second half. Louis van Gaal's swansong with the Oranje excited many Manchester United fans and he had a number of candidates for the team of the tournament at his disposal. Arjen Robben was Holland’s go-to-guy on the counterattack and managed to pick up our man of the match award in each of their first four matches on his way to recording an average rating of 8.37 over his seven appearances. The centre-back duo of Stefan de Vrij (7.90) and Ron Vlaar (7.75) were impenetrable in the latter stages of the tournament.
The pressure was on the Argentinian to prove that he deserves the same Over a month of numerous talking points the most shocking was the capitulation of Brazil, notwithstanding Luis Suárez's appetite for the game. The hosts' hopes were effectively carried off on a stretcher as star man Neymar was forced off through injury in a controversial encounter with Colombia. He had coped with immense pressure, scoring four times and earning a rating of 8.22 – the next highest in the team was only 7.52 – but the Seleção surrendered in his absence, conceding 10 times in their final two matches, with Brazil’s team rating plummeting to 14th at the tournament (6.80).
iconic status Diego Maradona has for their national side and he didn't The side that humiliated them in the semi-final ran out worthy winners in the end, with Germany lifting the World Cup for the fourth time. In the process Miroslav Klose became the leading scorer in the history of the tournament with 16 goals, while Thomas Müller continued his superb record from the previous World Cup, matching his Golden Boot-winning five-goal tally from South Africa, while also picking up three assists – only Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (four) of Colombia managed more. With a joint-high number of goals scored at a World Cup (171) and plenty of incidents and performances to surprise and excite, it has been one hell of a ride, and one to whet the appetite nicely ahead of the upcoming 2014-15 season.
really look himself. The forward picked up his lowest match rating of
the tournament in the final – a respectable 7.03 – and he looked a little laboured. His dip in
form in the latter stages is understandable. Only four players (and only three
outfielders) played more minutes at the World Cup (693) and he had struggled with injuries during the league campaign.
Argentina's need for Messi to play such a huge role was down to their
inability to put matches to bed. Considering that they played 720 minutes (they were forced into extra time in three of their four knockout
matches) it speaks volumes that they had the lead for just 208 of
those. Their defence was stronger than their attack, which was a surprise
in itself, and they trailed for just seven minutes in the tournament. Unfortunately for Alejandro Sabella's side, they were the most crucial seven minutes
of the entire World Cup.
In stark contrast, Germany were free-scoring but uncharacteristically
open in a number of their games. They scored 18 goals and their
willingness to commit numbers in support of attacks was rewarded,
with Joachim Löw's side becoming the highest rated team at the tournament
(7.17), just ahead of Holland
(7.12). Germany had the third best pass accuracy at the tournament
(86.3%) and were second in terms of possession (60%) behind the disappointing
holders, Spain.
Oh how the mighty fell. Spain were brought back down
to Earth with a bump in their opening match against Holland before being
deservedly brushed aside by Chile. Their victors were among
the best teams at the tournament, with honourable
mentions for Costa Rica, whose defensive record was superb, and
Colombia, whose fast counterattacking approach won them plenty of
plaudits.
James Rodríguez scooped the Golden Boot award
with six goals as he became the first player to score in his team's first five
matches of a World Cup since 1970. The Monaco playmaker was a breath of
fresh air, with his opening strike against Uruguay
undoubtedly a contender for goal of the tournament. He ranked second in
our player ratings (8.40), having also registered two assists
over his five appearances.
The 23-year-old was one of many standout performers, with
Tim Howard's heroic display in USA's last-16 clash with Belgium
among the most memorable of the tournament. The Everton keeper made 15
saves in one of the finest matches at this World
Cup – the most by any keeper in a single match – to earn one of only
two perfect 10 ratings at the tournament.
Louis van Gaal's swansong with the Oranje excited many Manchester United fans and he had a number of candidates for the team of the tournament at his disposal.
Arjen Robben was Holland’s go-to-guy on the counterattack and managed to
pick up our man of the match award in each of their first four matches on his way to recording an average rating of 8.37 over his seven
appearances. The centre-back duo of Stefan de Vrij (7.90) and Ron
Vlaar (7.75) were impenetrable in the latter stages of
the tournament.
Over a month of numerous talking points the most shocking was the
capitulation of Brazil, notwithstanding Luis Suárez's appetite for the game. The hosts' hopes were effectively carried off on a
stretcher as star man Neymar was forced off through
injury in a controversial encounter with Colombia. He had coped with immense pressure, scoring four times and
earning a rating of 8.22 – the next
highest in the team was only 7.52 – but the Seleção surrendered in his absence, conceding 10 times in their final two
matches, with Brazil’s team rating plummeting to 14th at
the tournament (6.80).
The side that humiliated them in the semi-final ran out worthy winners
in the end, with Germany lifting the World Cup for the fourth time. In
the process Miroslav Klose became the leading scorer in the history of the tournament with 16 goals, while Thomas Müller continued
his superb record from the previous World Cup, matching his Golden
Boot-winning five-goal tally from South Africa, while also picking up three
assists – only Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (four) of Colombia managed more.
With a joint-high number of goals scored at a World Cup (171) and plenty
of incidents and performances to surprise and excite, it has been one
hell of a ride, and one to whet the appetite nicely ahead of the
upcoming 2014-15 season.
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings.All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings.
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