PIONEER SPORTS highlights the best shot-stoppers at play this summer in Russia who will be donning the mantle of the saviour for their national teams
SWEEPER KEEPER
ManuEl Neuer (germany)
AGE: 32 years; ClUB: Bayern Munich (German Bundesliga)
INTERNATIONAl CAPS: 76
CAREER HIGHlIGHTS: FIFA World Cup Golden Glove 2014; German Footballer of the Year 2011, 2014; IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper 2013, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16; UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year 2011, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15
Die Mannschaft — were just on the brink of taking a flight to Russia without their sweeper-keeper — his recursive fractures furrowing German brows, until a stem-cell based treatment got Manuel Neuer back on course to be able to join the fray this summer. Winner of the Golden Glove in 2014 as his country won the World Cup, Neuer has been touted by many as the best goalkeeper in the world today. His prowess does not stay restricted close to the goal posts as he usually wanders forward to thwart the opponent’s cheeky attempts of sneaking in a through ball past the German defence, in which case, the six-feet four- inch Neuer will always have the upper hand to gain advantage on the intruding ball. The 32-year old has an excellent sense of positioning himself to defend the goal-line even under nerve-wrecking pressure. His built and stature further allows him to block even the most perfectly placed shots sent rocketing through the air with all intent to damage.
The Punter
Alisson becker (brazil)
AGE: 25 years; ClUB: Roma (Italian Serie A )
INTERNATIONAl CAPS: 25
He made his senior international debut in the year 2015. He has represented Brazil in U-17 and U-21 levels after which he was called by the squad manager Dunga for the first two matches of the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign against Chile and Venezuela. Alisson completed 90 mins in a World Cup friendly against Croatia at Anfield which Brazil won 2-0. He is very strong in saving close range shots with his fast reflexes. His long passing abilities can be seen in matches, and he also comes off his line very often. Brazil’s number one received coaching from childhood hero Claudio Taffarel, a veteran who has gone through three World Cups. Alisson also drew inspiration from older brother Muriel who was a keeper for Brazilian club Internacional. He even followed Muriel there, collecting a hundred caps and winning the Campeonato Gaucho at each of his four season there before he was ultimately signed by Italian Serie A side Roma for 7.5 million euros. During the last season, Alisson grabbed the attention of many within the footballing world for playing a crucial role and emerging as a cetral figure in Roma’s miraculous run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions league. The Italian side eventually lost liverpool on aggregate, but attention towards Alisson has not turned out to be momentary as Europe’s elites continue to keep an eye on him.
Cat like Reflexes
David De Gea (spain)
AGE: 27 years; ClUB: Manchester United (English Premier league)
INTERNATIONAl CAPS: 29
CAREER HIGHlIGHTS: Premeir league Golden Glove 2017-18
When the goal is under siege and all hope seems to be lost, David de Gea will be the messiah for his national team just like he has been for Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in the English Premier league last season where the tall, lanky Spaniard made the fifth most saves in the league and equalled a record for most saves in a match — 14 — in December. He has also contributed with precision kicks which assume the role od assists for his teammates up ahead in the offensive. De Gea is known in particular for his outstanding reflexes, agility, and shot-stopping ability between the posts along with acrobatic dives and excellent saves. He got selected in Spain's 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and later made the final squad but was not featured in any of the games. However, this year has been his in almost every sense and in Russia, he can prove to be the heir of Iker Casillas.
Stopper & Enforcer
Hugo lloris (france)
AGE:31 years ClUB: Tottenham Hotspur (English Premier league)
INTERNATIONAl CAPS: 98
CAREER HIGHlIGHTS: ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
labeled as ‘Saint lloris’ by the French media after his performance over two legs against the Republic of Ireland saw les Bleus earn a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, 31-year old Hugo lloris is the captain of both the English Premier Club Tottenham Hotspur and the French national team. He is often accredited for his lightening reflexes and good decision making. The son of an investment banker, lloris made his debut for France in November 2008 in a friendly against Uruguay. He captained the national team in 2010 for the first time.
Costa Rican Angel
Keylor navas (costa rica)
AGE:31 years ClUB: Real Madrid(Spanish Primera Division)
INTERNATIONAl CAPS: 76
CAREER HIGHlIGHTS: concacaf Gold Cup Best Keeper 2009; Player of the Year 2016 and 2017, lfp Best Goalkeeper of the Year 2016
Hailed by Costa Rica as their angel after his performaces at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Keylor Navas is the man upon whom depends the country’s hopes. His displays during the summer of 2014 earned him a move to vjoined Real Madrid who signed him among their Galacticos for €10 million. The World Cup in 2014 was also Navas’ debut. He appeared in the group stage against Uruguay, winning by 3-1 and conceded only a single goal across the three Group games. In the round of 16 he ended the tournament with three clean sheets from five matches and was also one of the nominees for the Golden Glove Award.
Mister long legs
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
AGE: 26 years ClUB: Chelsea (English Premier league)
INTERNATIONAl CAPS: 57
CAREER HIGHlIGHTS: la liga Zamora Trophy 2013, ‘14:, la liga Goalkeeper of the Year 2013, Premier league Golden Glove 2016-17
Coming from a player of volleyball players, Thibaut Courtois made his senior international debut for Belgium in October 2011, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to represent the Red Devils. Till now he has appeared in more than 50 matches and was also there in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Courtois managed to keep a total of six clean shees out of ten matches through the tournament. He also helped Belgium to seal qualification into the competition for the first time in 16 years. Courtois has brilliant reflexes and a flexibility that allows him to push a ball bending dangerously out of reach away from danger. Although the recentremarks upon him have been critical due to his slip-up against lionel Messi in the Champions league, Courtois bears the expectations of a promising Belgian lineup.