Four Years On: The 2006 All-Star Team.

June 3rd, 2010 | by: chris |

Buffon_Zambrotta_Cannavaro In life, four years is a drop in the bucket, unless it involves hard time and a bully of a shower mate named Benny. In football, four years is eons; if we were to reappropriate football time to equate real time, Germany would have a brontosaurus in net instead of Manuel Neuer. (Which sounds like a stroke of genius with that tail.)

So perusing the World Cup All-Star team from ‘06, I was stunned at how many had left the international game or left the game altogether. This really might be the old man’s portion of the young man’s game. Don’t tell England.

The players who are no longer with us (in terms of int’l footballing): Jens Lehmann, Ricardo, Roberto Ayala, Lillian Thuram, Ze Roberto, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Michael Ballack, Francesco Totti, Luis Figo, Maniche, Hernan Crespo, Luca Toni.

Now for the remainder and their expectations heading into the World Cup:

Gianluigi Buffon, GK, Italy: Still Italy’s undisputed No. 1 and the world’s No. 1 when healthy. If healthy, he should make this team again.

John Terry, CB, England: The biggest question with England is the status of Rio & JT, a pairing which could be the best at the World Cup, or could collapse as they have individually at times this season. JT’s form suffered after it was revealed he’d slept with Wayne Bridge’s baby mama, which if it teaches us anything is this: don’t sleep with Wayne Bridge’s baby mama.

Fabio Cannavaro, CB, Italy: The polite term is ’seeing out his career’; the term is ‘cooked’. It’s been unfortunate, but Fabio’s form has been lacking and it looking every bit his 36 years of age. The nicest guy on the planet, but nice can’t beat age.

Gianluca Zambrotta, RB/LB, Italy: See: Cannavaro, Fabio. Zambro is also ‘cooked’ and many were hoping he’d be left off the roster altogether, which didn’t happen, so now the hope is he won’t be required.

Philipp Lahm, RB/LB, Germany: At 26, Lahm, one of the best fullbacks in the world without doubt, might just have 2 more good to great World Cups underneath his belt. It’s pretty scary to think he’s only entering his prime. (Then again, he is a fullback.)

Ricardo Carvalho, CB, Portugal: A stalwart in Queiroz’s back line through recent, in int’l terms, games, but at 32 might be entering his final big dance – a dance in which his part remains in question. Both he and Pepe suffered long term injuries and both with be going into the finals without any recent club match fitness, so the expectations can’t be too high.

Andrea Pirlo, CM, Italy: Brilliant at the World Cup in ‘06, the Xavi before Xavi, and still brilliant on his day, the Azzurri offense, which does have some individual creativity and goals to be had from Antonio Di Natale, will rely heavily on Pirlo’s heavenly right foot and godly hair. One of the few Italians who just might recreate ‘06 heroics – or at least be expected to.

Gennaro Gattuso, DM, Italy: His spot is lost – again – to Daniele De Rossi and unless DDR recreates his ‘06 elbow, Rino isn’t going to be considered a key cog on the pitch; on the bench and in the locker room is another matter, however. But to ask him to make this All Star team once again is asking a bit too much – just don’t tell Rino we said that.

Thierry Henry, ST, France: Titi might not be cooked, but he’s at least baking and Va Va Voom is now Ga Ga Gone (sorry – it slipped out). The second half of the season with Barca was downright vanilla at times and the ‘handball incident’ they speak of (never heard of it) may not make his life easy. Nor will the bench.

Miroslav Klose, ST, Germany: His goalscoring form with Bayern this season was woeful – 3 in 25 – and it helped give rise to Thomas Muller, but the World Cup is Miroslav’s wheelhouse, leading scorer in ‘06 and second in ‘02, so expect a half-dozen goals and lots of looks of self-satisfaction from a very satisfied with himself Jogi Loew.

While most of these names are uninspiring four years later, a few will turn back the dial and relive the days of old one last time to the surprise of the world. Only one small question…

Who?

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Deckard17

Ballack, Toni, and Maniche haven't officially quit the national team you dumb shit.
Kaspar_Weiss

If Miroslav Klose does score a half-dozen goals, he would surpass Ronaldo (Luis Nazário de Lima of Brazil) as the highest goal-scorer in the history of the World Cup.
Tbone04

I once played futbol with a group of guys that included a man in his 50s. Not to boast, but I am a very decent defender. Many have had troubles getting by me. But this man had finess and phenomenal ball control. Needless to say, he somehow managed to school me in slow motion on more than one occassion. Fabio Cannavaro may be older, but his play isn't necessarily worse than younger players. Experience is a valuable asset for any player to have. How many people love Beckham? He's 35 years old! He may not be in his prime, but he still manages to get the job done, regardless of what team he's playing for.

Good luck dear Seasoned players!