Team of the tournament (so far)

So, the group stages of the World Cup are over, with some shocks and surprises along the way. I look at the team of the tournament so far, playing the bog standard 4-4-2 formation.

GK - Guillermo Ochoa - Mexico

You only have to look at this man's performance against Brazil to see why he's been chosen as the goalkeeper in my team. Mexico only conceded one goal in the group stages, a consolation for Croatia in a 3-1 triumph for Mexico. He'll need to be at his best to keep out a rampant Holland side in the next round though, but if he performs like he did in the Brazil game, then Mexico may just sneak through.

RB - Fabian Johnson - USA

Another North American, Johnson has been the focal point of most of the US attacks, despite playing at right back. He has continuously bombed down the right, providing balls into the area and causing the opposition plenty of problems, especially in the Portugal game. With the US playing Belgium in the next round, Johnson will have to do well against Jan Vertonghen.

CB - Gary Medel - Chile

Whilst he may not have set the world alight at Cardiff last season, he has certainly performed well for Chile, albeit in a slightly different position to the one that he played at Cardiff. Malky Mackay and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deployed him as a defensive midfielder, whilst Jorge Sampaoli preferring him at centre back. He isn't the biggest in terms of stature, but his performance against Spain alone is enough to merit his inclusion in this squad.

CB - Mario Yepes - Colombia

Proving age is just a number, at 38 years of age, Mario Yepes has been hugely impressive for Colombia, with his performance against the Ivory Coast cited as one of the reasons why they've progressed into the next round. As Colombia's captain, he's also done a fantastic job of leading his side to the knockout rounds, especially considering they're without Falcao, arguably their best player. With this likely to be his last international outing, Yepes is keen to go out on a high.

LB - Daley Blind - Holland

Just look at his pass to Robin van Persie for the equaliser against Spain; it was pure brilliance, as was the finish. I had doubts about Holland's defense coming into the tournament, but they've arguably been the best part of their play, with Louis van Gaal organising them incredibly well; so well that 3 of his first choice back five have been linked with moves to Manchester United, Blind included. This spot was between him and Iran's Mehrdad Pooladi, but I've given it to Blind based on the fact that Holland qualified for the knockout stage.

RM - Arjen Robben - Holland

I know he's played further forward than right midfield this tournament, but I can't not include him after the 3 games that he has had. Two goals in the opener against Spain, a further goal vs Australia and an incredible assist against Chile means that he merits inclusion on the right hand side. He's worked hand in hand with van Persie in what is the deadliest partnership at these finals so far, and could well tear Mexico apart.

CM - James Rodriguez - Colombia

For me, he has been the player of the tournament. Maybe they didn't have the toughest of groups, but he has been the shining light, scoring in every match so far, with his goal against Japan being the pick of the bunch. He's also bagged himself 3 assists, and he's only 22. He's already commanded a £37.5m transfer fee, and Monaco must know that they've got a real player on their hands. The whole world now knows it too.

CM - Thomas Muller - Germany

He's listed as a midfielder in the German squad, so I'm going to include him as a midfielder too. A hat trick in the opening game against Portugal - seen by many as the hardest game of the group - and a well taken finish against the US today has only further enhanced his goalscoring reputation at World Cups - 9 goals in 9 games - and he's only 24 years of age, which is scary if nothing else. He's got a good chance of being top scorer again, with Germany playing Algeria in the next round, I wouldn't bet against it.

LM - Neymar - Brazil

It's his World Cup. He's the poster boy. He has to perform, and perform he is. Two goals in the curtain raiser against Croatia before two more against Cameroon in the final group game mean he is currently the joint top scorer, and with a second round game against Chile to come, could he add to his tally? Brazil have a dependence on him to perform well, in much the same way that Argentina do with Messi. Speaking of which...

ST - Lionel Messi - Argentina

He's hasn't had the greatest of World Cups in the past, but come 2014 in South America, Messi has set the world alight yet again, with stunning goals against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iran digging Argentina out of holes they really shouldn't be in, as well as a double against Nigeria which included a sublime free kick. Can Messi single handedly win the tournament for Argentina though? I doubt it, but if he keeps playing this well, they may well go far, especially with Swtizerland next.

ST - Robin van Persie - Holland

I've mentioned him twice before in this post, and now for a third time. Many of us were wondering what kind of van Persie will show up at this tournament and we soon got the answer, with an incredible header. Two goals and a suspension later, and van Persie has a wonderful chance to increase his goal tally with a game against Mexico. Manchester United fans must be loving the way that van Persie is playing under van Gaal, but they still came 7th last year so yeah.

5 players you've probably not heard of who could star at the World Cup

It's a long winded title, but it covers everything. Everyone focuses on Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar etc. so I thought I'd look at 5 players who have gone under the radar but still have the capacity to star at the World Cup.

Josip Drmic - Switzerland
Josip Drmic has the ability to lead Switzerland into the next round at least, after demonstrating his goalscoring ability in the Bundesliga last season for Nurnberg, who ended up being relegated. Drmic managed to earn himself a move to Bayer Leverkusen though, and he will show why in Brazil. He's almost certain to start for Switzerland, and with games against France, Honduras and Ecuador, he could grab a few goals and make a name for himself.

