Why Morgan De Sanctis may be the most underrated goalkeeper in the world

Is Morgan De Sanctis the most underrated goalkeeper in the world?

            While Morgan De Sanctis may not enjoy the global reputation of some of the most popular goalkeepers on the planet, his statistics since he joined Roma place him at the top alongside his more illustrious peers. For the second season in a row, Morgan De Sanctis is proving to be a key ingredient to Roma’s ability to wrestle the Scudetto title away from bitter rivals Juventus. Ten games into the 2014/15 Serie A season, the Roma custodian has already amassed 6 clean sheets, having missed two games due to injury. Among Europe’s top 5 leagues this season, only Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo, Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer have kept the opposition off the scoreboard more often than De Sanctis, but they all have the advantage of having played more games. More impressively, Roma’s net-minder leads the way with 8 saves per goal – the highest ratio in Europe’s top 5 leagues. His 3.67 diving saves per goal ratio is second only to Sampdoria’s Emiliano Viviano, who has made 4 diving saves per goal.

2014/15 Season Saves per goal rankings (through November 4^th)

2014/15 Season Clean Sheet and Least Goals Allowed Sheet Rankings

At 37 years old, De Sanctis is proving to be one of the most reliable and consistent goalkeepers in the world. His arrival at Roma last season played a huge role in the Giallorossi’s second place finish. De Sanctis finished the 2013/14 season with 21 clean sheets – tied with Lille’s Vincent Enyeama, who was outstanding in Ligue 1 last term, and ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, PSG’s Salvatore Sirigu and Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon. In terms of least goals conceded per game, Roma’s shot stopper ended last season fourth among Europe’s top 5 leagues with 0.64 goals conceded per 90, behind Manuel Neuer (0.59), Salvatore Sirigu (0.62) and Gianluigi Buffon (0.63), but ahead of Thibaut Coutois (0.65). In comparison to the likes of Neuer and Buffon (and even Courtois), the name De Sanctis may not carry quite the same weight in world football these days, but his record speaks for itself, and as long as he carries on with his current form, Roma fans won’t mind. If the Giallorossi are to prevent the Bianconeri from winning their fourth consecutive Scudetto, the performance of De Sanctis in goal relative to that of Buffon just may be the difference.

2013/14 Season Saves Per Goal Rankings

2013/14 Season Clean Sheet and Least Goals Allowed Sheet Rankings

The Value of a Goalkeeper: The impressive saves per goal ratios attained by Yann Sommer (7.6) and Emiliano Viviano (6.0) this season have a lot to do with Borussia Monchengladbach’s and Sampdoria’s current third place positions in the Bundesliga and Serie A respectively. While goalkeepers don’t necessarily win you titles, the best custodians help their teams earn points throughout a season they wouldn’t have otherwise. Looking at the shot stoppers with the best saves per goal ratios last season, Buffon (4.3 saves per goal) and Neuer (3.94 saves per goal) won the Serie A and Bundesliga titles respectively. While Nice’s David Ospina (4.04 saves per goal) and Levante’s Keylor Navas (4.03 saves per goal) were only able to help their teams place seventeenth and tenth in Ligue 1 and La Liga last term respectively, their clubs would have been much worse off without them. Nice in particular would have almost certainly been relegated without Ospina’s heroic performances in goal.

Both Ospina and Navas went on to have stellar performances at the World Cup for Colombia and Costa Rica respectively, leading their nations to historic quarterfinal stage finishes. Consequently, they earned dream moves to Arsenal and Real Madrid where they are unfortunately currently playing back-up roles to goalkeepers who were statistically inferior last season (Wojsiech Szczesny and Iker Casillas).       

Why Real Madrid may regret letting Alonso leave

Why Real Madrid may ultimately regret letting Alonso go

Toni Kroos’ 30M Euro move to Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso’s 8M Euro move in the opposite direction were two of the more intriguing transactions of the transfer window this past summer. While the two moves happened in isolation, they were related in the sense that it was only after Real closed the deal for Kroos earlier in the transfer window (shortly after his World Cup triumph), that Alonso essentially became surplus to requirements in the mind of Madrid’s power brokers. Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola were more than happy to pounce when they realized that the Spanish International was available at a relatively cut-price fee.

