Right, Shashwat and Neil are in on it again. After the best World Cup both of them have had the pleasure of witnessing, we’re looking to continue the tradition of distributing fictional accolades to those who will never receive them. Let’s get on with it.
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1. Best player
Shashwat’s opinion
Javier Mascherano: He was converted from a defensive midfielder to a defender by Barcelona. And what dividends! He controlled Argentina’s backline over three extra-time games, and took care of La Albescieste sans Lionel Messi. Looking forward to some play from the ex-Liverpool man.
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1. Best player
Shashwat’s opinion
Javier Mascherano: He was converted from a defensive midfielder to a defender by Barcelona. And what dividends! He controlled Argentina’s backline over three extra-time games, and took care of La Albescieste sans Lionel Messi. Looking forward to some play from the ex-Liverpool man.
Neil’s opinion
FIFA recognized Lionel Messi as the best player of the World Cup, a decision which I felt was highly biased. James Rodriguez was much better than him in almost every aspect, not to mention also the Golden Boot winner. Yet he does not receive this honour from me.
In a decision that even surprised me, this tournament’s best player for me was Manuel Neuer. Aside from the fact that he conceded a mere five goals, the guy was as understated as he was crucial to important victories over USA, France and Argentina. The attractiveness of forwards sometimes hides the importance of a dependable goalkeeper between the sticks, and today I’d like to acknowledge that.
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2. Worst player
Shashwat’s opinion
Fred: Dived so badly in the first match, didn’t seem like the talented Neymar was his teacher. Scored another goal with his mustache. Was nearly non-existent for the other matches, in spite of starting in all but one of them. Announced his retirement at the end of this debacle. Thank God.
Neil’s opinion
Well, well, well. There were quite a few letdowns here. Forwards like Balotelli and Diego Costa were anonymous, while teams like England and Spain failed to turn up at all.
I decided to narrow down the stakes by only considering players who made it to the knockout phase. I mulled for a long time in between David Luiz, Fred and Hulk, before making a U-turn and opting for Gonzalo Higuain instead. A guy given complete trust by Sabella, repaid it with a solitary goal and a horrendous miss in the World Cup Final, compounding his nightmarish personal tournament.
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3. Most exciting prospect
Shashwat’s opinion
Joel Campbell: When it finally hit me that Costa Rica have topped Group D, I frantically searched the internet to search for who might have propelled them to such heights. All I found was Bryan Ruiz.
But hey, there is another 22-year old shining as well. Campbell is already at the Emirates, and should be given a chance this season. His play and link-up with Ruiz is the reason why Uruguay were beaten, and Italy dismantled. Let’s hope for him to make a mark.
Neil’s opinion
The man who didn’t get the credit he deserved from FIFA – James Rodriguez.
Honestly, I had no clue who he was until he caught the eye by some dazzling performances. A Google search startled me – this guy was a 40 million pound midfielder!
James (or Ham-ez) has contributed very largely to an enjoyable World Cup. But that’s not all – for his age and pressure on him to perform in the wake of Falcao’s injury, the guy's calmness and maturity in front of goal was simply surreal. It’s completely understandable why Real Madrid paid top dollar for him.
Since my ego was hurt a bit for not knowing, nor predicting anything about this guy, I’m going to pessimistically hazard a guess he was a one-season wonder. Still, I’ve been wrong before.
FIFA recognized Lionel Messi as the best player of the World Cup, a decision which I felt was highly biased. James Rodriguez was much better than him in almost every aspect, not to mention also the Golden Boot winner. Yet he does not receive this honour from me.
In a decision that even surprised me, this tournament’s best player for me was Manuel Neuer. Aside from the fact that he conceded a mere five goals, the guy was as understated as he was crucial to important victories over USA, France and Argentina. The attractiveness of forwards sometimes hides the importance of a dependable goalkeeper between the sticks, and today I’d like to acknowledge that.
