Graeme's World Cup Team Of The Tournament

Pretty self explanatory article this. I do have to stress that this team is based soley on my own opinions. I haven't really analysed stats or anything fancy like that; I simply watched every game, and picked out the players that stood out to me.

I'm writing this before the Final to keep that occasion special. Better to acknowledge the outstanding individual contributions that took Spain and the Netherlands to the final now than second guess what is going to happen tomorrow.

Any opinions, or players you disagree with, please feel free to comment. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but abuse is always funny.

In no particular formation:


Goalkeeper: Eduardo (Portugal). Consistent, reliable and Portugese? Has world class ability.



Right Back: Philip Lahm (Germany). Back to his top form. Was never beaten.



Centre Back: Arne Friedrich (Germany). Stepped up to the plate. Shook off domestic form with gusto.


Centre Back: Juan (Brazil). Highly athletic and uncompromising. Saved Brazil many times.


Left Back: Fabio Contraeo (Portugal). Defended sensibly and attacked whenever possible.



Midfield: Andres Iniesta (Spain). A superb passer, he has the movement and directness that Xavi lacks.



Midfield: Bastien Schwiensteiger (Germany). A central midfield revelation. Simply outstanding.



Midfield: Anthony Annan (Ghana). Mature performance beyond his years and experience. Ghana's key.



Midfield: Wesley Snjieder (Netherlands). The reason the Dutch reached the final. An irreplacable dynamo.



Striker: Diego Forlan (Uruguay). The hitman excelled. Truly awe-inspiring at times.



Striker: David Villa (Spain). Dragged Spain through their darkest moments with flashes of pure brilliance.

Coaching Team: Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Joachim Loew (Germany), Milovan Rajevic (Ghana).

Honourable Mentions:

Goalkeeper: Richard Kingson (Ghana), Fabio Muslera (Uruguay), Boubacar Barry (Ivory Coast)

Right Back: Maxi Pereira (Uruguay), Maicon (Brazil), Sergio Ramos (Spain)

Centre Back: Tulio Tanaka (Japan), Lucio (Brazil), Francisco Rodriguez (Mexico)

Centre Back: Joris Mathijsen (Netherlands), Denis Godin (Uruguay), Vangelis Moras (Greece)

Left Back: Carlos Salcido (Mexico), Ashley Cole (England), Claudio Morel (Paraguay)

Midfield: Mesut Oezil (Germany), Gervinho (Ivory Coast), Jean Beausejour (Chile)

Midfield: Mark Van Bommel (Netherlands), Egidio Arevalo (Uruguay), Xavi (Spain)

Midfield: Sami Khedira (Germany), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana), Javier Mascherano (Argentina)

Midfield: Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Thomas Mueller (Germany), Elano (Brazil)

Striker: Miroslav Klose (Germany), Alexis Sanchez (Chile), Robert Vittek (Slovakia),

Striker: Gonzalo Higuian (Argentina), Asmaoah Gyan (Ghana), Dirk Kuyt (Netherlands)


Coaching Team: Bert Van Maarwjik (Netherlands), Marcelo Bielsa (Chile), Takeshi Okada (Japan).

Plus guest motivational coach Ricki Herbert (New Zealand).


GM