The heart & Soul: golden boys who convert opportunities into goals
A look at a few unsung heroes who could play critical roles at 2014 Football World Cup
Update: 2014-06-08 04:10 GMT
Hyderabad: As it is with cricket, where the batsmen get to hog all the glory, football fans reserve their greatest adoration for the men who get the goals. History remembers the target men, the golden boys who convert opportunities into scores, and with good reason, Thus, it is a striker — Pele — who is regarded as the greatest footballer ever. Only the die-hard will remember those behind him, those who created the chances for the Brazilian magician to score. So for every Pele, or Garrincha, or di Stefano, or Puskas, Ronaldo and Messi, there are those who set up the goals, or fended off the marauding forwards. The midfield is the heart of a football team, and the defence its backbone. Yet few accolades other than from the discerning come their way. We take a look at a few of these unsung heroes who could play critical roles at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
| Andre Pirlo (midfield) Age: 35; Country: Italy; Caps: 108, Goals 13 Probably playing his last World Cup, Andre Pirlo is one of the best mid-fielders in the world. A calm character with incredible vision, he has the ability to single-handedly change the course of a game. Also known as L’architetto (“The Architect”) by his teammates because his long passes that set up goal-scoring opportunities, Pirlo is a free kick and penalty kick specialist. The 2006 World Cup winner is a vital player for Italy who are up against Uruguay and England in Group D. |
| Steven Gerrard (midfield) Age: 34; Country: England; Caps: 109; Goals 21 A real leader and a tireless runner with superb vision, Stevie G is among those playing their last World Cup. Gerrard scored his first international goal in the famous 5-1 victory over Germany in 2001. A strong mid-fielder, he can also play as a as a second striker, holding midfielder, right back and right winger, all of which give England plenty of options. Gerard is feared around the world for his long distance goal scoring ability. The one-club man is also a free kick and penalty kick specialist and on him rest hopes that England don’t falter again in a penalty shootout. |
| Philipp Lahm (defender) Age: 30; Country: Germany | Caps: 105; Goals 5 Philipp Lahm is not the tallest of defenders, but is certainly one of the quickest on the pitch. Germany’s youngest-ever World Cup captain at the age of 27, Lahm is always first on the list of national coach Joachim Loew. In his new role of mid-fielder at Bayern Munich, Lahm helped his team score by moving up whenever required. The German wants his side to finish on top this World Cup as they look to end their longest-ever trophy drought. He is not just a full back but can also play on either flank. Although he is not a finisher, Lahm has scored two important goals in the semi-final of Euro 2008 and in the opening game of the World Cup 2006. |
| Thiago Silva (defender) Age: 29; Country: Brazil; International caps: 45 | Goals: 2 It is always a tough job replacing the likes of Lucio in the centre of the Brazilian defence. But Thiago Silva has accomplished the feat in style and is widely regarded as the best central defender in the world. His strengths include his pace and physical presence at the back coupled with his aerial ability and tough tackling. His combination with Dante can provide the hosts stability at the back. Silva can also come up with excellent long balls from deep inside his team’s territory, perfect fodder for the likes of Neymar up front. |
| Andres Iniesta (midfield) Age: 29; Country: Spain; Caps: 95 ; Goals 10 Scorer of the winning goal against the Netherlands in the South Africa 2010 World Cup final and winner of two back-to-back European Championships, all eyes will be on this central mid-fielder who is the now the spine of Spain. His skill on the ball, ability to beat defenders, superb passing and willingness to work for his team makes him an important member of La Roja. |
| Vincent Kompany (defender) Age: 28; Country: Belgium; Caps: 56; Goals: 4 A member of the so called ‘golden generation’ of Belgian football, Vincent Kompany is a crucial component of the squad for Brazil 2014. A solid presence in the heart of the defence, Kompany was one of the pillars on which Manchester City built their successful EPL campaign. Apart from his physical and technical qualities, the Belgium captain is also known for his leadership skills. |
| Giorgio Chiellini (defence) Age: 29; Country: Italy; Caps: 67; Goals: 31 Italy have a rich tradition of producing exceptional defenders. Juventus centre back Giorgio Chiellini is the latest to emerge from the land of Catenaccio. The 29-year-old is good in the air, accurate with his tackles and has the power to dominate his opponents. His ability to score from set-pieces can also prove to be a valuable asset for the Azzuri. Having played at the European Championships of 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 World Cup, Chiellini is no stranger to the big occasion. Such is his importance to the national team that Cesare Prandelli included him in the squad despite the fact that he violated the Italy coach’s code of conduct by picking up a red card for elbowing an opponent during a Serie A match. |
| Bastian Schweinsteiger (midfielder) Age: 29 | Country: Germany; Caps: 101; Goals: 23 With his excellent ball distribution and high work rate, Bastian Schweinsteiger is one of the pillars of the German midfield. Although primarily a central mid-fielder, he is outstanding in a defensive midfield role as well. He can also play on both flanks or in an attacking midfield role just behind the strikers. ‘Schweinie’ has excellent dribbling skills and is a specialist at set pieces. He can also score with his powerful long-rangers. The Bayern Munich star was troubled by a knee injury for much of the season and an ankle niggle forced him to miss games against Austria and the Faroe Islands during the qualifiers. He is yet to regain full fitness and faces a race against time with the World Cup beginning in under two weeks’ time. |