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2. Worst player
Shashwat’s opinion
Fred: Dived so badly in the first match, didn’t seem like the talented Neymar was his teacher. Scored another goal with his mustache. Was nearly non-existent for the other matches, in spite of starting in all but one of them. Announced his retirement at the end of this debacle. Thank God.
Neil’s opinion
Well, well, well. There were quite a few letdowns here. Forwards like Balotelli and Diego Costa were anonymous, while teams like England and Spain failed to turn up at all.
I decided to narrow down the stakes by only considering players who made it to the knockout phase. I mulled for a long time in between David Luiz, Fred and Hulk, before making a U-turn and opting for Gonzalo Higuain instead. A guy given complete trust by Sabella, repaid it with a solitary goal and a horrendous miss in the World Cup Final, compounding his nightmarish personal tournament.
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3. Most exciting prospect
Shashwat’s opinion
Joel Campbell: When it finally hit me that Costa Rica have topped Group D, I frantically searched the internet to search for who might have propelled them to such heights. All I found was Bryan Ruiz.
But hey, there is another 22-year old shining as well. Campbell is already at the Emirates, and should be given a chance this season. His play and link-up with Ruiz is the reason why Uruguay were beaten, and Italy dismantled. Let’s hope for him to make a mark.
Neil’s opinion
The man who didn’t get the credit he deserved from FIFA – James Rodriguez.
Honestly, I had no clue who he was until he caught the eye by some dazzling performances. A Google search startled me – this guy was a 40 million pound midfielder!
James (or Ham-ez) has contributed very largely to an enjoyable World Cup. But that’s not all – for his age and pressure on him to perform in the wake of Falcao’s injury, the guy's calmness and maturity in front of goal was simply surreal. It’s completely understandable why Real Madrid paid top dollar for him.
Since my ego was hurt a bit for not knowing, nor predicting anything about this guy, I’m going to pessimistically hazard a guess he was a one-season wonder. Still, I’ve been wrong before.
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4. Best manager
Shashwat’s opinion
Miguel Herrera: Been really good with his tactics. Knew where his strengths were. Utilised Dos Santos and Marquez brilliantly. Took Netherlands all the way and could have squeezed through, were it not for Robben’s theatrics.
Neil’s opinion
I think people underestimate the turmoil France were in before Didier Deschamps took office. Ever since, he’s taken some bold decisions, most of which have pulled off. He made Giroud the focal point of the French attack, shifting Benzema to the right. He chose Matuidi over the talented but egoistic Samir Nasri. He kept his faith in Sakho over Laurent Koscielny. He dragged France out of the 2-0 deficit against Ukraine.
He’s a man who, with firm principles, has brought France back to the threshold of the footballing elite. Come EURO 2016, Deschamps might be in charge of a more mature, cohesive team, which he initiated.
Some might say my choice of Deschamps may be biased. Well, it is, but Brangled Minds is opinionated. So sue me.
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5. Worst manager
Shashwat’s opinion
Roy Hodgson: Picked a squad that would please the media. The team showed some sparks of brilliance, but failed to shine overall. Handed too much responsibility on young Sterling's shoulders.
4. Best manager
Shashwat’s opinion
Miguel Herrera: Been really good with his tactics. Knew where his strengths were. Utilised Dos Santos and Marquez brilliantly. Took Netherlands all the way and could have squeezed through, were it not for Robben’s theatrics.
Neil’s opinion
I think people underestimate the turmoil France were in before Didier Deschamps took office. Ever since, he’s taken some bold decisions, most of which have pulled off. He made Giroud the focal point of the French attack, shifting Benzema to the right. He chose Matuidi over the talented but egoistic Samir Nasri. He kept his faith in Sakho over Laurent Koscielny. He dragged France out of the 2-0 deficit against Ukraine.
He’s a man who, with firm principles, has brought France back to the threshold of the footballing elite. Come EURO 2016, Deschamps might be in charge of a more mature, cohesive team, which he initiated.
