Players that have 'caught the eye'

Mesut Ozil, Asamoha Gyan, Gonzalo Higuain, and eh that Lionel Messi guy never heard of him much till the world cup haha, he is just different class but the 3 i've mentioned are the ones that have stood out for me.

Number 19 for paraguay. Lucas but the commentator keeps calling him barrios I believe. He is a striker. He is a fighter and gets into good postions.

I have watched Lucas Barrrios a number of times play in the Bundesliga and he is nothing special.

Ozil and Messi of course and even though i only saw him play one game i thought Simon Kjaer off Denmark looks like he's gonna have a big career.

Schweinsteiger is such an immense player, I think a lot of the work he does in midfield goes unnoticed, people take more notice of Ozil for example, but without exaggeration he's one of the best players out there for holding possession. Always digs in and sweeps up loose balls,I think he's the driving force behind Germany in this world cup.

Schweinsteiger is such an immense player, I think a lot of the work he does in midfield goes unnoticed, people take more notice of Ozil for example, but without exaggeration he's one of the best players out there for holding possession. Always digs in and sweeps up loose balls,I think he's the driving force behind Germany in this world cup.

100% agree. Said that in the Germany vs Argentina game thread too.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is a great player. He controls the midfield really well. He is able to make good passes, keeps his composure and can strike from distance.

Exactly like someone we need in our midfield, if you ask me.

That goalkeeper for Uruguay, Luis Suarez.

That goalkeeper for Uruguay, Luis Suarez.

Hand of Luis...

Luis Suarez celebrate when Gyan miss the penalty, Uruguay vs Ghana (3.07.2010)

Schweinsteiger ate the pitch today!! (that's wath we say when someone play a awsome performance like him)

Schweinsteiger completely transformed since Van Gaal made a holding midfielder out of him. And he's extremely experienced for a 25 year old.

That Mexican that's off to the mancs. Fernandez? Matias Fernandez I think he's called.

That Mexican that's off to the mancs. Fernandez? Matias Fernandez I think he's called.

Javi Hernandez.

Schweinsteiger - or Pig-Tractor - as translated

Schweinsteiger - or Pig-Tractor - as translated

schwein = pig  is correct

steiger = tractor is wrong.

there are many translations for the word steiger :

steiger( out of the austrian) = womanizer
steiger(in a german coalmine) = overseer or foreman

the german translation vor tractor is traktor. so you see the difference

the players that suprised me the most were müller and schweinsteiger. they were outstanding and i would have never expected this performence.

I think the correct translation would be pig chaser

to be honest there isnt a translation that would make any sense. I dont know how good your german is ( somewhere I read that you are from netherlands, so there is a chance that you speak it very well ). I am half german half austrian and in austria a "steiger!" is chaser..... but he chases woman, so the best translation would be womanizer.
My grandpa for example was a"steiger" ... a foreman in a coalmine. the verb "steigen" means "to rise, or to climb, or to increase" It has many meanings. So a real translation that would make sense doesnt' exist.

But I think thats enough off topic^^

So it's literally either pig-overseer or pig-womanizer, his name is pretty awesome I think though, doesn't get more German than that. I think he's actually the lead candidate for the golden ball, his performance against Argentina really demonstrated what he's capable of.

So it's literally either pig-overseer or pig-womanizer, his name is pretty awesome I think though, doesn't get more German than that. I think he's actually the lead candidate for the golden ball, his performance against Argentina really demonstrated what he's capable of.

I think it'll all depend on who wins the World Cup. I think it's between Sneijder and Schweinsteiger personally. Don't forget, Sneijder could win every possible competition this season, and he'll have played a big role in all of those wins too, if so. David Villa could be a candidate too.

I think it'll all depend on who wins the World Cup. I think it's between Sneijder and Schweinsteiger personally. Don't forget, Sneijder could win every possible competition this season, and he'll have played a big role in all of those wins too, if so. David Villa could be a candidate too.

Yeah you're right, the minimum needed really is probably to get to the final as was the case with Zidane in 06. Really the award could go to the likes of Bastian, Sneijder, Villa, or even Forlan. I'd say those where the main candidates based on who's left, possibly Ozil and Muller deserve a mention too. I would say Schweinsteiger has been the best midfielder of the tournament so far though.

I love Schweinsteiger as a player, think he's reborn this season, but it might be hard to beat 4 goals and 4 assists by Sneijder, and thats with some games left. Both deserve it though. I also agree on Forlan, but for obvious reasons I don't think he'll reach the final Muller and Ozil, while doing great, will probably get their chance in later world cups.

I really think it's between Sneijder, Ozil and Villa. Probably Muller and Schweinsteiger but as it's stated, it depends on who wins the tournament.

Cordozo.

Think he's a good player.