It's one of the great wonders of tournament football that previously obscure or undervalued players can raise their games and mix it with the best of the best for a couple of weeks at least. Maybe it has to do with their mental attitude, maybe it's luck or maybe it's due to the fact that the big leagues rarely take a serious look outside the well known footballing markets. Whatever it is, the World Cup in Brazil has once again thrown up plenty of these gems. Some are absolute newcomers while some are well known players who have played above their value. The one thing they have in common is that their agents are currently working hard to get them that big move on the back of a stellar tournament.
We've tried to put these outliers together to form some semblance of a team so here it is, the Balls 'in the shop window' World Cup XI:
Gk: Keylor Navas - Costa Rica
This was one of the most competitive spots in our upstart XI with Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa and Algeria's Rais M'Bolhi perhaps the most unfortunate men to miss out. Ultimately, we've sided with Navas for the fact that he's more of an all-rounder between the sticks. After an exemplary season in La Liga with Levante, Navas had been tipped for bigger things before the World Cup began but his performances for Costa Rica have only furthered such speculation. While he had been linked with Atletico Madrid, it now looking likely that he'll have a choice to make between staying in Spain with Real Madrid or moving to Germany to help out with Manuel Neuer's warm ups at Bayern Munich.
RB: DeAndre Yedlin - USA
Yedlin is the classic 'in the shop window' player. He only played 112 minutes in the entire tournament, yet is currently being linked with Roma and Liverpool. Realistically, Yedlin wasn't even the best right back in the US squad as Fabian Johnson was up there with the best in the tournament. Ivory Coast's Serge Aurier can feel aggrieved to have been beaten out as well, but with youth on his side and pace to burn, Yedlin has been the one who has attracted the most attention. After a solid defensive showing against Belgium and a demonstration of excellent crossing ability during the group stage the Seattle Sounders man could be on his way to Europe sooner rather than later.
CB: Gary Medel - Chile
This time last year, things were looking pretty good for Gary Medel. The tough tackling Chilean had been playing very well for Sevilla and his form hadn't gone unnoticed. Some of Europe's big boys were said to be interested so it was certainly a surprise when newly promoted Cardiff shelled out to take him to south Wales. Things went down hill from there. Cardiff were relegated with Medel not exactly covering himself in glory for someone so well regarded. Off he went to the World Cup where Chile utilised him at centre back and at times he was a colossus. Just like that, he looks to be on his way to Inter Milan. The joys of tournament football.
CB: Giancarlo Gonzalez - Costa Rica
The second member of the Costa Rican spine that kept some of the world's best players at bay and enthralled neutrals everywhere. As recently as six months ago, Gonzalez was let go from Norwegian club Valerenga without much fanfare. He moved to Columbus Crew in the US and headed off to the World Cup with his country with what most have been low expectations. A month or so later and Gonzalez is the toast of defensive purists everywhere. His performances to help Costa Rica into the quarter finals have been universally lauded and he's ripe for a move to a middle of the road Premier League side.
LB: Daley Blind - Netherlands
There were quite a few impressive displays from left backs during the World Cup. Chile's Eugenio Mena was a particular stand out performer but it has to be Blind who forces his way into this side. The Dutch defender has had something of an up and down rise to World Cup stardom. The son of Danny Blind had been used as something of a utility man for Ajax since coming through the youth academy without much recognition. However, a move to left back first saw him find a regular place in the Eredivisie and then with the national side. His sublime pass for Robin Van Persie's goal against Spain was a particular highlight but his all round World Cup performance will have done his chances of a move to one of Europe's elite clubs the world of good.
CM: Yeltsin Tejeda - Costa Rica
The third member of the Costa Rican squad to recieve the honour of being named in our side and perhaps the one who has attracted the least attention. Tejeda's ability to quietly mop up whatever came near him was a thing of beauty at times. Refined, hard to see beauty but beauty nonetheless. At 22 and playing in his home country with Deportivo Saprissa, Tejeda is calling out to be snapped up for relative peanuts by a European side looking for a bit of presence in midfield.
CM: Muhamed Besic - Bosnia and Herzagovina
Bosnia's World Cup campaign didn't exactly go to plan. They were earmarked as one of the dark horses of the tournament but ended up finishing behind Argentina and Nigeria in the group stage. Having said that, one of the few bright sparks was the performance of Muhamed Besic. The German born midfielder had been touted as something of a prodigy while coming through the ranks at Hamburg but some disciplinary problems saw him shipped out to Ferencvaros in Hungary. Nonetheless he was included in the Bosnia squad for the World Cup and did his reputation no harm with some combative performances. A move to Everton is currently being touted.
LW: Juan Cuadrado - Colombia
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the World Cup was the emergence of Colombia as a genuine contender. While the next player in our team drew most of the plaudits, the impact of Juan Cuadrado can't be underestimated. With his strange hair and frightening pace, the Fiorentina winger was one of Colombia's most feared weapons. To be fair to Cuadrado, he was widely linked with a transfer to Barcelona in the build up to the tournament, but it now seems that the Catalan giants have been joined by many of Europe's other top clubs and the price has skyrocketed.
CAM: James Rodriguez - Colombia
A prime example of how the World Cup shop window doesn't only concern itself with the exclusively obscure set. Long touted as a star of the future, James Rodriguez moved to Monaco from Porto last year in a €45 million deal and had a very productive first season in Ligue 1. While that's all well and good, it was assumed that he'd stick around the municipality for a few more years after they had spent so much money on the 23 year old. But then he went to the World Cup, scored 6 goals, captured the hearts of everyone and now Real Madrid want to spend €70+ million on him.
RW: Memphis Depay - Netherlands
There was something of a dearth of premium attacking play during the tournament in Brazil. While it provided some of the best low scoring games that you're likely to see, there wasn't too many young attackers forcing there heads above the parapet. However, one of the few exceptions was Dutch winger Memphis Depay. Although the PSV man's influence wained as the tournament progressed, his displays during the early rounds are enough to force his way into this side. Like most of his teammates he has been linked with a move to Man Utd.
St: Divock Origi - Belgium
Belgium were tipped by so many people in the build up to the tournament that the dark horses were shimmering white steeds by the time they kicked off in Brazil. Much of the hype surrounded the plethora of young attacking talent, most of whom were plying their trade in England. One of the few relatively unknown quantities in the squad was Lille striker Divock Origi. The youngster was included after Christian Benteke failed to win his fitness battle but was really only expected to play a minimal role. However, with Romelu Lukaku failing to find his club form, Origi was thrust into the action and he didn't disappoint. The 19 year old looks certain to be on his way to Liverpool for around €10 million.
Subs: Guillermo Ochoa - Mexico, Eugenio Mena - Chile, Kostas Manolas - Greece, Fabian Johnson - USA, Jose Juan Vazquez - Mexico, Ivan Perisic - Croatia, Enner Valenica - Ecuador
