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Villar,
Lahm, Pique, Mensah, Fucile
Diego Pérez
Schweinsteiger
Robben, Honda, Müller,
Forlan
I'd have picked them myself, tempted to throw Mark Paston in goal (NZ) but I've gone for Justo Villar as he only let in 2 goals with his team going all the way to the quarters.
Ozil has to be there ahead of Honda anyway.
--------Stekelenburg-----------
Ramos - Lucio - Puyol - Lahm
Schweinsteiger--Van Bommell
--Muller----Sneijder----Villa--
--------------Forlan------------
Honourable mentions for Tevez, Alonso & Xavi (who I desperately tried to shoehorn into the team)
Casillas only conceded two goals with his team winning the whole thing. I think he almost deserves to be in the team for his performance in the final alone.Quote:
Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo
Well to my mind he dropped a clanger in the first game against the Swiss, where as Villar wasn't really at fault for either goal Paraguay conceeded (maybe there is a case that he was hesitant for the Italian cross, but I think he wouldnt have reached it due to way it floated back; he certainly can't be blamed for the Spanish strike which came off both crossbars).
Both Casillas and Villar saved penalties (in the same match), and both were captains of their teams, but I would give it to Villar as I think he had more to do than Casillas and didn't have two center backs of the quality of Puyol and Pique in front of him.
Van Bommel - Really? I know he has got a lot of negative media attention since the quarters / semifinals but I remember commenting to my mates in the group games how he seemed to be getting away with murder. This negative media attention didnt result in any change whatsoever and last night he still went about his business like a hatchet man from the 1970'sQuote:
Originally Posted by endabob1
For me it would be hard to have him in a team of the tournament on principal alone.
----------Eduardo---------
Lahm Pique Puyol Contreao
--Schweinsteiger Busquets--
Iniesta --- Xavi ---- Sneijder
---------Forlan---------
Tough on a couple of Germans.
I thought Van Bommel's inclusion would raise a few heckles but honestly I would have in my team.He's a much better player than he is given credit for, yes he can be a dirty ba$tard but While I normally hate using statistics
Most Tackles won
1 Mark van Bommel Netherlands 28 - Next best Perez on 23
Most Succesfull passes
9 Mark van Bommel Netherlands 304 - unsurprisingly Spain had 6 of the top 8!! But it shows I think that MvB is more than just the hatchet man he's made out to be.
Most Chances Created
14 Mark van Bommel Netherlands 10 - the same amount as Sneijder & Iniesta again considering he's in the team to win the ball he's clearly no hoofer.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-Cup-2010.html
Having checked the stats, it shows Xavi as the most successful passer and creator of chances, by a long long way too, maybe I should have shoehorned him in somehow....
I can see the rationale of having Van Bommel in the team. I agree he can be a bit rugged and his tackles a bit robust at times, but I always like to see an "enforcer" of sorts in the middle of the park (went for Perez myself, though you could even class Kedhira as one) who bosses the game and gets in and amongst the opposition. I really like Graham Kavagnah when he played for us (obviously he wasn't of the same level as the likes of Perez and Van Bommel) - but it's nice to have a bit of steel in there.
Van Bommel is a victim of his past and reputation, he did a poor tackle in the match against Uruguay but that apart I don't think he was that bad.
I think Van Bommel is brilliant at what he does, but he is a dirty b*******. Then again, the so-called hard players are needed. I don't think he diid anything over the top last night. I'd prefer the likes of him to cheats like Robben, Ivory Coas no 18 etc anyddayQuote:
Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo
That said. I'm truly delighted Spain won
My team would be
Cassilas
Lahm Puyol Alvaraz Fucile
Muller xavi Schweinsteiger Iniesta
Villa Forlan
I thought Alonso was poor last night and against paraguay
Casillas
Maicon Lucio Mensah Calcido
Schweinsteiger Xavi
Sanchez Muller Iniesta
Forlan
Good shout, thought he was one of the stars of the earlier roundsQuote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Il stick with original 4-4-2
GK. Casillas
RB. Maicon
CB. Mensah
CB. Puyol
LB Van Bronacahst
RM. Sneider
CM . Schhweinsteger
CM. Inestia
LM. Robben
ST. Forlan
ST. Villa
How anyone could have Van Bommel in a team and leave out Xabi Alonso says more about the person than anything else.
Maybe they want someone who can win the ball in midfield, perish the thought...
I'd have Alonso as the 4th best midfielder for Spain. I thought Busquets played his role better (and I'm far from being a Busquets fan).Quote:
Originally Posted by Mission Bell
Absolutely no problem with people picking van Bommel and the reasoning is clear. Personally went a different route but I guess thats the point of the thread. So people can give different opinion
4-2-3-1
Casillas
Lahm Tulio Puyol Fucile
Schweinsteiger Xavi
Muller Sneijder Robben
Forlan
Many people have commented on the type of ball used in this WC without stopping to think of the impact it had on certain players games. How many long accurate long passes can anyone remember. Very few I'd imagine and the few there were came from Xabi Alonso. His game v Germany was a fine example of midfield play. Even though dimissed by 'Dumpty' et al on RTE he was a major factor in their win last night also, despite the 'kung fu attack, reminiscient of Schumacher on Battison.
Nothing like it in fairness. Either in terms of method of attack or in terms of contextQuote:
Originally Posted by Mission Bell
I don't think anyone could seriously say Alonso wasn't a good player, but does it really matter if people don't agree with your team of the tournament?
No it does'nt , however it is about opinions and if you post your team you are inviting comment , be it right or wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
De Jong's assault and that of Schumacher are quite similar actually. Both were ineptly dealt with by the referees and could have been life threatening injuries.
Also, context is like beauty, it's how you view it.
.................James........
.Johnson..Terry...Upson...Cole
.Gerrard.Lampard..Barry..Milner
.......Rooney....Heskey....
Are they not all world class?
My man of the tournament was Schweinsteiger who I thought was immense. Glad to see him mentioned in every team above. Roy Keane at his very best. He worked and worked even in the last game against Uruguay. Tackling, looking for the ball, positive passing.
Schweinsteiger would have been my player of the tournament.
But it does say enough for Forlan's overall impact that people chose him, despite being reduced to walking pace in his last 2 games and somewhat less effective with his distribution.
Even considering Casillas' shaky first game, he regained his former glory later on.
I liked Suarez the little Chile winger, the most 'Duff like' player there. Imo, better than Robben but I don't know if he did enough to get on the team.
The rest of the team pick themselves.
I compared Schweinsteiger to Keane a few times in the pub over the past few weeks and got shot down each time, glad to know someone thought the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
My team would be 4-2-3-1
Casillas
Lahm Lucio Mathijsen Fucile
Schweinsteiger Diego Perez
Muller Sneijder Iniesta
Forlan
Unlucky to miss out Robben, Villa, Xaxi, Lugano, Ozil, Prince Boateng, Fábio Coentrão, Isla
Casillas
Lahm-Puyol-Pique-van Bronckhorst
Schweinsteiger-Xavi
Iniesta-Sneijder-Ozil
Villa
Exactly it's each person's personal preference. For instance I myself wouldnt pick Villa for several reasons (e.g. missing his only penalty, slapping the Honduran defender), but others may place more of an emphasis on the statistics of finishing and might say Villa scored the (joint) most goals irrespective of chances and level of service provision and include him for that reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
I've picked Robben because he was the main creative source for the Dutch (along with Sneijder) - although like a lot of players he spent a bit to much time rolling on the ground, for the one big moment of the final (the Puyol tug) he stayed on his feet instead of taking a tumble.