FIFA’s World Cup All-Star Team

July 15th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

stars There are plenty of World Cup best XIs floating around. Mr. David Beckham did one just before the final, and we did two ourselves, split between semi-finalists and non-semi-finalists.

There’s only one XI that goes in the history books though, and that’s the FIFA one. The FIFA World Cup All-Star Team was decided by the votes of FIFA.com Club members (that’s folks who’ve signed up at the FIFA website) and the results were announced today. So, as voted for by fans, the World Cup All-Star Team is as follows:

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Spain)
Defenders: Philip Lahm (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Maicon (Brazil), Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Midfielders: Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Xavi (Spain)
Forwards: Diego Forlan (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain)

That’s six members of the Spain team, and only one player – Brazil’s Maicon – who didn’t make the semi-finals. The teams also features three right backs and no left back.

Obviously it’s not worth being too pedantic about an All-Star team, but I think this shows that maybe an XI can’t really be selected via a fan vote. At least not unless there’s a separate vote for specific positions, like left back, that would otherwise be overlooked. Because now when future generations look back at World Cup 2010, they could easily assumethere were no decent left backs present, which is a shame for players like Uruguay’s Jorge Fucile and Portugal’s Fábio Coentrão. I think I’d much rather see the Best XI as selected by FIFA’s famed Technical Study Group.

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brentonwalters

That's stupid. Three right backs. It should just be a “Best Players” rather than team.
Joao1785

I suppose you have to force two right backs in a left back/central role. Midfield/Forward looks good though.
daisy

More like a popularity contest.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1213714469 Adam Marshall

The best XI always result in either deserving player being overlooked, or players seemingly played out of position. Like how wide forwards are often listed as midfielders when the best XI formation is 4-4-2.
http://inter.theoffside.com Johonna

Clearly there is a problem as not a single umlaut made it onto the team. I demand a recount!
http://www.facebook.com/jatinsharma85 Jatin Sharma

lahm can play lb and ramos can play cb.

bastian as ball winning cm with xavi as the deep playmaker. iniesta as am with sneijder.

i am pretty sure that fifa didnt intend this but this is the formation-

casillas
maicon-ramos-puyol-lahm
xavi-bastien
sneijder-iniesta
forlan-villa

the 4-2-2-2 is back baby
caosanping

I agree on Sharma. Ramos has been seen to play as cb at RM, even in derby matches. Puyol even once claimed that Ramos is the best replacement once he retires. Lahm has been seen to switch between lb and rb from time to time at Bayern. So maicon-ramos-puyol-lahm are a realistic backline even it might not be the best.
Marcus

Those voters still haven't learned who Thomas Müller is.
Bense235

And I smell concessional decision all over again. It wasn't so much about including Özil or so, but Müller? I believe Müller earned his spot on the that team.