5 Players to watch after the World Cup

Every four years the World Cup shines a light on players that soccer fans haven't had the opportunity to watch play on a weekly basis in their preferred domestic leagues.

There's always a handful of young stars who use the tournament as a launching pad to progress to the next level, and become household names in the months and years following the World Cup.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil has been no different, granting us a crystal ball to see the next generation of players who will shine in the years to come.

Here are five players to watch after the World Cup:

James Rodriguez - Colombia

James Rodriguez made headlines in the summer of 2013 when newly promoted French side AS Monaco shelled out €45 million to acquire the young Colombian from Porto.

After a promising debut season in France, it didn't take long for Rodriguez to capture attention in Brazil when he scored in Colombia's opening match against Greece. He went on to find the back of the net five more times, including a stunning volley against Uruguay, and continues to hover around the top of the scorers list for the tournament.

He's been under the spotlight for the majority of the tournament, even after his nation was eliminated. Despite his allegiance to AS Monaco, he continues to attract attention from top clubs. One of those teams are Champions league winners Real Madrid, who reportedly expressed interest in luring the 22-year-old to Spain shortly after Colombia's exit from the tournament. 

No matter what league he plays in this upcoming season, he's a talent many fans will go out of their way to watch.

Alexis Sanchez - Chile

Alexis Sanchez was a known commodity entering the World Cup after successful campaigns in La Liga with Barcelona. However, a lack of playing time with Barça brought his impressive performance during Chile's great run in Brazil into the limelight. Following Chile's elimination from the tournament after a round of 16 loss to the hosts, rumors began to swirl about his future at the Nou Camp. 

Sanchez made the switch to the English Premier League when London-based club Arsenal agreed to a £32m transfer fee for the versatile forward. He joins a team coming off an FA Cup victory and will continue to feature in one of the game's most prestigious competitions, the Champions League. 

He should provide a spark to the team's attacking prowess and will be the primary target man for German midfielder Mesut Ozil, andhis precision passes.

Guillermo Ochoa - Mexico

Mexican 'keeper Guillermo Ochoa should be in line for a huge payday after superb performances during Mexico's appearance at the World Cup. His save off the line against Brazil to deny Neymar the opening goal set Mexico up for advancement past the group stage and will be remembered as one of the greatest saves of the tournament for years to come.

Ochoa began the World Cup as a free agent when his contract with French side AC Ajaccio expired when they were relegated from Ligue 1. It shouldn't take long for the Mexican keeper to find a new home with one of Europe's top clubs.

Daley Blind - Netherlands

Daley Blind rose to prominence in Holland's first game of the World Cup with his disciplined performance and precision passing. He helped the Netherlands carve through the defending champions, Spain, and gave the Dutch a perfect start to the tournament with a stunning 5-1 victory.

Blind was moved around as he played in midfield and defensive positions during various matches and finished his tournament on a high when he found the back of the net for his first international goal during Holland's consolation match against Brazil.

Blind is a regular fixture in the lineup for Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie, and just like other young stars at the tournament, he's caught the attention of some of Europe's biggest teams. 

André Schürrle - Germany

André Schürrle's World Cup campaign mirrored his club season with Chelsea as the German midfielder found himself starting matches on the bench and being relied upon to provide a spark late in the game.

He was used as a substitute in five of Germany's matches, yet still managed to score three goals, including the opener against Algeria in the round of 16 with a clever back-heel flick past the keeper. He ranks among the top 10 scorers at the World Cup and has played 75 less minutes (155 minutes overall) than anyone else with at least three goals.

It will be Chelsea manager's job to find playing time for the 23-year-old in an effort to see whether he can carry his productivity in Brazil over to the Premier League. If not, there will be a line up of other teams more than willing to give him a chance.