Team Of The Tournament

By Mark Daniell

13/07/2010

Sticking with the hyper-defensive two holding midfielders adopted by the likes of Brazil, Holland and Spain which kept the World Cup low scoring, here is the definitive best eleven of the tournament. 

Keeper

Iker Casillas: He didn't have the smoothest start to the tournament, letting in a fabulous comedy goal which is worth watching again for fun. But goalkeepers are arguably most important as an influence, and Iker's penalty save and one-on-one shut-out of Robben did as much to deflate the opposition as they did to inspire Spanish self-belief.

Left Back

Gabriel Heinze: The guy's a legend. Scoring goals, clearing goals off the line, headbutting cameras. He can be here, there and everywhere and still find time to maintain a shaky, shaggy mullet. You can't argue with that.

Centre Half

Carles Puyol: More hair at the back, more slashmetal headbanging goals up front. Puyol and Pique provided the stability that saw Spain navigate the knock out stages without leaking a single goal. And he trumps spellcheck by being called Carles.

Centre Half

Diego Lugano: Outside of Uruguay they'll be assuming Forlan and Suarez made the difference, but really here's the guy who got them to the semis. Captain, at times suicidal and always inspirational. You can't ask for more at the back.

Right Back

Philip Lahm: There were plenty of good players in this position at the tournament, Maicon and Ramos to name but two, but Lahm pokes his head out on top as being the hardest to beat, which when you've got speed and creativity in attack, is all you need from your right back.

Defensive Midfield

Bastian Schweinsteiger: Still an ass, but he had a good tournament. Confident and reliable in front of his defence and hugely effective in marshalling the counterattacking strategy adopted by Jogi Low. Along with Messi he notched up the most assists in the World Cup.

Defensive Midfield

Mark Van Bommel: Yup, well say what you like about him, he hardly had the most impressive defence behind him and yet dragged them to the final. And even then, they only conceded after 116 minutes. Doyen of the cynical trip with hands raised in innocence, Van Bommel racked up more fouls than anyone else in the tournament. Also, at thirty three, he's too old for this shit.

Midfield

Xavi + Iniesta: Well, you have to really don't you? These two provided the relentless lightning short passing that simultaneously set the Spanish midfield alight, then saw it flare out as the passes came back. One can only imagine how good they'd be if they ever played with someone who'd shoot occasionally... 

Midfield

Leo Messi: So he didn't score but Messi hit the woodwork "a few times" and notched up the tournament's equal highest number of assists in just five games. Unarguably the master of close-control, and accordingly man-marked by two or three defenders at all times, this World Cup was all about getting Messi playing comfortably in an Argentina shirt. Roll on 2014.

Forward

Diego Forlan: Unlike the German side who practiced with the Jabulani ball from midwinter onwards, Diego Forlan took the thing to bed with him and breast fed it till he forged a deep maternal bond. (Cleverly, this involved placing it in front of Sex And The City while he was out, so it never knew he'd left the room). His attentiveness proved its worth as the little scamp scurried, dived, dipped and swerved into the net whenever his mama asked. The only shame was the last free-kick, which thumped the bar. That said, it was the only time in the entire World Cup I saw someone standing over a dead ball and genuinely thought he might score. 

And that's your lot. No Robben, no Sneijder and no Ozil, even though they all played well. Hey, what do you want? You can't squeeze more than eleven players into the team of the tournament, even if FIFA say otherwise. And remember, just because the World Cup's over, doesn't mean we have to stop talking football.