Both Chelsea stars have made all their World Cup appearances from the bench.
It may frustrate them, it may motivate them - but for Willian and Andre Schurrle, a place on the bench is as far as things have gone so far in Brazil.
With the options at Germany coach Joachim Low and Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari's disposal, both forwards have had to settle for trying to make an impact as a super-sub.
There is, though, an art to influencing a game without starting it, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showed so well at Manchester United. So which of the two will Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho be more confident in to make an impact off the bench?
| Team | Pos | Goals | Assists | Total Sub On | Dribbles Won | Accurate Crosses | Successful Final-Third Passes | Apps | Mins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Schürrle | Germany | MF | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 156 |
| Willian | Brazil | MF | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 61 |
As Opta stats show, both of the Blues players have had relatively quiet tournaments, despite managing to muster nine appearances each (all not from the start).
Neither attacker has made an accurate cross, while neither has completed more than one dribble. The pair have also registered no assists between them, although Willian has made one more successful final-third pass.
On those figures, it is actually 25-year-old Willian who has had the better World Cup, as the Chelsea man has played a full 95 minutes less than Schurrle.
But the key fact remains: Schurrle has scored three goals after coming off the bench, while Willian is yet to register.
| Team | Pos | Total Shots | Accuracy (%) | Apps | Mins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Schürrle | Germany | MF | 13 | 23.08 | 5 | 156 |
| Willian | Brazil | MF | 3 | 0.00 | 4 | 61 |
That statistic, however, can be slightly overridden when you consider how many shots the 23-year-old has taken. Three goals from 13 attempts is a reasonable return but not the most clinical.
Two of Schurrle's goals, meanwhile, came against Brazil in the semi-final, when Germany were already 5-0 up, giving him a much less competitive environment in which to thrive.
By contrast, Willian has not played in such a forward position, only being able to take three shots. Based on the averages, then, Mourinho might be more impressed by what the Brazilian has produced despite so little playing time.
If Chelsea need to bring on a substitute to grab goals when they are behind, Schurrle's direct approach may be favoured. But, if Scolari chooses to start Willian against the Netherlands in the third-place play-off, we may see more of what the 25-year-old can do on the world stage. Schurrle is unlikely to get that chance in the final.
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