Several Madridistas were (and still are) disappointed to see Alonso leave, and many recognized that Toni Kroos, for all his offensive talent, doesn’t have the natural defensive characteristics possessed by the Spanish International. To put this into perspective, I tried to break down the similarities and differences between the two former World Cup winners by taking a closer look at the performance of Kroos at Bayern over a 5-year period, and that of Alonso in a Real outfit over the same timeframe, and unraveled the following:

Goals, Shots and Creativity:

           

Between the 09/10 season and the 13/14 season, Kroos averaged 4 goals per season (0.91 non-penalty kick goals per 90), 2.35 shots per 90, 7 assists per season, 2.46 shot assists per 90 and 0.26 big chances created per 90. During the same period, Alonso averaged 1 goal per season (0.02 non-penalty kick goals per 90), 0.68 shots per 90, 5 assists per season, 1.76 shot assists per 90 and 0.19 big chances created per 90.

Essentially, on every one of the offensive metrics mentioned, Kroos has superior numbers, partly explained by the fact that he’s generally played closer to goal than Alonso, who has almost exclusively sat in front of the back four in his career.

On the Ball – Passing:

            In terms of passing statistics over the past 5 seasons, Kroos has averaged 63.6 passes per 90 and 0.5 through balls per 90, with an overall passing accuracy of 87.5%. Alonso on the other hand has averaged 75.4 passes per 90, and 0.69 through balls per 90 with an overall passing accuracy of 86%.

            While Alonso’s passing accuracy is slightly lower than that of Kroos, (86% vs. 87.5%), he’s averaged 18.6% more passes per game and 38% more through balls per game than Kroos over the past five seasons.

Defensive Action & Duels:

It’s probably on the defensive side of the ball that the effect of losing Alonso in favor of Kroos is going to be felt at Real Madrid over the long term. Over the past 5 years, the German has averaged 2 tackles per 90 in comparison to Alonso’s 3.42. In terms of defensive positional and tactical awareness, Kroos has averaged 0.23 interceptions per game in comparison to 1.4 interceptions per game for Alonso. Lastly and perhaps most crucially, Alonso has recovered 96.2% more balls per game on average than Kroos (10.4 ball recoveries per game vs. 5.3). 

With the exception of Madrid’s early-season loss to Real Sociedad in which Los Blancos were exposed defensively, Luca Modric and Toni Kroos have anchored Madrid’s midfield with absolute class. The reality however is that Real Madrid hasn’t been tested enough to determine if the void left by Alonso’s departure is being filled in terms of the protection he provided the defensive back-line of four. Sami Khedira would provide more defensive cover in the midfield position, but his relative lack of technical quality on the ball means that Ancelotti has preferred a Modric-Kroos partnership in midfield. Even in the absence of Modric due to injury, Ancelotti has opted for Isco as a deep-lying playmaker over Khedira. While this strategy may be successful against most teams Madrid encounters, you have to wonder whether Ancelotti’s men may come undone against higher quality opposition. We may not find out until the latter stages of the Champions League this year where the likes of Chelsea or Bayern Munich will provide a much tougher attacking threat to Los Blancos than is posed to them most weekends in La Liga.

French Ligue 2 Focus: Transfer Market Value Insights on France's second tier division

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Valenciennes has the highest average player value APV in France's Ligue 2 at 0.65M Euros, which is 67.8% higher than the league's average of of 0.39M Euros
• Stade Brest and FC Sochaux (both 0.61M Euros) have the second and third highest APVs in the league
• Valenciennes (0.65M, highest APV), Sochaux (0.56M, 4th highest APV) and AC Ajaccio (0.45M, 7th highest APV) are the 3 clubs relegated from Ligue 1 following the 2013/2014 season, and their APV is in the top half of the league as expected
• US Orleans has the lowest APV in the league at 0.12M Euros, which is about 69% below the league average

