WHO WOULD BE IN YOUR WORLD ELEVEN?

During the 'thrilling' Champions League draw on Thursday there were also the presentations of the (Inter Milan dominated)UEFA players of the year awards. It got me to thinking, which players would currently be in a world eleven constructed by me.

With the World Cup still fresh in all our thoughts (unfortunately), it’s obvious that the players who performed well in South Africa would have to be at the forefront of any team. Rightly so as well, this, after all is the pinnacle of the sport, despite the fact that the Premier League and the Champions League are probably a hell of a lot more entertaining.

Who would be in your current world eleven? Kaka, Ronaldo, Lampard, Drogba, Rooney, Gerrard, Torres, Asharvin, Milito????

Many of the domestic global stars had very poor tournament's in South Africa for several reasons. Some lacklustre performances could be attributed to injury, some to a lack of form. But either way, they cannot really justify a place in my side if they failed to perform on the biggest stage. I think most critics would agree.

So... In a slightly left field blog this week, here is my current 'August 2010 World Eleven'.


Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain)

It may seem like a simple choice, but I do actually believe there are better goalkeepers out there. Gianluca Buffon is a fantastic keeper, but has recently become very injury prone, while Peter Cech was probably better than Casillas is now, pre 2007.

The Brazillian and Inter stopper - Julio Cesar - should really be winning this award, but he tarnished his reputation with a horror show against the Netherlands in South Africa.

In contrast, Casillas barely put a foot wrong during the World Cup and any keeper that can keep Pepe Reina (opening weekend error aside) out of a team (and also someone who can be so candid in front of his girlfriend on live television) is good enough for my elite group of stars.


Right back: Maicon (Internazionale and Brazil)

This was a close call. Philip Lahm certainly performed better during the World Cup and also (in opposition to Maicon at Bayern) played in the Champions League final this year.

The German is probably better defensively, but lacks the dynamicism of the Brazillian. He is also not capable of scoring such a spectacular array of goals.

So Maicon gets the nod, but it’s touch and go and this was probably the most difficult of all the positions to decide on.


Left back: Ashley Cole (Chelsea and England ‘hater’)

This is not a vintage period for the left back position. There is no Paolo Maldini or Roberto Carlos around these days. Brazil don’t even have an out and out left back.

But Ashley Cole is a prolific medal winner and a terrific all round full back.

He can defend well and attack with vigor and despite his well publicised social life, he is a supreme athlete and a fantastic professional.

Cole may be a little mouthy on the pitch, but Jose Mourinho stil coverts him and that is probably enough to get him the nod.

The former Arsenal star is always one of England’s better performers and the best of a bad bunch.


Centre half: Gerard Pique (Barcelona and Spain)

It has to be said that letting Pique leave Old Trafford was not one of the better decisions Sir Alex made. Credit where it’s due for noticing the Spaniard's gifts as a youngster, but to shift him out of Old Trafford just when Rio Ferdinand's injuries were really beginning to hamper him was a lack of judgment not usually associated with the great man.

Pique, meanwhile, has gone from strength to strength at a stunning rate of progress.

After picking up a league title and Champions League winners medal at Old Trafford, but barely featuring in 2008, in the subsequent two years he has won a treble with Barcelona, another league title and capped it all off by adding a World Cup winners medal to his tally in July.

For me, the best defender in South Africa, his inclusion is an easy one.


Centre half and Skipper: Lucio (Internazionale and Brazil)

A World Cup winner eight years ago, a European Champions League winners medal this year was the icing on the cake for a player who was in the Bayer Leverkusen side defeated way back in 2002 (remember Klaus Toppmoller anyone?)

Lucio had a good World Cup up to the Holland match where he (along with the rest of his team mates) was poor in the second half. However, this cannot disguise his superb season at Inter where he was the rock of all rocks in their miserly defence.

There is arguably no better ball playing defender in world football, and in addition the Brazillian is a superb leader.

Despite a frustrating amount of play acting during many games, his bravery is also second to none.

A fantastic leader and my choice as captain.


Defensive midfield: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich and Germany)

Finally came of age this year, and although still only 25, has been a potentially brilliant player for many years.
The German used to be a right midfielder, but has discovered his true niche in front of the back four.

