In defence of

PIONEER SPORTS brings the best possible line-up of the game’s mainstay — the guys who stop the goal rushes — the defenders

Opposition’s bane

Diego Godin (Uruguay)

AGE: 32 years; CLUB: Atletico Madrid (Spanish Primera Division)

DEFENSIVE STATS FOR LEAGUE SEASON 2017-18

DUELS WON: 136

AVG TACKLES WON: 66.0%

PASS ACCURACY:86%

APPEARANCES: 30

INTERNATIONAL — UEFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

DUELS WON: 98

AVG TACKLES WON: 80.49%

PASS ACCURACY: 73%

APPEARANCES: 16

GOALS: 3

Principled man: He reads the game like a weathered sailor scrutinises the horizon. Godin is pragmatic in defence and a bane for the opposition when he decides to jog to the rivals’ end to have a say in a set piece. Yet, he does not speak much, letting his ferocity on the field dictate his character to everyone who watches. The Uruguayan, in coach Oscar Tabarez’s words, is a man of principles who has been a key player for the team and an extraordinary person beyond football. Following the international retirement of the Celeste’s former captain Diego Lugano in 2014, Godin has deservedly donned the captain’s armband for his country and held the team together with sheer grit and a leadership quality seen only among a few others.

Cool as cucumber

Gerard Pique (Spain)

AGE: 31 years; Club: Barcelona (Spanish Primera Division)

DEFENSIVE STATS FOR LEAGUE SEASON 2017-18

DUELS WON: 119

AVG TACKLES WON: 70.97%

PASS ACCURACY: 89%

GOALS: 2

APPEARANCES: 30

INTERNATIONAL — UEFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

DUELS WON: 29

AVG TACKLES WON: 75%

PASS ACCURACY: 93%

APPEARANCES: 8

Proud one: Gerard Pique is Catalan by blood, and a proud one at that! But once he dons the colours of La Roja, there remains little doubt in the commitment he has displayed towards his side. The Spanish fans, however, do not follow the same line of thoughts, booing the central defender at every occasion they get. Pique, nevertheless, remains unbothered, managing to keep his head throughout the pointless whistling and jeering. That is something Spain could use during times when the going gets heavy and the need for a centre back with manoeuvres bearing grace and lacking cynicism becomes indispensable.

Fall guy

Raphael Varane (France)

AGE: 26 years; CLUB: Real Madrid  (Spanish Primera Division)

DEFENSIVE STATS FOR LEAGUE SEASON 2017-18

DUELS WON: 98

AVG TACKLES WON: 67.86%

PASS ACCURACY: 91%

GOALS: 2  APPEARANCES: 27

INTERNATIONAL — UEFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

DUELS WON: 42

AVG TACKLES WON: 100%

PASS ACCURACY: 89% APPEARANCES: 7

The Disciplinarian: That the young Frenchman at Real Madrid has made the transition from someone like Pepe to himself go almost unnoticed, speaks volumes about his defensive efficiency and that he has done it without all the Red Cards that his Portuguese predecessor was so accustomed to, says even more about Varane’s disciplinary principles. For France, the 25-year-old will be bearing a similar look as he firmly takes his place among the defensive ramparts of Les Bleus — seeking his chance for redemption from the blame he took for France’s fall before Germany at the 2014 World Cup Quarterfinal.

Defence Mainstay

Jerome Boateng (Germany)

AGE: 29 years; CLUB: Bayern Munich (German Bundesliga)

DEFENSIVE STATS FOR LEAGUE SEASON 2017-18

DUELS WON: 67

AVG TACKLES WON: 69.23%

PASS ACCURACY: 87%

GOALS: 1

APPEARANCES: 19

INTERNATIONAL — UEFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

DUELS WON: 8

AVG TACKLES WON: 100%

PASS ACCURACY: 89%

APPEARANCES: 3

Master Stopper: Proving his worth at the 2014 World Cup final against Lionel Messi's Argentina with a spectacular performance, 29-year-old Boateng has eventually become the defensive mainstay for Die Mannschaft. Fashion designer and business partners with Jay-Z off the pitch and an impenetrable German wall on it, Jerome’s tour to Russia was clouded by doubts on account of a hamstring injury until his return in Germany’s 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia on Friday (June 8, 2018) cleared the air as he put up a show that made onlookers wonder if he had indeed missed any game time.

The Superman

Nicolas Otamendi (Argentina)

AGE: 30 years; CLUB: Manchester City (English Premier League)

DEFENSIVE STATS FOR LEAGUE SEASON 2017-18

DUELS WON: 161

AVG TACKLES WON: 74.14%

PASS ACCURACY: 92%

GOALS: 4, APPEARANCES: 34

INTERNATIONAL — CONMEBOL WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

DUELS WON: 104, AVG TACKLES WON: 66.67%

PASS ACCURACY: 83%

GOALS: 1, appearances: 15 

Central Theme: Pep Guardiola has done modern football a lot of favours and transforming Nicolas Otamendi is indeed one of them. The 30-year old Argentine has risen from the shadows surrounding his international career with a more definitive mindset and a persona enhanced by a beard and some tattoos. Besides, under the watchful eye of Guardiola at Manchester City, Otamendi's friendship with the ball has grown deeper – he broke the Premier League record for most completed passes last season while his team still had five games in hand to sign of a triumphant league campaign. Something that prompted his Catalan coach to rename him the 'Superman.'

THE ENFORCER

SERGIO RAMOS (SPAIN)

AGE: 32 years; CLUB: Real Madrid (Spanish Primera Division)

DEFENSIVE STATS FOR LEAGUE SEASON 2017-18

DUELS WON: 153

AVG TACKLES WON: 72.5%

PASS ACCURACY: 90%

GOALS: 4 APPEARANCES: 26

INTERNATIONAL — UEFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

DUELS WON: 36 AVG TACKLES WON: 80%

PASS ACCURACY: 93%

APPEARANCES: 9

‘COMANDANTE’: In the aristocratic all-whites of Real Madrid as well as in the distinctive La Roja shirt, one thing that does not change about Sergio Ramos is his infectious passion which separates him from the rest  and puts him a notch above the lot. A conjurer of the dark arts on the pitch, the ruthless comandante  of the Spanish legions is often tagged as the ‘bad boy’ of the beautiful game — his latest acts of notoriety in the Champions League final sparking widespread fury across world football. Irrespective of that, Ramos’ passion for winning is second to none. He can defend well , he can score goals and it is highly likely that he can get your best player sent off the pitch in utter frustration.