French Ligue 2 Average Player Value Index (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com)

• As expected, newly promoted clubs in Ligue 2 (US Orleans and Gazelec Ajaccio) have experienced the highest increase in squad Transfer Market Value (TMV) in Ligue 2 (see chart below) over the past 12 months
• Of the Ligue 2 clubs that were in the league last year, Creteil (0.31M Euro APV), Troyes AC (0.6M Euro APV) and Arles (0.37M Euro APV), have grown the most in value over the past year, while AS Nancy (0.51M Euros), Le Havre (0.36M Euro) and Tours FC (0.29M Euros) have seen the most drastic drop in TMV
• Ligue 2 clubs that were in Ligue 1 last year have seen the most drastic loss in transfer market value. Valenciennes' TMV dropped 55.3%, Ajaccio 66.5% and Sochaux 69.7% (see chart below)
• These losses are driven in large-part by the departure of some of their most valuable assets following relegation, such as Lindsay Rose who left Valenciennes for Olympique Lyonnais

French Ligue 2 Squad Transfer Market Value % increase(decrease) since October 1st 2013

5 Ligue 2 Potential prospects for Europe's Big Leagues

• Opa Nguette (Valenciennes): 20 year old French Youth International attacking midfielder/striker valued at 1.75M Euros
• Loris Nery (Valenciennes): 23 year old versatile French Youth International left-back (can play across back line) valued at 1.5M Euros
• Jerome Roussillon (Sochaux): 21 year old French Youth International left-back currently valued at 1.5M Euros
• Cedric Hountondji (LB Chateauroux on loan from Rennes): 20 year old French Youth International centre-back valued at 1.5M Euros
• Remi Walter (AS Nancy): 19 year old French Youth International defensive midfielder currently valued at 1.5M Euros

10 most highly valued players in Ligue 2 (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com)

Japanese J. League Division 1 Focus: Urawa Red Diamonds have the highest Average Player Value (APV) index in Japan's top division

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Japan's J. League has a current Average Player Value (APV) of 0.44M Euros, which is higher than that of several leagues in the America's including the USA's Major League Soccer (0.36M Euro APV), Uruguay's Primera Division (0.27M Euro APV) and the Chilean Primera Division (0.24M Euro APV), and only slightly lower than that of Argentina's top division (0.496M Euro APV)
• Urawa Reds have the highest APV in the Japanese J. League at 0.64M Euros, 45.5% higher than that of the league
• Urawa's APV is the second highest in the Asian Football Confederation behind China's Guangzhou Evergrande (0.74M Euros)
• Cerezo Osaka (0.61M Euro APV) has the second highest APV Index in Japan, 38.6% higher than the J.Leagues's 0.44M Euros
• 6 other clubs (Sanfrecce Hiroshima, FC Tokyo, Yokohama F. Marinos, Kashiwa Reysol, Kawasaki Frontale and Vegalta Sendai) make up the 8 clubs with an APV higher than the J.League average
• Ventforet Kofu has the lowest APV index (0.27M Euros) in the J.League, 38.6% lower than that of the league

5 J.League prospects for Europe's big leagues:

• Renato (Kawasaki Frontale): 25 year old Brazilian winger valued at 1.5M Euros
• Yojiro Takahaji (Sanfrecce Hiroshima): 28 year old Japanese attacking midfielder valued at 1.5M Euros
• Takashi Usami (Gamba Osaka): 22 year old support striker valued at 1.5M Euros
• Yosuke Kashiwagi (Urawa Reds): 26 year old Japanese attacking midfielder at 1.5M Euros
• Manabu Saito (Yokohama F. Marinos): 24 year old Japanese winger valued at 1.5M Euros

Japanese J.League Average Player Value Index (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com)

World Cup Player Transfer Market Value Analysis: Spain and Germany have the highest average player value (APV) index in the tournament

World Cup Absolute APV figures (Market Value data from transfermarkt.com):

