With the FIFA World Cup finals just days away punters will be finding themselves perplexed as to who will end up top scorer of football’s greatest competition. Fantasy teams are being prepared across the globe with nothing but a hunch to go on when selecting their chosen strikers, there are little certainties this time around.
Four years ago in South Africa the top forwards didn’t perform; Rooney and Messi failed get on the scoresheet, Tevez managed to find the net twice while Cristiano Ronaldo got a lucky goal against North Korea to remember the tournament by. In the end Thomas Muller secured the golden boot, notching up five goals and three assists in the process.
Many will be pointing towards the top national sides to produce the leading goalscorer. Spain’s Diego Costa was in fine form before his unfortunately timed injury. The former Brazil frontman is more than a contender with the likes of Iniesta feeding the La Liga winner the ball. His 35 goals for Atletico Madrid this season will put him in good stead but a tough group involving Holland and Chile may ask too much of the unfit ‘Spaniard’.
As for his home country the pressure on the hosts to win the World Cup will be immense, just as it was in 1950. Fred is the recognised centre-forward but Neymar is the poster boy for Brazil and rightly so. Neymar Jr. earned himself what turned out to be a controversial transfer to Barcelona through his performances for Santos and his country. Last summer’s Confederations Cup showcased what the 22-year-old is capable of with some stunning performances guiding his team to glory. His tenure in Catalonia has been mixed and has been overshadowed by the dynamics of his transfer coupled alongside the rise of Gareth Bale. SkyBet has priced him as second favourite and he will fancy himself on home turf as Canarinho plan to go all the way.
South American’s have been tipped to succeed in 2014 with the climate falling in their favour. Argentina are one of those predicted to take the trophy home with Lionel Messi at the forefront of everything they do. Arguably the greatest player of his or any generation Messi is yet to make a big splash at a World Cup like so many greats have done before him. Fellow countryman Diego Maradona carried his teammates to a winners medal in 1986 and the little Barcelona magician could have the same effect on this generation of Argentines. 36 goals in 39 appearances for his club this campaign means that the spotlight will once again be on him to perform. Looking to steal the spotlight though is Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero. The 26-year-old will benefit from the services of Messi and could overtake him when it comes to a goal tally. He comes into the summer on the back of a decent season in England which has boasted a phenomenal goals to game record.
Premier League golden boot winner Luis Suarez has been drawn in a tough Group D involving England, Italy and Costa Rica. Suarez picked up almost every award going at the end of the 2013-14 season and will hope to carry that on in the competition where he first announced himself on the world stage. He has a tendency to be the most talked about individual when he steps onto a football pitch but Uruguay’s shaky defence appears like it could dump the 2010 semi-finalists out and leave Suarez watching from the stands.
Moving onto the rest of Group D, Balotelli is another big personality that will be gracing pitches up and down Brazil. The big striker shone at Euro 2012 with two sumptuous strikes knocking out Germany in the last four. Mario will inevitably be Italy’s dangerman with Andrea Pirlo having the ability and vision to find almost every run the AC Milan forward makes. The Italians have a huge chance of progressing through the group-stage and could indeed advance past that if they manage to avoid Germany in the round-of-16. Instead they would most likely face a Cristiano Ronaldo driven Portugal.
Although the Iberians should be respected and feared they do not retain the best squad in the competition, in truth without their talisman they would be branded an average side. Ronaldo vastly improves the look of the starting XI as the Ballon d’Or winner can produce a goal from nothing and when his side need it the most. Buoyant after completing La Decima with his beloved Real Madrid the ex-Manchester United winger could be hungrier than ever to win something with his country. Hailed as a complete player Ronaldo will have to be at his very best if he wishes to drag Portugal to top of Group G but if he is at his very best there is no telling how far Paulo Bento’s men can go.
Also part of the Champions League victory over Atletico was Frenchman Karim Benzema. A summer of uncertainty may be ahead in terms of his club future but the Real Madrid man will be fully focused on France this summer. After the disastrous soap-opera that was Les Blues’ 2010 World Cup attempt, fans across the nation will be hoping pride will be restored this year. The 1998 winners have Olivier Giroud as back up so Benzema may be tempted to look over his shoulder as he is hardly a shoe in to start but if he is chosen then Didier Deschamps’ faith in him may pay off.
Hardly short of confidence, Daniel Sturridge will feel he can mix it with the best in Brazil. His goal against Peru in the week reminded us how good he really is after a tremendous start to his Liverpool career. If the Three Lions want to be taken seriously then Sturridge must start, the pace he brings is something England lack with Rooney up top and Roy Hodgson may find that imperative if he wishes to break down a sturdy Italian defense. He may be wearing all white but Sturridge is definitely a dark horse for that coveted golden boot.
Say dark horse though and people will immediately think of Belgium, not Sturridge or Seabiscuit. They possess an outstanding crop of players, almost all of which apply their trade within the Barclays Premier League and one player in particular has stood out over the past 12 months. Romelu Lukaku has been all but cast aside from Chelsea and deserves tremendous credit for proving himself during loan spells at West Brom and most recently Everton. Belgium look very comfortable in their group and their opposition may find Lukaku’s strength too much to handle. The Red Devils may come unstuck in the latter rounds of the competition but if one player can cause an upset it’s Lukaku.
Last but not least is Thomas Muller, who will be looking to keep hold of the trophy he won four years ago. It proved as stark consolation as the Germans had to settle for a third place finish after their young team impressed so greatly. All older and all wiser they could be classed as favorites in a time where German football in blossoming at club level. The country is a footballing powerhouse but has underachieved in the past few decades, that could all change this time with Thomas Muller spearheading their front line. With a host of midfield talent behind him it could be another individual honour for Muller as any Bayern Munich fan will tell you he gladly gobbles up any chances that come his way. An honourable mention must go to compatriate Miroslav Klose who is just a mere two goals off surpassing Ronaldo’s record of nine World Cup goals.
A host of other names playing for smaller nations such as Jackson Martinez, Edin Dzeko, Vincent Aboubakar, Radamel Falcao and Mario Mandzukic may all go under the radar but will all surely have outstanding tournaments in their own right. Eyes will be on the main prize when the biggest event on the sporting calendar kicks off, football is a team sport but one should not belittle a player’s quest for a World Cup golden boot.