Izet Hajrovic - Bosnia & Herzegovina
Izet Hajrovic is a winger who currently plays for Galatasaray and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Whilst the attention will be focused on Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic and Vedad Ibisevic, Hajrovic could well prove to be one of the heroes for Bosnia at this summer's World Cup. Their opening game against Argentina is the toughest they will face, with Nigeria and Iran the other two teams they have to negotiate in Group F. Hajrovic scored the winner in a recent friendly against Mexico, and can supply the ammunition for Dzeko and Ibisevic as part of the only team making their World Cup debut this year.

Jefferson Montero - Ecuador
Jefferson Montero is part of the Ecuador team, playing on the left side of midfield. He provided the cross for their opener against England recently, and has pace and tricks in his locker. He can even play on the right side of midfield, but his club and his nation prefer him on the left, where he is able to cut inside. His shirt name on FIFA is 'Baby Jeff'. How awesome is that? He'll be out to make a name for himself in Brazil for his football though, something he is more than capable of.

Eder Alvarez Balanta - Colombia
Eder Alvarez Balanta is one of the new kids on the block. A Colombian defender, he plays for River Plate in Argentina and has only picked up a couple of caps for his country so far. He's likely to play alongside Mario Yepes, who is 17 years his senior. Despite Falcao missing from the tournament, they still have a formidable attacking line up, with the likes of Jackson Martinez, Carlos Bacca and Adrian Ramos all still being present, as well as having a fairly decent midfield with the likes of Fredy Guarin, Juan Cuadrado and James Rodriguez, but the one area that they are perhaps lacking is defence, which is where Balanta has to step up and be solid. If Colombia are to make it far in the tournament, Balanta will have to be one of their key men.

Karim Ansarifard - Iran
Finally, a man with a plan from Iran hoping to do what he can. Yes, it's everyone's favourite, Karim Ansarifard. He is a 24 year old striker who is on the books of Persepolis, one of the biggest clubs in Iran, but he spent last season on loan at Tractor Sazi who came 6th in the top division in Iran and won the Hazfi Cup, the Iranian equivalent of the FA Cup, and was named the player of the tournament. Ansarifard hit 14 goals in 28 league appearances, as well as 2 in the cup run and 1 in the Asian Champions League against Al-Ittihad. He's hoping to use the World Cup to earn a move to Europe, and after being given the number 10 shirt by Iran coach Carlos Quieroz, it looks like he'll be Iran's main striker at the tournament. Whether they can progress is a different matter altogether though.

How England should line up in the group stages

With the World Cup starting on Thursday, and England kicking off their campaign in a week's time, I look at how they should line up for the group stage games against Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

Hart 

Johnson Jagielka Cahill Baines

Gerrard Henderson 

Barkley Rooney Lallana 

Sturridge

I would line up like this against Italy. We all know that they have a set piece master in Pirlo, so I say we should fight fire with fire and trust in the abilities of Leighton Baines. I'd go in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gerrard and Henderson holding the midfield, with Lallana on the left, Barkley on the right and Rooney playing in the centre behind Sturridge. We have to expose each team's weakness, and if Italy have one, then it's at full back. They played Ignazio Abate and Mattia De Sciglio in the midweek friendly against Luxembourg (a game they drew by the way). Last time out against Italy, a friendly after Euro 2012 that England won 2-1, the Azzuri played Abate and Balzaretti at full back, the same combination that played against England in the Euros that same year. Prandelli seems to favour 4 at the back, as opposed to Juventus' 3 central defenders and 2 wing backs that won them Serie A so convincingly last season. I don't think pace is the best way of exposing the Italian backline, especially with the pace of Abate (FIFA players know what I'm on about), so I think our best hope is with Barkley and Lallana to out-fox them.

Hart 

Johnson Jagielka Cahill Shaw 

Gerrard Wilshere 

Lampard Barkley 

Sturridge Rooney

This would be my line up in the second game against Uruguay. Of course, they have a decent strike force with Cavani and Suarez, as well as Diego Forlan, who can still do a job. Their midfield is decent, nothing to shout about though, with their best player probably being Southampton's Gaston Ramirez. They've kept faith with the majority of their 2010 squad, with 15 of the 23 part of the team that reached the semi finals in controversial circumstances (but I had them in a sweepstake so I didn't care). This game will be won in midfield, where we are far superior. Cavani and Suarez will have to be kept quiet by Cahill and Jagielka, and I think the full backs can push forward this game, which is why I'd play Shaw over Baines here because I feel that he is better at going forward. Gerrard and Wilshere should line up together as they provide different things. Gerrard is able to pick a pass to absolutely anywhere, whereas Wilshere is a far more intricate player, which could serve well here against the Uruguayan midfield. Lampard and Barkley would be ahead of them centrally to enable Johnson and Shaw to fully use the wings, with Sturridge and Rooney partnering each other up front.

Hart 

Johnson Jagielka Cahill Baines 

Gerrard Henderson 

Sterling Rooney Chamberlain

Sturridge

Costa Rica is supposed to be the easy game in the group, but no game is easy if it's in the World Cup. This is where I'd go for pace, with Costa Rica preferring a more defensive approach and then launching the counter attack, relying on the craft of Bryan Ruiz and the pace of Joel Campbell. They played 5 at the back against Ireland in the early hours of the morning today, which wasn't too successful, achieving a 1-1 draw and having a man sent off, so the approach could differ, but it won't be too different since they've taken 9 defenders to Brazil as opposed to us taking just 7. Raheem Sterling should have a field day against these, as should Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provided he's fit, otherwise I would start Adam Lallana on the left, with Rooney sitting in just behind Sturridge.