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Spain has the highest APV of all the squads at the World Cup, at 27.04M Euros, which is 221% higher than the World Cup APV of 8.43M Euros
• The World Cup APV is higher than that of the English Premier League (7.35M Euros), Spanish La Liga (5.3M Euros), Italian Serie A (4.2M Euros), German Bundesliga (4.1M Euros) and French Ligue 1 (2.89M Euros)
• Germany (24.43M Euros, 190% higher than World Cup average) and Brazil (20.33M Euros, 141% higher than World Cup Average) have the second and third highest APVs in the tournament respectively (See charts above and below)
• 11 out of 32 World Cup teams have an APV higher than that of the tournament (see chart below)
• Croatia's APV (8.4M Euros) is equal to that of the tournament, while Colombia's APV (8.27M Euros, 2% below World Cup APV) is the highest of all teams with an APV lower than the tournament average
• Australia and Honduras have the lowest APVs of all the teams at the World Cup with an APV of about 0.92M Euros, 89% below that of the tournament average

World Cup Average Player Value Index (Market Value data from transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group H Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group H, Belgium has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 348M Euros and an Average Player Value (APV) of 15.13M Euros
• Belgium's APV is about 117.4% than that of the group
• Eden Hazard (45M Euros, Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (35M Euros, Manchester City) and Axel Witsel (35M Euros, Zenit) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only three players in the squad still play in Belgium
• Laurent Ciman (3.2M Euros, Standard Liege)
• Anthony Vanden Borre (2M Euros, Anderlecht)
• Sammy Bossut (1.8M Euros, Zulte Waregem) 
• Russia has the second highest Total TMV in the group at 183.8M Euros and an APV of 7.99M Euros
• Russia's APV is about 14.8% higher than that of the group
• Alan Dzagoev (23M Euros, CSKA Moscow), Igor Akinfeev (20M Euros, CSKA Moscow) and Aleksandr Kokorin (18M Euros, Dinamo Moscow) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• All 23 of Russia's players play domestically
• Algeria has the third highest total TMV in the group at 57.2M Euros and an APV of 2.49M Euros
• Algeria's APV is about 64% lower than that of the group
• Sofiane Feghouli (12M Euros, Valencia), Saphir Taider (10M Euros, Inter Milan) and Faouzi Ghoulam (5M Euros, Napoli) have the highest TMVs in the group
• Only 2 of Algeria's 23 ply their trade domestically
• Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (0.6M Euros, USM Alger)
• Cedric (0.5M Euros, CS Constantine)
• South Korea (Republic of Korea) has the lowest total TMV in the group at 51.93M Euros and an APV of 2.26M Euros
• South Korea's APV is about 68% lower than that of the group
• Heung Min-Son (14M Euros, Bayer Leverkusen), Sung-Yong Ki (6.5M Euros, Sunderland) and Ja-Cheol Koo (5M Euros, Mainz)
• 6 out of South Korea's 23 players still play their football domestically