Some might say my choice of Deschamps may be biased. Well, it is, but Brangled Minds is opinionated. So sue me.
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5. Worst manager
Shashwat’s opinion
Roy Hodgson: Picked a squad that would please the media. The team showed some sparks of brilliance, but failed to shine overall. Handed too much responsibility on young Sterling's shoulders.
Neil’s opinion
To a few, this may seem harsh as his team managed to reach the semi-finals. However, if you analyse Luis Felipe Scolari’s path to possible glory, it becomes apparent that he made hard work of easy fixtures.
In a comparatively easy group, they never looked comfortable against the likes of Mexico and Croatia. Their dependence on an injury-prone Neymar was forced shut against Colombia, and defensive frailties brutally exposed when they capitulated against the first quality team they met.
Now, it may have been unreasonable to have expected Brazil to go all the way, but surely it wasn’t too much of them to at least bow out respectfully against the likes of Germany and Holland? When the heat was on, they didn’t stay out of the kitchen as much as let the fire extinguisher go haywire, detonate the apartment and run outside in the street screaming in a yellow taffeta picnic dress. Yeah, nice motivating, Scolari.
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6. Most improved team
Shashwat’s opinion
Belgium: It could’ve been Costa Rica. It could’ve been Chile. Oh heck, it could’ve been France, considering how far they’ve come from the debacle in South Africa. But for me, a team which participates in the WC after 12 years, and manages to play so well, is the real winner.
I was supporting them for the cup, and even though they lost out in the quarter-finals, my whole-hearted respect to them, for not only showing us beautiful bits of football (read: de Bruyne-Hazard-Witsel-Mertens link-up), but also providing the feeling of nationalism that the state of Belgium so desperately needed.
Neil’s opinion
A bloody obvious choice for me. On another day, France could have gotten it for a commendable comeback, or a Rodriguez-inspired Colombia outfit.
My undoubted winner, however, is Costa Rica. Topping the Group of Death and pushing Netherlands to the limit? No words.
Except, you know. Joel Campbell is a Gunner!
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7. Most regressed team
Shashwat’s opinion
A picture is worth a thousand words.
To a few, this may seem harsh as his team managed to reach the semi-finals. However, if you analyse Luis Felipe Scolari’s path to possible glory, it becomes apparent that he made hard work of easy fixtures.
In a comparatively easy group, they never looked comfortable against the likes of Mexico and Croatia. Their dependence on an injury-prone Neymar was forced shut against Colombia, and defensive frailties brutally exposed when they capitulated against the first quality team they met.
Now, it may have been unreasonable to have expected Brazil to go all the way, but surely it wasn’t too much of them to at least bow out respectfully against the likes of Germany and Holland? When the heat was on, they didn’t stay out of the kitchen as much as let the fire extinguisher go haywire, detonate the apartment and run outside in the street screaming in a yellow taffeta picnic dress. Yeah, nice motivating, Scolari.
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6. Most improved team
Shashwat’s opinion
Belgium: It could’ve been Costa Rica. It could’ve been Chile. Oh heck, it could’ve been France, considering how far they’ve come from the debacle in South Africa. But for me, a team which participates in the WC after 12 years, and manages to play so well, is the real winner.
I was supporting them for the cup, and even though they lost out in the quarter-finals, my whole-hearted respect to them, for not only showing us beautiful bits of football (read: de Bruyne-Hazard-Witsel-Mertens link-up), but also providing the feeling of nationalism that the state of Belgium so desperately needed.
Neil’s opinion
A bloody obvious choice for me. On another day, France could have gotten it for a commendable comeback, or a Rodriguez-inspired Colombia outfit.
My undoubted winner, however, is Costa Rica. Topping the Group of Death and pushing Netherlands to the limit? No words.
Except, you know. Joel Campbell is a Gunner!
