Your Team of the Group Stage

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Seems to me that Blind, Marquez and Godin are only making the team because of their offensive contributions rather than bossing the defensive aspect.

Blind is yes.... Marquez isn't as Mexico have conceded one goal and he's a big reason why and Uruguay conceded once against England and Italy and Godin has been largely responsible.

Sakho is the only defender whose team hasn't conceded with him on the pitch.

Bossing it

Check out that covering for Varane. Comes all the way from the left hand side

https://vine.co/v/MTgExLwqx22

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Seems to me that Blind, Marquez and Godin are only making the team because of their offensive contributions rather than bossing the defensive aspect.

Blind has snuffed out any attack down his side this tournament. He's averaging 7.3 tackles+interceptions per game and 2 clearances as well, and he has an 87% pass completion with 3 assists. Though I would argue that Ricardo Rodriguez deserves his spot on the left instead. Just watch the Netherlands vs. Chile game where he pretty much marked Sanchez right out of it.

-------------------Ochoa
-------Moreno-----Godin--------Thiago Silva
---------Lahm----Gustavo-----Herrera
--Muller------------Messi-------------Neymar
------------------Benzema

I can't really remember any defenders or midfielders that have stood out. In terms of attackers, I'd say Benzema, Messi, Robben, Muller and Neymar.

Problem with this is the quality of opposition. Messi has done great but he had Bosnia, Iran & Nigeria while Oranje had Spain, Chile & Australia, so its difficult to compare.

I will go with
Ochoa
Sakho/Varane Blind R. Rodriguez
Robben Gustavo James.R Neymar
Muller Benzema Messi

Yet to see great defensive performances

BTW, SSNHD put Vincent Enyeama as goalie for the team of the group stage as he managed to make 18 saves, the highest number of all goalies. Of course Guillermo Ochoa was also fantastic as he made numerous high profile saves.

But then, that's why I really hate to set up such "best of" thingies as there can be several bests, just depending on the angle you use to look at them.

With Navas, Hummels, Marquez, Rojo, Cuadrado, Marchisio, Pirlo, Verrratti, Sanchez, Van Persie, Muller, and Ruiz on the bench.

chiellini ?

Yea. I know im gonna get hated on for that because he lost Ruiz for the winning goal for Costa Rica. But he was still great in that game, as well as completely shutting down Cavani/Suarez and shutting down Welbeck as well as Sturridge/Sterling whenever they came on his side since he was playing as a leftback against England. Plus against England in particular he got forward alot to help in attack. One of he or Barzagli belong here in my opinion, its really a tossup.

Chiellini

Barzagli

You always surprise me. Still I don't know how Podolski didn't make your team. He was great, he belongs there imo