The finest team from Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy.
The 2013/14 domestic season is over and now football fans from across the planet are looking forward to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In honour of this CaughtOffside has decided to pick out the statistically best XI from each of the eight groups in the tournament, with Group D up next.
With a little help from WhoScored we have selected the finest lineup from players from Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy, playing in a 4-4-2 formation.
Note that the website only represents the top leagues in Europe.
GK – Mattia Perin, Genoa and Italy – 7.00
Despite the fact Perin is the third choice goalkeeper for the Italians, according to the stats the 21-year-old is not only the best stopper from his nation, but from the entire group.
RB – Phil Jones, Manchester United and England – 7.26
Even though the Red Devils have had a poor 12 months and Jones appears not to be able to find his feet just yet, the 22-year-old takes the spot at right-back.
LB – Leighton Baines, Everton and England – 7.26
Another Englishman now and a left-back who has finally removed Chelsea’s Ashley Cole from the spot to become Roy Hodgson’s preferred choice.
CB – Diego Godin, Atletico Madrid and Uruguay – 7.47
It’s been a superb past 12 months for this Uruguayan, who has played a vital role in Atleti winning their first La Liga title in 18 years and making their first ever Champions League final in 2014.
CB – Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus and Italy – 7.61
The Italians have a reputation of being defensively strong so it’s only right at least one player from the nation appears at the back, with Chiellini having helped Juve to a third successive Serie A title this year.
RM – Antonio Candreva, Lazio and Italy – 7.34
It’s another star from Italy now and a winger who has had a brilliant campaign with Lazio, scoring 12 league goals and providing six assists.
LM – Raheem Sterling, Liverpool and England – 7.39
What a breakthrough term it has been for the 19-year-old, who’s performances for the Reds has now made the winger a stalwart for both club and country.
CM – Steven Gerrard, Liverpool and England – 7.74
Sterling’s domestic and international teammate now and a player who at 34-years-old is still among the finest midfielders in the game and scored 13 league goals and provided 13 assists in 2013/14.
CM – Andrea Pirlo, Juventus and Italy – 7.54
A player who operates in a similar way to Gerrard now and is helping to prove that age shouldn’t be restricting, as Pirlo is perhaps the finest deeplying playmaker in the game.
ST – Luis Suarez, Liverpool and Uruguay – 8.43
It goes to show just how good a season the Merseysiders had that this is the third representative from Anfield in the team, with Suarez having scored an incredible 31 goals and provided 12 assists in just 33 appearances.
ST – Wayne Rooney, Manchester United and England – 7.61
Equally as amazing as the success of the Reds is that despite the fact the Red Devils finished seventh in the English top tier, two of their players are in this XI with Rooney scoring 17 league goals and providing 10 assists last term.
SEE ALSO: The best XI from the 2014 World Cup Group A.