From Keylor Navas to James Rodríguez, 10 of the men who announced themselves at Brazil 2014Costa Rica were the surprise package of the World Cup, topping a group including Italy, Uruguay and England, before eliminating Greece and falling to Holland in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout. That improbable run would not have been possible without a series of exceptional performances by their goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. The then 27-year-old won four man-of-the-match awards during the tournament – the same number as Lionel Messi – and afterwards joined Real Madrid, who triggered a release clause in his Levante contract by forking out around £7.9m. But Navas has yet to become first choice at his new club, making only four appearances this season as Madrid keep faith with Iker Casillas, who endured a hellish time at the World Cup and was thought to have left his best days behind him. But it seems Casillas remains Saint Iker at the Bernabéu. It is to be hoped Navas’s best is not behind him already. Continue reading...
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