Soundoff: Teams of the Tournament

July 12th, 2010 | by: chris |

Catch22_cover Going over the “best team of the tournament” is always difficult since some really good players play for some inferior teams, and thus don’t get to strut their stuff late into the tournament, when most have already forgotten about them.

So we’ve solved the problem: one XI with those who’ve received maximum exposure – semifinal teams only – and one best XI of those dumped out in the quarterfinals or earlier.

Simple in theory, but agonizing in reality, as ever.

We’ve used the 4-2-3-1 since it was the predominant formation in this World Cup and has been much fancied in the domestic game for some time now, so we’re happy enough to follow the crowd. And others are doing it too anyway. (Best reason for doing anything.) The first team is properly tactical, the second is less so, if only because the only undefeated team at the tournament needs a representative.

Without further ado…

The Semifinals XI

Maarten Stekelenburg (Netherlands)
Sergio Ramos (Spain), Joris Mathijsen (Netherlands), Arne Friedrich (Germany), Jorge Fucile (Uruguay)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Diego Perez (Uruguay)
Thomas Mueller (Germany), Andres Iniesta (Spain), David Villa (Spain)
Diego Forlan (Uruguay)

Coach: Vicente Del Bosque

The Mr. 15%s of M. Sneijder and M. Ozil would like an explanation on M. Iniesta, and here it is: Andres took over the World Cup final for roughly 70 minutes and won the trophy for his amigos. Trophy > everything else.

Iker Casillas is in the mix with Stekelenburg, obviously, and Diego Lugano is telling us mean things in a really soft tone, but nevertheless, this is it. Argument One at the ready.

The Non-Semifinals XI

Diego Benaglio (Switzerland)
Ryan Nelsen (NZ), Tulio Tanaka (Japan), Paulo da Silva (Paraguay), Fabio Coentrao (Portugal)
Anthony Annan (Ghana), Keisuke Honda (Japan)
Alexis Sanchez (Chile), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa)
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)

Coach: Takeshi Okada

Much more difficult, obviously, and some players were thrust into unfamiliar positions – though Keisuke Honda is able to play anywhere on the pitch as well as stadium steward and Ryan Nelsen is being handed a single instruction: “get in the box, son”. (Or pops, since he’s an elder.)

There are many gripes here, with an honorable mention including Robert Vittek, Maicon, Andre Ayew, Gonzalo Higuain, Landon Donovan, etc. Surely it feels like Brazil deserve a better contribution than, err, goose eggs since they were fluffin’ excellent up until they weren’t, but central defense is stacked elsewhere and consistency was, to a point, lacking elsewhere.

But that’s us, and maybe not you. Clearly you can do better – so do it. What are your teams of the tournament?

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brentonwalters

Surely Maicon makes it ahead of Ryan Nelson. Surely. You're joking.
Bense235

You're very discriminatory against the great nation of North Korea. At least 8 out of their starting eleven need to be included. Wait for the angry North Koreans to flame and troll here…
http://twitter.com/agiamba Aaron Giambattista

Stekelenberg over Casillas? Not in my book. He was excellent in the final, but had plenty of nervy moments before that.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/2JYJB24K7OTUH5LSHAWEPCUO4I Kristin

He is really a cool and interesting man, though he is not so handsome, i still like him very much. lol…My dream is to find such a man on ========= BlackwhiteMingle com========
1_Luka

I would put Brett Holman in there. Two goals in the world cup, when before the tournament he had been derided by all and sundry (basically his only fans were the coach and his teammates – the entire nation thought he was pants, including yours truly), and not without reason; he had only scored 3 goals in his international career prior.
oskardevarsovie

Semifinals

Casillas – Caceres, Puyol, Fucile, Ramos – Iniesta, Muller, Sneijder, Podolski – Forlan, Villa

Non-semifinals

Benaglio – Isla, Salcido, Ponce, Coentrao – Ayew, Mascherano, Dos Santos, Sanchez – Messi, Gyan

Of course such teams would never function on the field
ThomasSessegnon

I hope you realize Martin Caceres only played two of Uruguay's seven games. That does not merit a place in the world cup XI.
oskardevarsovie

I do realize that. And he played really well. But maybe you're right. Arne Friedrich could get his spot.
Stuart

On the big-dog team, I'm down with your Iniesta logic. He was my pick for Golden Ball winner. Sneijder was generally great, but not as much as Iniesta, and Ozil, while showing real talent (incredible touch on delivery and good creativity and vision), was inconsistent and needs to improve his defense (but look for him to be a force on the German squad in 2014 after he is allowed to marinade a bit). The only second-guessing I'd do would be the exclusion of Lahm on defense, and Xavi in the attacking MF. Can't really disagree with who you chose, though. Tough calls, I guess someone excellent always has to sit.