Top 20 Defenders in International Football Right Now
We’re into the tail end of the international break, and it’s time to celebrate the men who have been doing their best to prevent us from seeing any goals.
To be a good international defender, a player has to combine plenty of qualities, not the least of which is a love for country and a desire to perform just as well for one's international squad as a player would for his club team.
Here are 20 players who are doing just that.
Giorgio Chiellini (Italy)
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Much more than just a chew toy for Luis Suarez, Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has been a key presence for Italy ever since he made his international debut in November 2004.
Now in the team for over a decade, he’s still as important as ever and popped up with two of his six international goals in a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan at the start of Euro 2016 qualifying. He also scored Azerbaijan’s goal, too.
Ashley Williams (Wales)
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Wales continue to impress as they look to reach a first major tournament finals since 1958, and while all of the attention might be on the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, centre-back Ashley Williams is a crucial cog in the machine.
The Swansea and Wales skipper has shone in his country’s qualification matches, as they’ve reached the top of their group, and his presence is vital to their hopes of reaching France next summer.
Gary Cahill (England)
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They may be stationed in a pretty easy group, but England still have to win matches in their attempts to reach Euro 2016, and Chelsea’s Gary Cahill has been an ever-present force in their 5-0 record so far.
The centre-back has been part of a defence that has conceded only once so far in five games, with reaching France now merely a formality.
Martin Skrtel (Slovakia)
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Liverpool’s uncompromising defensive leader, Martin Skrtel is also a vitally important figure for Slovakia, who have won all five of their Euro 2016 qualifiers so far.
That included a famous win over Spain, with Skrtel skippering his side and appearing in four of the five matches, during which they’ve conceded just two goals.
Gerard Pique (Spain)
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Spain are trying to put the pieces of their shattering World Cup defeat back together, and centre-back Gerard Pique is a huge part of that effort.
The Barcelona star made his debut for his country in 2009 and bizarrely scored all four of his international goals in that year despite racking up 65 caps overall.
Vincent Kompany (Belgium)
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His form for Manchester City might be coming under increased scrutiny, but Vincent Kompany remains a leader for Belgium and the glue that holds a team of stars together.
Kompany was excellent during his country’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals in the summer, and it would be a huge surprise if he doesn’t lead them to Euro 2016, too.
Mats Hummels (Germany)
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One of the most highly sought-after defenders in the world game, Mats Hummels remains at Borussia Dortmund for now and is a key figure for his native Germany, the reigning world champions.
Hummels scored against Portugal in the group stages and grabbed the winner against France in the quarter-finals in Brazil. He’s carried that form into some impressive displays in the Euro 2016 qualifiers, with Germany conceding only once in the three matches he’s played.
Thiago Silva (Brazil)
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The memories of their 7-1 humiliation against Germany might never ever leave Brazilian football, but the recovery from it is being led from the back by a man who didn’t feature in that game.
Since the 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands in the third-place playoff, Brazil have conceded just two goals in eight matches, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva one of the key reasons for that.
Raphael Varane (France)
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Nominated for the best young player award at the World Cup, France centre-back Raphael Varane has packed an awful lot into his tender 21 years.
After being plucked from French football by Real Madrid in 2011, Varane has gone on to prove himself as one of the classiest, most elegant defenders in world football, with his displays for France only going to further improve an already burgeoning reputation.
Trent Sainsbury (Australia)
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A left-field choice perhaps, but 23-year-old centre-back Trent Sainsbury is the current darling of Australian football after helping his country to the Asia Cup earlier this year.
Sainsbury scored just three minutes into the semi-final victory over the United Arab Emirates before delivering a man-of-the-match display in the final win over South Korea, a victory achieved courtesy of an extra-time winner from substitute James Troisi.
Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast)
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Right-back Serge Aurier’s raiding runs forward were vital for the Ivory Coast as they captured the African Nations Cup earlier this year.
Voted into the team of the tournament alongside international teammates Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure, Max Gradel, Gervinho and Wilfried Bony, Aurier also had a good World Cup and is certain to dramatically improve on his 11 caps.
Diego Godin (Uruguay)
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Everyone remembers the Italy vs. Uruguay game at the World Cup for what happened between Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini, but the most decisive blow was struck by match-winner Diego Godin.
The centre-back’s header was just the latest example of his healthy knack for scoring crucial goals, and he is a linchpin of both Atletico Madrid's and Uruguay’s defences, with the latter gearing up for the Copa America in the summer.
Sergio Ramos (Spain)
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Already firmly established as one of the best central defenders in club football, Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos forms an unlikely alliance with Barcelona’s Gerard Pique to make an impressive centre-back pairing for Spain.
The recently turned 29-year-old has been playing for his country for a decade, and he’ll soon become his country’s most capped outfield player as he eyes up Iker Casillas’s all-time overall record of 161 appearances (to date).
Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina)
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Loved at Manchester City for his consistency and never-say-die attitude, full-back Pablo Zabaleta is also seen the same way in his native Argentina, whom he helped reach the World Cup final last summer.
Interestingly, despite his attacking abilities, he has never scored a goal for his country, something he’ll be desperate to change as he closes in on his 50th appearance.
Stefan de Vrij (Netherlands)
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Louis van Gaal’s three-man Dutch defence received plenty of attention during their run to the World Cup semi-finals, but centre-back Stefan de Vrij was one of the reasons why it worked so well.
After earning a move to Lazio from Feyenoord off the back of his fine performances, De Vrij has continued to be a consistent figure for the Netherlands in a Euro 2016 qualifying campaign that hasn’t quite gone to plan so far but should still result in an appearance in France next summer.
Jerome Boateng (Germany)
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An ever-present force in Germany’s campaign to qualify for Euro 2016, Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng stepped into several matches and was a vital figure in his country’s World Cup win.
Boateng turned in an excellent display in the final at the Maracana, as the Germans managed to keep out Lionel Messi and Argentina, eventually running out 1-0 winners in extra time.
Gary Medel (Chile)
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An compromising figure at the back for Chile (although seen in midfield at the club level), Gary Medel’s fine World Cup led to his move to Inter Milan in Serie A.
Chile will be determined to have a good Copa America this summer, and there will be few players more determined to give them one than the win-at-all-costs Medel, whose "Pitbull" mentality disguises a pretty gifted footballer.
Marcelo (Brazil)
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A player who has almost constantly improved ever since his Real Madrid career got off to a slow start in 2007, left-back Marcelo scored on his international debut in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Wales at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane just months before his switch to Madrid.
After eventually inheriting the left-back slot from Roberto Carlos, Marcelo has gone on to prove himself as an effective attacking weapon for the Brazilians and has been part of a defence that has conceded just twice in eight games since their World Cup nightmare.
Fabio Coentrao (Portugal)
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Something of a utility man at Real Madrid, left-back Fabio Coentrao has become a vital performer for his native Portugal ever since breaking into the team shortly before the 2010 World Cup.
Unfortunately, injury cut short his appearance at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, but when fit, he’s a crucial figure both in defence and attack. He also scored the winner in his nation’s recent crucial 2-1 victory over Serbia in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Jordi Alba (Spain)
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It almost feels wrong to call Barcelona’s Jordi Alba a defender given his frequent bursts forward and ability to pop up with a vital goal—just as he did in the Euro 2012 final against Italy.
That was one of five for his country, and after establishing himself in his nation’s plans, he looks set to stay in them for many more years to come.
