I believe that FIFA has made two mistakes this year by including Rooney and Benzema in the Top 23, short list. Below is my Top 23 squad, including a staring 11, which is balanced and which could play together. If on Dec 21 (the day some people expect the world to end...) an invitation arrived from outer space for planet Earth to take part in a "Galactic World Cup," we would be sending the following 23 players to represent us: Starting 11 for 2012 World All Stars. Formation: 4-3-3. (Selections based on 2012 performance only) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. IKER CASILLAS (GK) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. DANI ALVES (RB) 5. SERGIO RAMOS (CB) 3. GIORGIO CHIELLINI (CB) 4. PHILIP LAHM (LB) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17. XABI ALONSO (DM) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. XAVI (AM) 8. ANDRES INIESTA (AM) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. LIONEL MESSI (RW) 9. RADAMEL FALCAO (CF) 7. CRISTIANO RONALDO (LW) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bench: BUFFON (GK)- BALE(LB), PEPE (CB), HUMMELS (CB), PISZCZEK (RB)- Y.TOURE (DM), PIRLO (AM), OZIL (AM)- AGUERO (RM), IBRAHIMOVIC (CF), VAN PERSIE (CF), NEYMAR (LW)......Coach(s) DEL BOSQUE (Spain) and KLOPP (Borussia Dortumund).
------------------ 1. IKER CASILLAS (GK) --------------------- DANI ALVES (RB) THIAGO SILVA (CB) PIQUE (CB) MARELO (LB) ---------------- XABI (CDM) XAVI (CM) INIESTA (AM) ----------------- NEYMAR (LW) C.RONALDO (ST) LIONEL MESSI (RW) -----------------
I would put Pirlo ahead of Xavi, but otherwise an impeccable selection. Maybe Coentrao instead of Piszczek also?
I'll stick to Xavi, cause he would work better with Iniesta, Xabi, Messi and D.Alves. I wanted to include as much chemistry as possible. Also Piszczek over Coentrao, becasue the he is a RB and the Portugal international is a LB. Also Coentrao isn't a regular in his team.
Pique has been too inconsitent since he has been dating Shakira...lol. Especially at the start of 2012, he was making major mistakes for Barcelona. He recovered for Euro's, but the others had been more consistent this year. Pique would have been there in other years.