Player Focus: Golden Boy Firmino Awaiting International Call

In a squad that contains just three players based in Brazil there remains one stationed in Europe that continues to be overlooked by the Seleção. There are 6 Premier League players in Felipe Scolari's thin squad to face South Africa and three apiece from La Liga and the Bundesliga. If there is one player available to 'Big Phil' that stands out in the latter however, it is Roberto Firmino, who is still awaiting international recognition.

The Hoffenheim playmaker may still only be 22 but after two encouraging seasons in Germany's top-flight he is really flourishing in his third full campaign at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena. Much of his early promise is being recognised, though not yet by the national team.

Like so many young Brazilians coming through his physique has needed work. He's a similar build to the likes of Neymar, Oscar and Bernard and harbours a number of the qualities of each. Perhaps then, therein lies his problem. The competition is incredibly strong and staking a claim for a place in a side that many are tipping for World Cup glory on home soil when you play for a club like Hoffenheim is an unenviable task.

It's one that Firmino has taken up in some style this season though, netting 12 goals and picking up 8 assists in the Bundesliga - no player has more when it comes to the latter - with Robert Lewandowski (21) the only man to have directly contributed to more goals in total thus far. The youngster has created more clear-cut chances for teammates than any other player in Germany's top-flight (13) and the unselfish nature with which he now plays is benefitting his side, having picked up just 3 assists over the two seasons previous.

Having now netted 6 goals in as many games in all competitions for his club, if ever his form whereto impress the national side surely it would have been now. Best deployed in a number 10 role but also capable across the line of a front three, Firmino would have hoped that his versatility would have reaped the rewards now. Instead there was a place in the squad for former City flop Jo, who scored just 6 goals in 21 appearances for Atletico MG last in the Brasileirao last season.

The youngster has good feet and trickery in tight areas, with an average of 4.2 successful dribbles per game ranking 5th in the Bundesliga. Only three players in Germany's top tier have created more chances from open play (32) and only two have played more accurate through balls (7). It's clear then that Firmino has all the attributes to be a top class playmaker.

Nevertheless he's not one to shirk his defensive duties, averaging 2.45 tackles per game to garner a strength of defensive contribution from WhoScored.com. That work rate would put him in the same bracket as the likes of Oscar and Willian at Chelsea, whilst his flair would section him off with the likes of Neymar, Lucas Moura and Coutinho.

When compared to the aforementioned 5 the Hoffenheim man comes out on top in terms of goals, assists, dribbles per game, big chances created per game and tackles per game, making his WhoScored.com rating of 7.81 unsurprisingly above them all. Only Franck Ribery has picked up more man of the match awards in the Bundesliga this season (6), with Firmino's rating ranking 7th in the entire division.

The fact of the matter is that due to the wealth of attacking options available to Scolari and the Seleção Firmino will always struggle to get the attention his performances have deserved at a cub like Hoffenheim. With just one year remaining on his current contract and a number of Europe's top clubs likely to be circling a summer move may well be on the cards but a return to his homeland with the World Cup squad seems to be out of his reach until then.

Does Roberto Firmino deserve international recognition for his performances this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below