Every World Cup, players emerge who were either previously unnoticed or were making a huge first impression on the international stage, leaving fans and observers excited to follow their exploits at club level after the tournament. Brazil 2014 was no exception, and several players emerged who should now be poised to take further steps forward with their careers:
Keylor Navas
Navas was one of the most impressive goalkeepers this summer as he helped Costa Rica shock the world in advancing to the quarterfinals, failing to advance only by losing a penalty shootout against the Netherlands. A string of quality saves (21 of 23 shots on target) has surely alerted clubs all around Europe to his sterling ability as a keeper.
After making a move from Saprissa in Costa Rica to Levante in Spain in 2011, Navas waited patiently for his opportunity as the backup on the roster, and he shone in his first full season as starter, earning a nod from Goal.com as La Liga’s best goalkeeper and chalking up the best save percentage in the league for the 2013-14 season. Big things are surely on the horizon for Navas, who is still relatively young for a goalkeeper at 27.
Marcos Rojo
Although typically a center-back, Rojo was rock-solid for Argentina playing in the left-back position, and his strength and aerial ability also helped shore up their midfield pushing forward. His performances helped ensure that his country’s defensive line, which had been questioned in the days leading up to the tournament, held firm and was able to counter great attacking talent all the way through the knockout stages.
Still only 24, Rojo has already been a well-traveled player, rising through the ranks at Estudiantes, whom he joined at the age of 10, making a move to unfamiliar surroundings with Spartak Moscow, and now having just completed his 2nd full season with Sporting in Portugal.
Dries Mertens
Once cast out of the national team after questioning Belgian manager Marc Wilmots’ decision to bench him during the qualifiers in 2013, Mertens has surely thrust himself squarely back into the national team picture with his series of performances in Brazil. Beginning with a late winning goal against Algeria in their opening match, he demonstrated pace and creativity down both wings as he helped Belgium reach the quarterfinals.
Mertens had previously spent most of his career playing in the Netherlands, first for 2nd division AGOVV Apeldoorn before moving to Utrecht and PSV. He will be looking to continue his fine form in Italy’s Serie A this season, when he begins his 2nd season with Napoli.
Memphis Depay
Barely 3 seasons after becoming a full-time professional, Depay has risen quickly through the ranks at both his club and for country, and this young winger-forward looks destined to become one of the next in a long line of great Dutch players. His reputation among scouts in Europe was already growing quickly, focusing on his dribbling talent and fearless attacking play, and his performances in the World Cup ensures that his stock will continue rising.
The recognition is not limited to scouts around Europe either, as his nomination to the final shortlist for the tournament’s Best Young Player award proved. He will be looking to help PSV Eindhoven secure qualification to the Europa League later on this summer.
Islam Slimani
With two goals and an assist in the World Cup, Slimani showed the watching world just what he is capable of. His lively performances also helped Algeria almost secure a repeat of their 1982 upset win over then West Germany, as his pace gave the German defenders fits in the 2nd round, and forced Manuel Neuer into playing out a sweeper-keeper role far more often than he would have liked.
Slimani was used mainly as a “supersub” for Sporting in Portugal last season, but excelled when given starting duties, and should be in contention for that role on the heels of his encouraging performances in Brazil when the new season begins.
James Rodriguez
It seems almost remarkable to consider that Rodriguez has played less than 3 years for the senior national team as he showed time and again in Brazil that he had the skill and maturity to be a leader on the field. Colombian fans, eager to experience success but wary after the shortcomings of its previous golden generation, have been yearning for a player with superstar potential like his, and they will have been thrilled with what they saw this summer from the Golden Boot winner.
Having just turned 23 only a few days ago, there is a world of opportunity ahead for him, and while playing for a club like Monaco may be lucrative, look for him to make a move to a bigger club in Europe before too long.
Serge Aurier
For a football-mad country like Ivory Coast, it takes a lot to unseat a local favorite, but that is precisely what 21-year old Aurier has done in elevating himself to first-choice at the right-back position ahead of veteran Emmanuel Eboue. Aurier repaid Sabri Lamouchi’s faith in him with three solid performances for the Elephants, including two vital assists in their opener against Japan.
Though Lamouchi has since stepped down from his position, it is clear that Aurier is one of the players whom his replacement would be wise to lean on as one of the core upon which to rebuild after another disappointing World Cup outing for the Ivorians.
DeAndre Yedlin
Yedlin is a true homegrown product of the US, as he has risen through the ranks of youth club football, his home state’s Olympic Development Program, and now plies his trade in Major League Soccer, where he made an instant impact in being named a league All-Star in his debut season last year. Though still only 21 and without having made any starts yet, Yedlin impressed off the bench against both Portugal and Belgium in a wing-back role.
Both of those performances, the first with his country facing a deficit and the second in coming on as an emergency measure after an injury to Fabian Johnson, showed that Yedlin was not overwhelmed by high-pressure situations. He has already been linked to a move to Europe.
Daley Blind
Another wing-back who emerged with praise following the World Cup, Blind has drawn comparisons to Germany’s Philipp Lahm for his outstanding defensive workrate and ability to help in attack – no small credit there. Of the entire field of players in Brazil this summer, Blind compiled one of the highest pass completion rates, with his 82% successful completion rate surpassed among defenders only by..…..Lahm.
He also led all defenders in assists, and besides his goal in the 3rd-place match against Brazil, he should also be remembered for the pass that Robin van Persie headed home that has been hailed as one of the best goals of the tournament. Blind is a key player for Ajax, having been named as Dutch Footballer of the Year for the 2013-14 season, and will be relied on as they vie for domestic and continental honors.
(All player images and featured image credit: FIFA.com)