Schweinsteiger was magnificent for Bayern in the second half of last season and during the World Cup, in my view, there was no midfielder who could rival him for consistency throughout the competition.

At his age, what price Schweinsteiger? If James Milner is 26 million?????....

An easy choice, a wonderful year, and he can only get better.


Midfield: Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana)

This may sound crazy, but I believe Ghana may well have reached the World Cup final with Essien in their team.

He was cruelly ruled out of the World Cup, but the African side were still only a penalty kick away from the semi finals. No one could possibly suggest that the Ghanians would have been inferior with the colossus that is Essien in midfield.

A supreme athlete, Chelsea can also only be stronger this season with him in their side if he can steer clear of injury. He was injured for much of the last campaign.

The former Lyon star can pass accurately, he can shoot from anywhere, has a supreme engine and he can finish like a forward.

Michael Essien is the ultimate midfielder.

What a player!


Midfield: Wesley Schniejder (Internazionale and the Netherlands)

Bizarrely, I don’t actually think Sneijder played that well in South Africa, but he just kept on scoring and ended up as joint top scorer.

However, he is obviously a standout match winner who has a magnificent shot and a wonderful range of passing. Real Madrid should be ashamed they let him go so cheaply.

There are not many players on Sneijder’s level when it comes to technique and for someone who is not very big he can also hold his own physically against much bigger players.

Along with his fellow Dutchman, Arjen Robben, the shaven headed playmaker was arguably the best player in last year’s Champions League.

But the fact he missed out on World Cup glory and did not play particularly well in the final may count against him come the end of the year awards.

A fantastic year though, and a true superstar of the game.


Midfield: Andres Iniesta

The Barcelona star is probably (along with Sneijder) the main contender for the Ballon d’Or and World Player of the year. The scorer of the winning goal in South Africa, the little genius was fantastic during the knockout stages and really performed when it mattered.

He can pass brilliantly, both long and short, while his first touch is magical. He can also dribble and is able to use both feet comfortably.

Considering Iniesta was injured for much of last season and was a doubt coming into the World Cup, his performances should be given even more kudos.

Iniesta is arguably the world’s best player right now and deserves every ounce of praise he receives, despite the presence of the next player in my team.


Attacking Midfield/Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)

It was tough to leave Arjen Robben out of the side, but Messi is a better team player and plays more games.

The little Argentine however, does not deserve to retain his World and European Player awards from last year as he did not have an effective World Cup, despite a promising start. He was way below par and for such a prolific player at club level to score no goals was very disappointing.

Messi appeared to tire during the knockout stages, but did perform the best out of the so called ‘big three’ coming into the tournament, of himself, Wayne Rooney and Christiano Ronaldo.

His supreme performances for Barcelona mean he has to be in the side. But South Africa proved he still has some way to go before he can compare himself to Maradona.


Striker: David Villa (Barcelona and Spain)

I still have to admit I am not his greatest fan. He is a great finisher, but I believe he is a little too selfish and still needs to prove himself on the really big occasion.

This may sound ridiculous considering what he has just achieved and no one (including me) can deny his ability to win games.

And, while Villa was certainly crucial to Spain in South Africa where he often played as a left sided attacker cutting in, he will probably play as central striker at Barcelona, where I don't consider him to be so effective.

In fact, with the service he will have coming from behind him at the Nou Camp he should really score over forty goals this season. But I don't think this will be the case.

While Fernando Torres’ lack of fitness meant that Villa dramatically outshone him in Spain, Torres is arguably a more effective team player and a better lone striker. I may be proved wrong, but I am still not convinced.

Basking in all Spain's glory, it's easy to forget that Villa's performances against the really top sides in South Africa were still a little disappointing, as they were in Euro 2008. He failed to score in both the semi final and the final and was quite subdued on both occasions.

Although you may think I am being churlish, Villa, while being really good player, will never be a ‘true great’ in my eyes.

However (despite reservations about playing Villa as a lone striker), his main compeition for the striker's berth in my team following the World Cup is Diego Forlan, so there is only one winner really isn't there?

For all your qualities Diego, I just can't include in a world eleven of superstars. Sorry.