Goalkeepers aside I can only think of Kompany, Zabaleta and maybe Van Persie who have shown any real form in this World Cup that play in our league. Is this because it's a more competitive league, because we don't have a break, just coincidence or is it just not as good as it's hyped up to be?

Just coincedence in my opinion. Who from La Liga has lit up the tournament? I can't think of anyone. I wouldn't look at it in terms of which leagues the players come from anyway. I'd just look at the individual player for reasons why he hasn't performed e.g. injury, lack of form for his club towards the end of the season etc.

I'd say Messi and Neymar have performed and that's just off the top off my head. Not knocking your overall point though

Neymar, I could accept. I don't feel Messi has lived up to the expectations, performance-wise. Despite a couple of goals (his one against Bosnia being overrated), he's been very quiet in all the Argentinian matches I've seen. In fact, I think Messi's been in the same kind of form he was in (and criticised) for Barcelona for the 2nd half of last season, despite people suggesting he was saving himself for the World Cup.

Messi has four goals, same as Neymar.

Personally I think he is the reason they have got over the line in all of the games but it's all about opinions.

Neymar seems to have been more involved in Brazil's attacks than Messi has, who has drifted along. I feel Messi could do more to take matches by the scruff of the neck.

Sorry for taking this thread away from the Premiership OP.

Messi and Neymar have almost identical goals, assists and goals per minute stats.
I think Messi's goals have been better.

I think this just goes to show how strong Bayern Munich is. Just think of all the players at that club who are still in this tournament. Yeah...

I could probably pick out some more if I looked through the squads. None are up for player of the tournament but most have done well enough. I've only omitted a few who I thought were quite poor (Sakho, Dzeko, Y Toure).

Suarez
Debuchy
Schurrle did okay when he got chances.
Ozil has been better than his late premier league form
De Guzman
Fer did well in his short cameo
David Luiz
Fernandinho
Mertesacker
Koscielny
Evra
Sissoko
Giroud
Ruiz
Sterling
Vertonghen
Fellaini
Hazard
Mirallas

Can't be bothered thinking about it more but there's still quite a decent list. I agree though that the premier league isn't as strong as some people make it out to be.

I think you are being a bit lenient with a lot of those to be honest but it was just something that went through my mind watching Belgium today

Hazard? Really?

Gary Medel did a good job for Chile. Sakho was one of the top performers for France before their exit. Mikel looked good for Nigeria and Schurrle has been a good sub for Germany. Also Vlaar.

Technically a Championship player.

(Sorry Cardiff fans! )

Thanks, you're really knowledgeable.

and Ozil???

Techincally Luiz isn't a PL player.

Not if you are counting David Luiz as a Premier League player!

Medel - definitely. Forgot about him.

Absolutely. The Bayern Munich players have the best fitness levels because the German Bundesliga is much easier with less games and a break. All the PL players look exhausted by the time it gets to the World Cup. There is no coincidence about this. Aside from Suarez who was injured, no one from the PL impressed at all. Van Persie is a great player, but compare his fitness to Robben's and you will see a massive difference. People are just kidding themselves when they ignore the obvious flaws of the PL.

Let's be honest though Robben is in a league of his own when it comes to fitness. Even at extra time against Costa Rica he was running all over the place. Amazing for someone who is 30.

Yes, probably - some have been quite good mostly and others have been quite anonymous with the odd good moment. I think they've all had their moments but none are going to get Player Of The Tournament. Debuchy has probably been the pick of them I think, along with Medel. (Ignoring goalkeepers because Howard was excellent too.)

This is what happens with these type of topics. Someone asks about form and I say that this list of players have done okay at times and been passable whilst agreeing that none have shown the form of Neymar/Rodriguez/Robben. Then you get people querying that because they have only two modes - either a player was brilliant or they were terrible. Well....I don't view things that way. As far as I can see only a few players have had absolute stinkers, most have had their moments, a couple of dozen have been consistently good, and a few have been outstanding.

That's a fair point, but have a look at the Bundesliga players in the German team. Their level of fitness quite high.