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7. Most regressed team
Shashwat’s opinion
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Neil’s opinion
From World Champions to a household joke. From the best footballing philosophy to a regressive style of play. Their collapse has been more startling than Michael Owen’s Premier League predictions. What a waste of one of the best squads on paper.
I present to you – 5PA1N.
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8. Most entertaining match
Shashwat’s opinion
USA 1-2 Belgium: You may choose the 4-0, or 5-1, or the 7-1. But I’m just not into one-sided thrashings. This was one hell of a match, to be honest. Tim Howard rewrote history books that day, and the frustration of the Belgium players was tethering that day.
Thank the footballing gods for the strikes by de Bruyne and Lukaku, otherwise, the penalties would have been too much to handle. It was a match between Belgium’s talented attack versus Tim Howard. And boy, did he respond.
The stakes were high on this one - lose, and your WC dream is done for. Win, and the quarter finals await you. Dempsey and Co. had made every American believe that they could do this. Alas, they could hold out for only so much. The final scoreboard read 2-1 to Belgium, but the USA left Brazil with their heads held high, nothing to hide. They had done their best. Russia 2018 beckons.
From World Champions to a household joke. From the best footballing philosophy to a regressive style of play. Their collapse has been more startling than Michael Owen’s Premier League predictions. What a waste of one of the best squads on paper.
I present to you – 5PA1N.
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8. Most entertaining match
Shashwat’s opinion
USA 1-2 Belgium: You may choose the 4-0, or 5-1, or the 7-1. But I’m just not into one-sided thrashings. This was one hell of a match, to be honest. Tim Howard rewrote history books that day, and the frustration of the Belgium players was tethering that day.
Thank the footballing gods for the strikes by de Bruyne and Lukaku, otherwise, the penalties would have been too much to handle. It was a match between Belgium’s talented attack versus Tim Howard. And boy, did he respond.
The stakes were high on this one - lose, and your WC dream is done for. Win, and the quarter finals await you. Dempsey and Co. had made every American believe that they could do this. Alas, they could hold out for only so much. The final scoreboard read 2-1 to Belgium, but the USA left Brazil with their heads held high, nothing to hide. They had done their best. Russia 2018 beckons.
Neil’s opinion
The factor that particularly stood out in my decision of calling this the best World Cup in a while was simply, an abundance of goals. In contrast to solid, if not scrappy one-nillers in South Africa, Brazil witnessed some crazy scorelines, seasoned with wonder-strikes and own goals.
The 3-2 Netherlands win over Australia was a great show for the neutral, while France’s 5-2 drubbing of Switzerland was also a fun night of football. In the end, I might have handed it to Spain vs Netherlands, were it not for the 7-1 match.
The 7-1 was enjoyable from my side simply because it was so… comical! When the goals poured in against a hapless Brazil outfit, neutral fans around the world bellowed actual belly laughs. I’d never seen anything like it, so I took every opportunity to relish it. Truly; the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Or in Germany’s case, walk over the others like the badasses they are.
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9. Goal of the tournament
Shashwat’s opinion
Tim Cahill vs Netherlands: What a match that was, and what an equally amazing goal! Hardly took ten seconds from start to finish, and scored majestically by the Evertonian legend. Much respect to him, and the Socceroos.
The factor that particularly stood out in my decision of calling this the best World Cup in a while was simply, an abundance of goals. In contrast to solid, if not scrappy one-nillers in South Africa, Brazil witnessed some crazy scorelines, seasoned with wonder-strikes and own goals.
The 3-2 Netherlands win over Australia was a great show for the neutral, while France’s 5-2 drubbing of Switzerland was also a fun night of football. In the end, I might have handed it to Spain vs Netherlands, were it not for the 7-1 match.
The 7-1 was enjoyable from my side simply because it was so… comical! When the goals poured in against a hapless Brazil outfit, neutral fans around the world bellowed actual belly laughs. I’d never seen anything like it, so I took every opportunity to relish it. Truly; the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Or in Germany’s case, walk over the others like the badasses they are.
