1st of all, Happy New Year to you and may 2009 be as exciting and intriguing as 2008. This past year was witness to some great moments and some truly historic performances from Liga De Quito’s monumental Libertadores victory to Spain shaking off their underachievers label with their impressive Euro 2008 title to Argentina repeating as Olympic champions. Many great players kept us suspended to our chairs or sofas or bar stools and made us realize that soccer players are the true sports magicians. As a fan of offense the 2008 WCB World XI will have a 3-5-2 look to it. That said, here are the magicians the 2008 WCB World XI:
Goalkeeper:
Iker Casillas
This is a no brainer, Real Madrid’s portero is the best in the world and my choice for Ballon D’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year, refer here. He was brilliant in the Euros as he anchored a Spanish defense that was not given enough credit for La Furia Roja‘s championship.
Defense:
On the right Barcelona’s Dani Alves.
The Brazilian defender has been the best & most used of Barcelona’s ’08 summer signings. He is obviously an attack minded right back (what Brazilian defender isn’t) but he is an underrated defender and for all his attacking, he is not a defensive liability.
In the middle is Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic.
Sir Alex’s Serbian Minister of Defense, Vidic might be Fergie’s best signing since he acquired Ruud Van Nistelrooy from PSV in 2001. It is quite possible that Vidic is Manchester United’s most valuable player even more than Cristiano Ronaldo. Not only is he a rock in the back, he’s shown a knack for scoring timely goals ask Hull City, Sunderland, and Gamba Osaka.
On the left is another Blaugrana defender, Catalan icon Carles Puyol.
The Barcelona captain is a natural center back but he’s so good that he can play any position on the backline and has. His partnership with Valencia’s Carlos Marchena in the middle of the Spanish defense was critical in Spain’s Euro success. Puyol managed to keep Barca’s backline serviceable when Lillian Thuram & Gabi Milito were consistently getting burned during the 07-08 season. You can’t have a a Best XI defense without Carles Puyol.
Midfielders:
Let’s begin with the central midfield and the men that back up the attacking players. They don’t get as much attention as the attacking players but their teams would suck without them.
Xavi
The player of the tournament for Euro 2008 and many people’s choice for the Ballon D’Or. He is not spectacular but he does everything well. He has been Barcelona’s savior on many occasions and is mainly responsible for Barcelona being able to play in the Champions League despite the drama surrounding the team during the 07-08 season.
Sebastián Battaglia
Boca Juniors were recently crowned Apertura champions after a dramatic 3-team playoff. The fact they made it to that point is a credit to coach Carlos Ischia and Battaglia. Without goal scoring icon Martin Palermo and public bickering amongst teammates, Battaglia helped to keep the team together on & off the pitch. With a young group of talent forced into action, Boca’s #5 was the veteran presence in the midfield that helped Los
Xeneizes become champions. El Pibe De Oro needs to include him for Los Albicelestes in World Cup qualifying.
In Part II, we’ll reveal the guys who get the goals, glory, and the women. The attacking players will be revealed in Part II as well as the DT.
Related posts:
English Premier league is better than European Cup or World Cup.
Spanish players are too fragile too play in the Premier League.
Best Goalkeeper in the World is Buffon not Casillas.
Casillas would be a fiasco in the Premier League because the players are very tall.
Jo, winning the World Cup is more important than anything else because you are playing for your country. There is some element of pride and patriotism involved. It will be tough for Battaglia to get the call from Diego but you never know what the Greatest has in mind for the team.
Please come and visist my blog for the best news from the Albiceleste.
Jo, how can you say that Spanish players are too fragile play in the Premier League when it is clear that Spanish players are succeeding. Fernando Torres was above average at Atletico Madrid but exploded with Liverpool. Don't sweat the Premiership that much. Casillas would still be great in England especially with a better backline in front of him.