Blueisthecolor

Because of his positioning, leadership, reading of the game, and most importantly because of his quality and composure on the ball under pressure. Sure you can bring up the pass to Marcelo that resulted in Uruguay's goal, but apart from that he had a perfect tournament. Every player makes mistakes against the world's best, it's just that when you are in defense they are there for all of the world to see. Look at Hummels, Pique, Ramos, and Kompany in major tournaments and league games, who make them much more often, and are still considered the best in the world. Thiago is head and shoulders above them. And Dante was world class before his one season at Bayern (the reason they bought him), as anyone who follows German football can tell you.

Only got 5-7 minutes when his team were 2-4 down and were run into the ground. He touched the ball maybe two or three times (had a nice flick-on header ), but was overall starved of the ball - what you expect for most forwards/attacking players playing against Barça's passanaccio!

Oscar is best playing closer to goal. He is a no 10, pure and simple, and needs to be played as such. At Inter he played right wing and left wing, and in the hole as an attacking midfielder. I don't know where some members got this idea that he will be best as a natural pivot, or that he will be moved deeper, or is some great pivot player. As an admirer of his football and for the sake of our national team I hope no idiot moves him to the pivot position and completely ruins him (more or less what happened to Anderson, although Oscar is a different, much better player). He will be much better next season when he gets a chance to rest, he has been playing nonstop because of the Brazilian calender before he went to Chelsea, and all of the summer friendlies, olympic games, and packed fixture schedule at Chelsea (boxing day, CWC, etc.). Once he settles in more with his team mates, and plays in his preferred position, and has security behind him in the midfield he'll improve drastically.