Transfer Market Value Index relative to 6.96M Euro Group H APV

World Cup Group G Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group G, Germany has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 562M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 24.43M Euros
• Germany's APV is about 122% higher than the 11.01M Euro APV of the group. Group G's APV of 11.01M Euros is the highest of any group this World Cup
• Mario Gotze (55M Euros, Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (50M Euros, Arsenal), and Thomas Muller (45M Euros, Bayern Munich) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 7 out of Germany's 23 ply their trade outside of the Bundesliga
• Mesut Ozil (45M Euros, Arsenal)
• Lukas Podolski (23M Euros, Arsenal)
• Sami Khedira (22M Euros, Real Madrid)
• Andre Schurrle (20M Euros, Chelsea)
• Per Mertesacker (18M Euros, Arsenal)
• Shkodran Mustafi (4M Euros, Sampdoria)
• Miroslav Klose (1M Euros, Lazio)
• Portugal has the second highest total TMV of 297.25 and an APV of 12.92M Euros
• Portugal's APV is about 17.4% higher that that of the group
• Cristiano Ronaldo (100M Euros, Real Madrid), Joao Moutinho (30M Euros, Monaco) and Rui Patricio (20M Euros, Sporting Lisbon) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 8 out of Portugal's 23 play their football domestically
• Rui Patricio (20M Euros, Sporting Lisbon)
• Eder (8M Euros, Braga)
• William Carvalho (8M Euros, Sporting Lisbon)
• Silvestre Varela (7.5M Euros, Porto)
• Ruben Amorim (4.5M Euros, Benfica)
• Andre Almeida (4.5M Euros, Benfica)
• Rafa Silva (4.5M Euro, Braga)
• Eduardo (3.5M Euros, Braga)
• Ghana has the third highest total TMV of 96.35M Euros and an APV of 4.19M Euros
• Ghana's TMV is about 62% lower than that of the group
• Kwadwo Asamoah (20M Euros, Juventus), Kevin-Prince Boateng (15M Euros, Schalke) and Andre Ayew (12M Euros) have the highest TMVs in the group
• Stephen Adams is the only member of the squad still playing in Ghana
• USA has the lowest total TMV in the group at 57.8M Euros, and an APV of 2.51M Euros
• The US squad APV is about 77% below that of the group
• Clint Dempsey (7M Euros, Seattle Sounders FC), Michael Bradley (6.5M Euros, Toronto FC) and Jozy Altidore (6M Euros, Sunderland) have the highest TMVs on the squad
• 10 out of the 23 man US squad ply their trade in MLS
• Clint Dempsey (7M Euros, Seattle Sounders FC)
• Michael Bradley (6.5M Euros, Toronto FC)
• Chris Wondolowsi (1.5M Euros, San Jose Earthquakes)
• Kyle Beckerman (0.75M Euros, Real Salt Lake)
• Brad Davis (0.75M Euros, Houston Dynamo)
• Nick Rimando (0.6M Euros, Real Salt Lake)
• Graham Zusi (0.5M Euros, Sporting Kansas City)
• Omar Gonzalez (0.4M Euros, LA Galaxy)
• Matt Besler (0.4M Euros, Sporting Kansas City)
• DeAndre Yedlin (0.25M Euros, Seattle Sounders FC)

Transfer Market Value Index relative to 11.01M Euro G APV

World Cup Group F Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group F, Argentina has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 391.5M Euros and an Average player value (APV) of 17.02M Euros
• Argentina's APV is about 153.3% higher than that of the group
• Lionel Messi (120M Euros, Barcelona), Kun Aguero (45M Euros, Man City) and Gonzalo Higuain (38M Euros, Napoli) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 3 players in Argentina's squad still play domestically
• Fernando Gago (4M Euros, Boca Juniors)
• Maxi Rodriguez (2M Euros, Newell's Old Boys)
• Agustin Orion (1M Euros, Boca Juniors)
• Bosnia has the second highest TMV in the group at 114.95M Euros and an APV of 5M Euros
• Bosnia's APV is 25.6% lower than that of the group
• Edin Dzeko (24M Euros, Man City), Miralem Pjanic (20M Euros, AS Roma), and Vedad Ibisevic (Stuttgart, 10M Euros)|Asmir Begovic (10M Euros, Stoke City)|Senad Lulic (10M Euros, Lazio) have the highest TMV on the team
• Only Asmir Avdukic (0.4M Euros, Borac Banja Luka) plays his football in Bosnia
• Nigeria has the third highest TMV in the group at 86.85M Euros and an APV of 3.78M Euros
• Nigeria's APV is about 44% lower than that of the group
• John Obi Mikel (20M Euros, Chelsea), Emmanuel Emenike (14M Euros, Fenerbahce) and Ahmed Musa (12M Euros, CSKA Moscow) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• None of Nigeria's players still play domestically
• Iran has by far the lowest TMV in the group at 24.1M Euros and an APV of 1.05M Euros
• Iran's APV is about 84% lower than that of the group
• Ashkan Dejagah (3M Euros, Fulham), Andranik Teymourian (2M Euros, Esteghlal FC and Jalal Hosseini (2M Euros, Persepolis) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 9 out of Iran's 23-man squad play their football outside of their home country

