Arsenal Transfer Targets And Manchester City Ace Among The Best XI From The 2014 World Cup Group C

The best team made up of stars from Colombia, Ivory Coast, Greece and Japan.

With less than two weeks to go until the start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil excitement is brewing, as 32 nations from across the planet compete for the biggest prize in international football.

To celebrate the buildup CaughtOffside has been producing the best starting XIs from each of the eight groups and now is the turn of Group C – which contains Colombia, Ivory Coast, Greece and Japan.

With some help from WhoScored, we have picked out the best team from the 2013/14 season made up of players from those nations, playing in a 4-4-2 formation.

Note – the website only covers the top leagues in Europe.

GK – David Ospina, Nice and Colombia – 7.19

Narrowly avoiding the drop Nice are lucky to still be a Ligue 1 side and goalkeeper Ospina is likely to be fighting with national compatriot Faryd Mondragón for a place between the sticks.

RB – Serge Aurier, Toulouse and Ivory Coast – 7.43

This right-back had such a brilliant 12 months in the French top tier that Arsenal are keeping tabs on the 21-year-old, who scored six league goals and provided six assists last campaign.

LB – Constant Djakpa – Eintracht Frankfurt and Ivory Coast – 7.06

A fellow Ivorian at left-back as the African nation begin to make up a large part of the back four, although Eintracht also struggled last term.

CB – Sokratis, Borussia Dortmund and Greece – 7.51

Was regarded by many as one of the signings of the season after helping Dortmund keep defensive solidity despite injuries to Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic.

CB – Cristian Zapata, AC Milan and Colombia – 7.23

Partnering Sokratis at the back is this Milan stalwart, who will be hoping to improve the Italian side after yet another disappointing season in Serie A.

RM – Juan Cuadrado, Fiorentina and Colombia – 7.69

It wasn’t a disappointing year in Italy for Zapata’s fellow countryman Cuadrado however, who’s 11 goals helped his side to fourth in the table against the odds.

LM – James Rodriguez, AS Monaco and Colombia – 7.41

Yet another Colombian now and a player who became part of the multimillion pound revolution at the Stade Louis II last summer, joining Monaco from FC Porto along with Joao Moutinho in a £60m deal.

CM – Yaya Toure, Manchester City and Ivory Coast – 7.52

This midfielder had a great 12 months with City as they won their second Premier League title in three years, scoring an impressive 20 league goals from the centre of the park.

CM – Fredy Guarin, Inter Milan and Colombia – 7.21

Partnering Toure in the middle is a player who’s future at the San Siro was up in the air six months ago, but has now signed a new deal with Inter and is an important part of their team.

ST – Adrian Ramos, Hertha Berlin and Colombia – 7.76

Considered to be among the best players in the Bundesliga in 2013/14 and that is probably why Dortmund have already snapped up this 28-year-old.

ST – Gervinho, AS Roma and Ivory Coast – 7.33

Finally it is a player who was often mocked at the Emirates Stadium, but has been a key part of Roma’s return to the Champions League after leaving the Gunners for pastures new in 2013.

SEE ALSO: The greatest XI from Group B of the 2014 World Cup.