On the eve of the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, we asked members of the Israeli Championship squad to name the stand-out players of the tournament in their own positions
After spending a month, day and night, glued to our tellies, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is poised to reach a climax on Sunday night when Germany face off against Argentina in what we all hope will be an unforgettable final. Despite having spent most of the World Cup period immersed in training both here in Tel Aviv and in Austria, most of the members of the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad found time to follow events enthusiastically. So even though the final and the play-off for places three and four have yet to be played, to mark the conclusion of this festival of football we asked them to name the stand-out players of the tournament in their own positions. Here below are their responses:
Goalkeepers
Barak Levi
Outstanding goalkeeper – Manuel Neuer (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 6
Juan Pablo
Outstanding goalkeeper – Manuel Neuer (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 6
Defenders
Yuval Shpungin
Outstanding defender – Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina, Manchester City F.C.)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 6
Yoav Ziv
Outstanding defender – Daley Blind (The Netherlands, AFC Ajax)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 6
Eitan Tibi
Outstanding defender – Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris St. Germain F.C.)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 5
Sheran Yeini
Outstanding defender – David Luiz (Brazil, Paris St. Germain F.C.)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 6
Carlos Garcia
Outstanding defender – David Luiz (Brazil, Paris St. Germain F.C.)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 6
Midfielders
Gal Alberman
Outstanding midfielder – Wesley Sneijder (The Netherlands, Galatasaray S.K.)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 6
Eran Zahavi
Outstanding midfielder – James Rodriguez (Colombia, AS Monaco FC)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup – 5
Mahran Radi
Outstanding midfielder – Fernandinho (Brazil, Manchester City F.C.)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 4
Dor Micha
Outstanding midfielder – Angel Di Maria (Argentina, Real Madrid C.F.)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 5
Ben Reichert
Outstanding midfielder – Toni Kroos (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 6
Dan Einbinder
Outstanding midfielder – Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Colombia, ACF Fiorentina)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup to date – 5
Omri Altman
Outstanding midfielder – James Rodriguez (Colombia, AC Monaco FC)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup – 5
Moshe Lugassi
Outstanding midfielder – Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus F.C.)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup – 3
Attackers
Barak Itzhaki
Outstanding striker – Neymar (Brazil, FC Barcelona)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup – 5
Rade Prica
Outstanding striker – Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup – 6
Barak Badash
Outstanding striker – Thomas Muller (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)
Appearances in the 2014 World Cup – 6
