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The World Cup in Brazil has proved, among many other things, that a team can be far greater than the sum of its parts.
Costa Rica have completed an unlikely ascent to the lofty heights of the quarter-finals, having dispatched a group of former champions with relative ease, while Algeria, the USA, Greece and Chile all progressed further than they were expected.
Costa Rica, without a star man to call upon, despite the heroics of Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell are a feared enigma.
Several stars have been born in Brazil, James Rodriguez chief among them, but behind the glitz and glamour, a lot of these teams have other emphatic performers that can slip off the radar unnoticed.
Within the impressive team performances by some of the underdogs lie several unsung heroes who have projected their nations to unlikely success.
Show all 10 1 /10The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Rais M'Bohli (Algeria) Tim Howard has stolen the goalkeeping limelight this summer having broken the record for the most saves in one game with 16. Add to that the high profile displays from Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa against Brazil and Holland, as well as Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas’ inspired penalty shoot-out performance against Greece, and it is hardly surprising that Rais M'Bolhi finds himself down the pecking order. This is despite him making the third most saves in the competition with 20, and impressing in the game with Germany, pulling off two stunning stops to deny Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Kenneth Omeruo (Nigeria) The youngster started all four of Nigeria’s games in Brazil, making more aerial challenges (12) and interceptions (11) than any of his team-mates, yet hardly anyone knew he was a Chelsea player. Barely out of his teens, the versatile defender showed maturity and composure beyond his years as the Super Eagles went on to keep two clean sheets. Despite never having made an appearance for Chelsea, the 20-year-old hopes a season on loan will force himself into Jose Mourinho’s first-team plans and into the minds of football fans worldwide.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Omar Gonzalez (USA) You would think Omar Gonzalez would be difficult to miss standing at a towering 6ft 5in tall, but his heroic contribution to the USA’s progression has largely gone unappreciated. When goal difference meant everything in the final group game against Germany, he made 10 clearances as his side held on to progress to the last 16. The imposing defender also made crucial last-ditch challenges to deny both Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil in the first half. His classy approach may have been overlooked for now, but at 25 he has plenty of time to assert himself on an international stage – the big man may yet have a big future in football.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Mario Yepes (Colombia) Any player who can keep up with Columbia’s level of intensity at 38 years of age and go generally unnoticed is mystifying. Mario Yepes will retire at the end of the World Cup as the oldest out-field player in the competition, but his composure under pressure, resulting in a clean sheet in two of the three games he’s played in, has showed that he really is rolling back the years. It may be James Rodriguez grabbing the headlines for Colombia, but he has Mario Yepes to thank for a solid platform on which to flourish in Brazil.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Keisuke Honda (Japan) During an indifferent World Cup for Japan, Keisuke Honda again showed why he is considered superior to the likes of Shinji Kagawa in his native country, if not in England. The AC Milan player didn’t attract too much attention in this competition, but his stunning goal against the Ivory Coast could well be considered one of the best in the tournament. Although Japan failed to make it out of the group stages, the 28-year-old made an impressive 10 shots, seven key passes and six dribbles as he gave his all for his struggling country.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Celso Borges (Costa Rica) Costa Rica, the king slayers themselves, have not had too many individual players gaining the recognition they deserve. Striking pair Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell have both scored goals, and their profile has also been raised by their connections to Fulham and Arsenal respectively, but other key contributors have remained somewhat anonymous. The nation’s captain Celso Borges, whose father also played for and managed Costa Rica, has dictated play in the centre of the park and has led his nation to unheralded World Cup success.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Ivan Perisic (Croatia) Croatia slipped off the radar somewhat when their emphatic 4-0 win over Cameroon was sandwiched in between 3-1 losses to Brazil and Mexico. Despite this disappointment, they showed moments of excellence, not least from Ivan Perisic on the wing, who scored two, assisted one, completed five dribbles, won a further five aerial battles and took eleven shots. The versatile Wolfsburg winger played an all-action role for a developing young team who may well be a headline act in 2018.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Graham Zusi (USA) Described as the “secret weapon” of the USA, the explosive winger proved a valuable asset to Jurgen Klinsmann this summer with two assists in the group stages before slipping back into the shadows. Despite his striking appearance, which has led to the nickname “Zeus”, the Kansas striker is another MLS star to have had an understated career. He was turned down by West Ham after a trial in 2013 and before making it in the MLS he had to live with American team-mate Matt Besler’s parents because he couldn’t afford a flat. After World Cup fever became an epidemic in America, however, expect the “secret” to be dropped from this classy winger’s title.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Ivica Olic (Croatia) Before the Neymar Show started rolling in the curtain-raising tie between Brazil and Croatia, the plaudits may have been stolen by Ivica Olic. The powerful forward, operating on the left wing, wreaked havoc for Dani Alves and it was his dangerous low cross that forced the tournaments opening goal – Marcelo turning the ball helplessly into his own net. The 34-year-old also bagged the first in Croatia’s 4-0 rout of Cameroon before the glory was again snatched away from him by a Mario Mandzukic double and an Ivan Perisic stunner.
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The 10 unsung heroes of the 2014 World Cup Islam Slimani (Algeria) Before this World Cup Algeria had failed to register a goal in 28 years at the World Cup. However, thanks to the impact of Islam Slimani, among others, they managed an impressive seven goals with the Sporting Lisbon striker scoring two and assisting one. The Algerians' incredible achievement was somewhat overshadowed by the unlikely group-winning efforts of Costa Rica in Group D, but nothing should be taken away from a group of players who went from a goal-scoring drought to bagging as many as Argentina in the group stages and more than England, Chile, Uruguay and Spain. Delaying their fasting commitments for Ramadan to participate in the competition also deserves an honourable mention as a reflection of the team’s willingness to succeed for their country.
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The unsung heroes, we salute you.
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