Although the 2014 Would Cup was considered as a goalkeepers tournament by most pundits, the defensive performances by individuals and teams alike have dazzled throughout this summer.
Here, we take a look at the top 5 center halves who have stood out of the herd in this summer’s World Cup.
5. Marcos Rojo.
The left back for La Albacieste was a relatively unknown figure before the tournament, but as soon as it was underway, he was sparked into brilliance with the winning header against Nigeria in the dying minutes of the game, and the assist that set up the winning goal against Switzerland, Rojo has been a constant attacking thorn in his opponent’s left flank, forcing them to defend deep to intercept his piercingly accurate crosses from out wide. In his defensive duties, he was safe and sound, winning 17 of his one-on-one tackles in just 6 appearances. At the tender age of 24, Rojo not just has a bright future ahead of him, he also has a silver medal at the 2014 World Cup.
4. Daley Blind
The Dutchman has been a part of a fantastic defence and has shown incredible promise throughout the World Cup. He was almost always a part of the opening 11 and was a versatile player, putting a lot of time in the left back as well as midfield. The 24-year old even managed to score in the bronze-medal match against host nation Brazil and managed to create an impact despite having to leave the field after an injury. He provided a valuable assist for Dutch star RVP as well and has garnered a lot of international attention. His attacking style combine with the reasonably less opposition he faced made him one of the best defenders this World Cup saw.
3. Thiago Silva
The captain was a brick wall for his side throughout the group stages, and well into the knockout games until he was suspended for the semi-final against Germany. A game I’m pretty sure will haunt him well into the ages. Silva expertly commanded the line of defence for Brazil, and along with David Luiz, formed a seemingly venomous defensive partnership that kept most attacks at bay. Silva kept out opposition attacks not only with his expert tactical reading of the game, but also with his aerial dominance and slick pace and no center half made more outfield blocks than Thiago Silva (9 in 6 appearances). Always a danger from set pieces, Silva scored the opener against Colombia with a cool finish from a signature Neymar corner. Staying true to the saying offence is the best defence, Silva’s eye to pick out a pass led to his assist against Chile, keeping the game into extra-time and penalties.
2. Stefan de Vrij
Being a part of Louis van Gaal’s unorthodox 5-3-2 system, the defence has been one of the standout parts of the team, a team that ripped former World Cup winners into shreds. Very few defenders have been more technically astute than de Vrij, who at the young age of 22 has marshaled his team’s defence and repelled even the best of attacks. Strong, quick, technically gifted and natural leadership and a force to be reckoned with in the air are all words that fit de Vrij perfectly. De Vrij’s endeavors have led to him leading the charts in most number of successful tackles (20 in 7 appearances), most defensive duels won (53 in 7 appearances) and also an astounding 50 effective clearances from the danger zone. Given his stunning performances and also his young age, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see de Vrij play for one of the top clubs in the world in the next season.
1. Mats Hummels
Much doesn’t have to be said about Hummels when it comes to his defensive abilities. The 1.9m center back has a mind for reading player movements and his immense strength gives him the ability to outmuscle virtually anyone. Hummels’ signature blend of on-ground defensive abilities, his brilliance in technical aspects of the game as well as his dominance in the air, Hummels’ performances have been some to savour this World Cup, as well as earning him a man of the match award against France in the quarter finals. However, this has been only one side of the coin so far, seeing as Hummels has also scored twice for his nation. Hummels joins David Luiz as the highest scoring defender this summer, by prodding the ball into the back of the net with 2 monstrous headers. Very few can match Hummels’ ability on the pitch, and it is no surprise to see the big German top the list of the best defenders in the 2014 World Cup.
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