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group F Average Player Value (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group E Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group E, France has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 411.75M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 17.9M Euros
• France's APV is about 144.5% higher than the 7.32M Euro APV of the group
• In the absence of Ribery (42M Euros, Bayern Munich), Pogba (45M Euros, Juventus), Benzema (34M Euros, Real Madrid) and Griezmann (25M Euros, Real Sociedad) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 8 out of France's 23 still ply their trade in Ligue 1
• Yohan Cabaye (22M Euros, PSG)
• Blaise Matuidi (20M Euros, PSG)
• Mathieu Valbuena (14M Euros, Marseille)
• Remy Cabella (10M Euros, Montpellier)
• Lucas Digne (10M Euros, PSG)
• Stephane Rouffier (9M Euros, Saint Etienne)
• Rio Mavuba (7.5M Euros, Lille)
• Mickael Landreau (1.75M Euros, Bastia)
• Switzerland, seeded top of Group E, has the second highest TMV at 178M Euros and an APV of 7.74M Euros
• Switzerland's APV is about 6% higher than that of the group
• Ricardo Rodriguez (20M Euros, Wolfsburg), Xherdan Shaqiri (20M Euros, Bayern Munich) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (17M Euros, Juventus) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 7 out of France's 23 still ply their trade domestically
• Yann Sommer (8M Euros, Basel)
• Fabian Schar (8M Euros, Basel)
• Valentin Stocker (7M Euros, Basel)
• Roman Burki (2.5M Euros, Grasshopper Zurich)
• Steve Von Berger (1.5M Euros, Young Boys)
• Michael Lang (1.5M Euros, Grasshopper Zurich)
• Mario Gavranovic (1.5M Euros, FC Zurich)
• Ecuador has the third highest total TMV of 62.85M Euros and an APV of 2.73M Euros
• Ecuador's APV is 63% lower than that of the group
• Antonio Valencia  (16M Euros, Manchester United), Christian Noboa (9M Euros, Dinamo Moscow) and Felipe Caicedo (5M Euros, Al-Jazira) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 8 out of the Ecuador's 23 still ply their trade domestically
• Alexander Dominguez (1.6M Euros, LDU Quito)
• Gabriel Achilier (1.6M Euros, CS Emelec)
• Maximo Banguera (1.4M Euros, Barcelona Guayaquil)
• Juan Carlos Paredes (1.4M Euros, Barcelona Guayaquil)
• Luis Saritama (1M Euros, Barcelona Guayaquil)
• Jorge Guagua (1M Euros, CS Emelec)
• Adrian Bone (1M Euros, El Nacional)
• Oscar Bagui (1M Euros, CS Emelec)
• Honduras has the lowest total TMV in the group at 21.15M Euros and an APV of 0.92M Euros
• Greece's APV is about 87% below that of the group
• Emilio Izaguirre (4.25M Euros, Celtic FC), Maynor Figueroa (4M Euros, Hull City) and Andy Najar (2M Euros, Anderlecht) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 11 out of Honduras' 23 still play their football domestically

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group E Average Player Value (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group D Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group D, England marginally has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 334M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 14.52M Euros
• England's APV is about 48% higher than the 9.83M Euro APV of the group
• Wayne Rooney (45M Euros, Man United), Jack Wilshere (33M Euros, Arsenal) and Leighton Baines (20M Euros, Everton) / Daniel Sturridge (20M Euros, Liverpool) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 26 year old Celtic goal keeper Fraser Foster plies hid trade outside of the English Premier League
• Italy has the second highest TMV in the group at 323M Euros and an APV of 14.04M
• Italy's APV is about 43% higher than that of the group
• Balotelli (30M Euros, Milan), Marchisio (28M Euros, Juventus) and Chiellini (24M Euros, Juventus) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 3 out the Azzurri 23 play outside of Italy's Serie A
• Salvatore Sirigu (20.5M Euros, PSG)
• Marco Veratti (20M Euros, PSG)
• Thiago Motta (8.5M Euros, PSG)
• Uruguay has the third highest TMV in the group at 217.63M Euros and an APV of 9.46M Euros
• Uruguay's APV is slightly (about 4%) below that of the group
• Edinson Cavani (60M Euros, PSG), Luis Suarez (52M Euros, Liverpool) and Diego Godin (20M Euros, Atletico Madrid) have the highest TMVs in the group
• Only Sebastian Coates plays in Uruguay (2.5M Euros, National Montevideo on loan from Liverpool)
• Costa Rica has by far the lowest total TMV in the group at 29.63M Euros, and an APV of 1.29M Euros
• Costa Rica's APV is about 87% below that of the group
• Bryan Ruiz (8M Euros, PSV), Joel Campbell (5M Euros, Olympiacos on loan from Arsenal) and Keylor Navas (4M Euros, Levante) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 9 Costa Rican National Team players still ply their trade domestically

