10 Biggest Stars Of The 2014 FIFA World Cup (So Far)

8. Andrea Pirlo

Notorious scourge of England Andrea Pirlo is at it again. All the talk surrounding England's clash against Italy in Manaus is how the tropical, Amazonian conditions would be hell for the players, especially the older ones. However, 35-year-old Pirlo strutted around the field like he was fresh out of secondary school, playing Sunday League football hungover. There may be calls for other Italians to have made this list instead of Pirlo, like Mario Balotelli - the man who grabbed the winning goal. Even Claudio Marchisio, who tucked that first goal away to break English hearts, had an outstanding game in the hub of Italy's midfield. However, none of that would have been possible without the panache of Pirlo running the show. His willingness to sit back and defend lets the front five play, and it is a style that suits the Juventus man down the ground. No stranger to doing the dirty work, Pirlo is becoming a real cult figure amongst football fans for his approach to the game. When he plays well, the Azzurri often tend to follow suit. Could they repeat their heroics of Euro 2012 all over again and reach the final? It'll be tough, but they are pretty good value as outsiders.