Chelsea World Cup Watch: See Who’ll Be Representing Their Nations In Brazil

Ashley Cole and John Terry may have missed out this summer’s World Cup but rest assured, with the domestic season drawing to a close there will be no shortage of Chelsea player to cheer on this summer. Here’s a complete rundown of Blues players who’ll be hopping on a plane to Brazil and donning their nation’s colours next month.

Belgium

Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku (on loan at Everton), Thibaut Courtois (on loan at Atletico Madrid)

Two of them may currently be on loan but Chelsea’s trio of Belgians will collectively form the backbone of a hotly-tipped Belgium side. While Courtois is expected to return to Chelsea next season there is still some uncertainty surrounding Lukaku’s likely destination next season so it will be interesting to see what impact a big World Cup performance has on the hulking striker’s future.

Brazil

David Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Willian

With no fewer than four Chelsea players making Scolari’s Selecao it’s clear which team moonlighting Chelsea fans are likely to gravitate towards this summer. Chelsea contribute more players to the Brazil squad than any other team and with the possible exception of Willian the Brazil coach is likely to regard all of Chelsea’s Brazilians as first team starters. With odds as short as 11/4 at Betfair football the hosts are hot favourites to lift the trophy in front of their home fans, no doubt sparking some serious Brazilian celebrations. We dare say Chelsea’s Brazilian contingent is enough of an excuse for a party in West London too!

Cameroon

Samuel Eto’o

The veteran striker remains a talismanic figure for the Cameroon national side, despite having ‘retired’ twice after rumours of in-fighting in the squad. Eto’o has apparently been persuaded to return and lead the Cameroon attack by no less than the country’s president Paul Biya and goes to Brazil 2014 – surely his final World Cup – as the African nation’s main striker.

Germany

André Schürrle

Schürrle will go to Brazil as a key component of Jorgi Low’s youthful Germany side having accumulated 31 caps and 11 goals despite still being just 23.

England

Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard

Chelsea are still pretty well represented in Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad , even if he’s called time on the long and auspicious international careers of Ashley Cole and John Terry. Fellow veteran Frak Lampard has done enough to preserve his place in the heart if the England midfield and remains an important old head in what looks like a relatively inexperienced squad. Gary Cahill meanwhile has picked up where his Chelsea centre back partner John Terry left off in England’s defence and seems certain to start.

Ghana

Christian Atsu (on loan at Vitesse)

Another loan star who’ll feature this summer is Christian Atsu. After impressing at Vitesse this season the 22-year-old ex-Porto winger has made Ghana’s preliminary squad and has a pretty good chance of featuring in Brazil, where Chelsea fans may get a first glimpse of a player who could yet make an impression in West London.

Holland

Marco van Ginkel

Eyebrows were raised when Marco van Ginkel was called up to Holland’s World Cup training camp back in March after month’s on the sidelines. The cultured Dutch midfielder was ruled out for almost the entirety of his debut season at Stamford Bridge but could still make the trip to Brazil in what would surely be a remarkable vote of confidence in a young player who has barely kicked a ball this season. At the time of writing the Dutch World Cup squad hadn’t yet been announced but the mere fact that he’s in with a shot is something of a surprise.

Nigeria

John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses (on loan at Liverpool)

Chelsea stalwart John Obi Mikel performs a role for Nigeria that might surprise those more used to watching him at Stamford Bridge. Typically deployed in a limited anchor role in the Chelsea midfield, Mikel is arguably Nigeria’s main creative force, tending to play alongside a more withdrawn midfielder and given a far more attacking brief. Victor Moses has struggled to make much of an impact on loan at Liverpool this season but will almost certainly go to Brazil this summer. Centre back Kenneth Omeruo – who has impressed on loan at Middlesbrough this season – completes a triumvirate of Chelsea players in the Nigeria squad.

Spain

Cesar Azpilicueta, Fernando Torres

Cesar Azpilicueta has had a tremendous season for both Chelsea and Spain and, having displaced Ashley Cole at Stamford Bridge, also looks to have secured himself a place in the World Champions’ backline. Fernando Torres’ season has been less unreservedly triumphant but he retains his place in the Spain squad, even if he’s likely to fall behind a certain Diego Costa in the pecking order.  A situation that could well be repeated in West London next season!