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9. Goal of the tournament
Shashwat’s opinion
Tim Cahill vs Netherlands: What a match that was, and what an equally amazing goal! Hardly took ten seconds from start to finish, and scored majestically by the Evertonian legend. Much respect to him, and the Socceroos.
Neil’s opinion
Talk about cracking strikes, and Brazil 2014 comes to mind. Neymar began things with a wonderful long-range strike against Croatia, while Oscar followed up with a long-range poke in, technique personified. Tim Cahill hit an outrageous volley, Schurrle scored a belter against Brazil, and Robben scored some solo beauties. Van Persie’s header was so exceptional, even an Arsenal fan like me had to admit it. Finally, a brilliant take by Mario Gotze in the match that mattered not only capped off a goalscoring exhibition of a tournament, but also established him in the upper echelons of legends, at the tender age of 22.
James Rodriguez deserves his own space here, and so I’ve decided to give the goal of the tournament to his personal pick of the lot. Chesting it down and swinging his foot on the ball first-time, and watching it zoom towards the crossbar and deflect in the net like a bullet – THAT James Rodriguez goal against Uruguay. Absolute dynamite.
Talk about cracking strikes, and Brazil 2014 comes to mind. Neymar began things with a wonderful long-range strike against Croatia, while Oscar followed up with a long-range poke in, technique personified. Tim Cahill hit an outrageous volley, Schurrle scored a belter against Brazil, and Robben scored some solo beauties. Van Persie’s header was so exceptional, even an Arsenal fan like me had to admit it. Finally, a brilliant take by Mario Gotze in the match that mattered not only capped off a goalscoring exhibition of a tournament, but also established him in the upper echelons of legends, at the tender age of 22.
James Rodriguez deserves his own space here, and so I’ve decided to give the goal of the tournament to his personal pick of the lot. Chesting it down and swinging his foot on the ball first-time, and watching it zoom towards the crossbar and deflect in the net like a bullet – THAT James Rodriguez goal against Uruguay. Absolute dynamite.
10. Alternative TOTT
During the Premier League awards distribution, we had decided to make an alternative PFA Team of the Year, consisting of players that did not make the official Team of the Year lineup. We’ve decided to continue that.
For those who don’t know, FIFA’s TOTT included Neuer - Thiago Silva – Hummels - David Luiz – Marcelo - di Maria – Kroos - James Rodriguez – Neymar – Muller – Robben. For reasons mentioned above, these players cannot be in Shashwat’s and Neil’s teams of the tournament.
Here are the teams. Which one is stronger?
During the Premier League awards distribution, we had decided to make an alternative PFA Team of the Year, consisting of players that did not make the official Team of the Year lineup. We’ve decided to continue that.
For those who don’t know, FIFA’s TOTT included Neuer - Thiago Silva – Hummels - David Luiz – Marcelo - di Maria – Kroos - James Rodriguez – Neymar – Muller – Robben. For reasons mentioned above, these players cannot be in Shashwat’s and Neil’s teams of the tournament.
Here are the teams. Which one is stronger?
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Probably the one thing that was bad about the tournament is that people who don’t know anything about football pop up during the World Cup, and all they talk is shit. We’re sure you may have faced that during the tournament, but rest assured, the Premier League is arriving in less than a month, so your taste for football would be looked after!
That’s it for this World Cup, it’s been a pleasure. Next stop, the Barclays Premier League!
-By Shashwat Mohanty and NN
Probably the one thing that was bad about the tournament is that people who don’t know anything about football pop up during the World Cup, and all they talk is shit. We’re sure you may have faced that during the tournament, but rest assured, the Premier League is arriving in less than a month, so your taste for football would be looked after!
That’s it for this World Cup, it’s been a pleasure. Next stop, the Barclays Premier League!
-By Shashwat Mohanty and NN