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group D Average Player Value (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group C Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Arguably the most balanced of all groups in the World Cup, Group C has an Average Player Value (APV) of 5.32M Euros. Colombia has the highest valuation in the group with a total Transfer Market Value (TMV) of 190.2M and an APV of 8.27
• Colombia's APV is about 55% higher than that of the group
• In the absence of Radamel Falcao (60M Euros, Monaco), James Rodriguez (35M Euros, Monaco), Jackson Martinez (30M Euros, Porto) and Juan Cuadrado (24M Euros, Fiorentina) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 3 out of Colombia's 23 play their football domestically
• Camilo Vargas (25 year old Santa Fe goal keeper valued at 0.9M Euros
• Alexander Mejia (25 year old Atletico Nacional central midfielder valued at 0.85M Euros
• Faryd Mondragon (42 year old Deportivo Cali goal keeper valued at 0.25M Euros
• Ivory Coast has the the second highest total TMV of 121.7M Euros and an APV of 5.29 Euros
• Ivory Coast's APV is approximately equal to that of group C
• Yaya Toure (30M Euros, Man City), Gervinho (16M Euros, Roma) and Wilfried Bony (15M Euros, Swansea) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only Sylvain Gbohouo (25 year old San Pedro goal keeper) still plays his football domestically
• Japan has the third highest total TMV in the group at 98M Euros and an APV of 4.26M Euros
• Japan's APV is about 20% below that of the group
• Honda (17M Euros, Milan), Kagawa (17M Euros, Manchester United) and Nagatomo (14M Euros, Inter) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• With 12 players in the J-League, Japan have a good blend of players plying their trade domestically and abroad
• Greece has the lowest total TMV in the group at 79.9M Euros and an APV of 3.47M Euros
• Greece's 3.47M APV is about 35% lower than the 5.32M APV of the group
• Sokratis (15M Euros, Borussia Dortmund), Mitroglu (12M Euros, Fulham), and Manolas (6M Euros, Olympiacos) have the highest TMV in the squad
• 9 of Greece's player still play domestically

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group C Average Player Value (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group B Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group B, Spain has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 622M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 27.04M Euros. Spain's APV is the highest of any squad at the World Cup
• Spain's APV is about 151% higher than the 10.76M Euro APV of the group
• Iniesta (55M Euros, Barcelona), Fabregas (50M Euros, Barcelona) and Busquets (45M Euros, Barcelona) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 9 out of La Roja's 23 play their football outside of Spain
• David Silva (40M Euros, Manchester City)
• Juan Mata (40M Euros, Manchester United)
• Javi Martinez (37M Euros, Bayern Munich)
• Santi Cazorla (30M Euros, Arsenal)
• Fernando Torres (19M Euros, Chelsea)
• Cesar Azpilicueta (18M Euros, Chelsea)
• David De Gea (17M Euros, Manchester United)
• Raul Albiol (12M Euros, Napoli)
• Pepe Reina (10M Euros, Napoli)
• Holland has the second highest total TMV of 207.5M Euros and an APV of 9.02M Euros
• Holland's APV is about 16% lower than the 10.76M Euro APV of the group
• Robin Van Persie (40M Euros, Manchester United), Robben (25M Euros, Bayern Munich) and Sneijder (17M Euros, Galatasaray) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 13 dutch players ply their trade outside of Holland
• Chile has the third highest total TMV of 139.3M Euros and an APV of 6.06M Euros
• Chile's APV is about 44% lower than the 10.76M of the group
• Arturo Vidal (44M Euros, Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (30M Euros, Barcelona) and Gary Medel (11M Euros, Cardiff) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 5 Chileans still play their football domestically
• Esteban Paredes (33 year old Colo Colo left winger valued at 1.5M Euros)
• Cristopher Toselli (25 year old Universidad Catolica Goal Keeper valued at 1.2M Euros)
• Johnny Herrera (33 year old Universidad de Chile Goal Keeper valued at 1M Euros)
• Jose Rojas (30 year old Universidad de Chile center back valued at 0.9M Euros)
• Jose Fuenzalida (29 year old Colo Colo right sided midfielder valued at 0.8M Euros)
• Australia has the lowest total TMV of 21.34M Euros and an APV of 0.93M Euros
• Australia's APV is about 91% below that of the group
• Mile Jedinak (2.5M Euros, Crystal Palace), Matthew Ryan (2.5M Euros, Club Brugges) and James Holland (1.5M Euros, Austria Vienna)
• Only 7 Australians still play their football domestically
• James Troisi (25 year old Melbourne left wing valued at 1.2M Euros)
• Eugene Galekovic (32 year old Adelaide goal keeper valued at 1M Euros)
• Mark Milligan (28 year old Melbourne midfielder valued at 0.75M Euros)
• Adam Taggart (21 year old Newcastle Jets forward valued at 0.75M Euros)
• Ivan Franjic (26 year old Brisbane right back valued at 0.6M Euros)
• Matt Mckay (31 year old Brisbane midfielder valued at 0.55M Euros)
• Matthew Spiranovic (25 year old Sydney centre back valued at 0.5M Euros)

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group B Average Player Value (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group A Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group A, Brazil has the highest total Transfer Market Value (TMV) of 467.5M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 20.33M Euros
• Brazil's APV is about 114% higher than the 9.52M APV of the group
• Neymar (60M Euros, Barcelona), Hulk (48M Euros, Zenit) and Thiago Silva (40M Euros, PSG) have the the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 4 out of Brazil's 23 play their football domestically
• Jo (27 year old Atletico Mineiro forward valued at 4M Euros)
• Victor (31 year old Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper valued at 4M Euros)
• Jefferson (31 year old Botafogo goalkeeper valued at 3M Euros)
• Julio Cesar (34 year old Toronto FC goalkeeper valued at 2.5M Euros)
• Croatia has the second highest total TMV of 193.25M Euros and an APV of 8.4M Euros
• Croatia's APV is about 12% lower than the 9.52M APV of the group
• Modric (40M Euros, Real Madrid), Mandzukic (30M Euros, Bayern Munich) and Rakitic (20M Euros, Sevilla) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 3 out of Croatia's 23 play their football domestically
• Brozovic (21 year old Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder valued at 3M Euros)
• Mocinic (21 year old HNK Rijeka defensive midfielder valued at 1M Euros)
• Zelenika (21 year old NK Lokomtiva goalkeeper valued at 0.75M Euros)
• Cameroon has the third highest total TMV of 118.45M Euros and an APV of 5.15M Euros
• Cameroon's APV is about 46% lower than the 9.52M APV of the group
• Song (18M Euros, Barcelona), N'koulou (13M Euros, Marseille) and Matip (13M Euros, Schalke) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 2 (Loic Feudjou and Cedric Djeugoue, both of Coton Sport) out of Cameroon's 23 play their football domestically
• Mexico has the lowest total TMV of 96.55M Euros and an APV of 4.2M Euros
• Mexico's APV is 56% lower than the 9.52M APV of the group
• Chicharito (16M Euros, Manchester United) and Dos Santos (10M Euros, Villareal) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 8 out of Mexico's 23 play their football outside of their home country

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group A Average Player Value (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com)