Bettor.com’s Football Team of the decade: Attacking Midfielder
Xavi:
Xavi defines the modern day play maker. He can pick passes which others can’t even think of. His vision and its application is just a treat to watch. His team mates have suggested that Xavi makes things easier for them.
Xavi, another Catalan, has been a consistent performer for Barcelona team throughout the decade. He is short, nimble footed and with amazing close control. He can sit in the middle of the park and dictate games at will.
He was the man of the match in the final of 2009 Champions League when he ran the show against Manchester United. Xavi was also part of the UEFA team of the year in 2008 and 2009. He was also the player of the tournament in Euro 2008.
He came third for both Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the year award in 2009.
Xavi has 4 La liga and 2 Champions league winners’ medals and he led his team with emphatic displays, in Euro 2008, to be crowned champions of Europe.
Xavi is an artist who puts too much of an effort to perfect its art. He is simple a phenomenon and has been a delightful player to watch over the later part of the last decade and the FIFA 2010 World Cup is another example of his greatness
as he orchestrated Spain to their first World Cup trophy.
Steven Gerrard:
The heartbeat and the soul of the Liverpool team over the last decade. Steven Gerrard has literally single handedly led Liverpool over so many seasons. If there is a player who deserves more from his career, then it has to be Liverpool’s
talisman Steven Gerrard.
He is currently the most complete footballer; it’s hard to think of something the Englishman cannot do. He is a strong tackler, has a thunderous shot, can pass both long and short with prestigious control along with his impeccable headers
and dribbles past defenders.
Pele famously commented in 2006 on Gerrard, saying “Sometimes you have a player like Gerrard. For me, for the last five years Gerrard has been the best player in the world.
"He is a midfielder, he plays very good. People didn't mention Gerrard, now they mention Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Messi because they are forwards."
Gerrard has played in every position for his beloved Liverpool and is the only player to have scored in the final of every cup competition at club level. He was instrumental in Liverpool’s memorable Champions league triumph in 2005.
Gerrard has scored more important goals in big matches than any other player. He was man of the match in Champions League final in 2005 and was named UEFA club footballer of the year. He was part of the UEFA team of the year in 2005, 2006
and 2007. He has finished in top 10 of FIFA player of the year award 4 times in the past decade.
Steven Gerrard has failed to impress for the National team, mainly for the reason that he has been played out of position for most of his career.
However, it will be difficult to find another Steven Gerrard and a player who has stuck with Liverpool through thick and thin, even when the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea tried to sign him.
Zinedine Zidane:
Every reader should feel pity for both Xavi and Steven Gerrard, only because they came up against arguably the best player of the last decade, Zinedine Zidane. Where should we start from?
He won the Euro 2000 with France and won his second FIFA world player of the year award. He moved to Real Madrid for a then world record fee. No player, during the last decade could get anywhere near him and could caress the ball like
he did. The Frenchman oozed class in everything he did, his flawless technique, set-pieces, dribbling, ball control, and his general all round play making.
Zidane won Real Madrid the Champions League final with that wonder strike in the final. He has also won a La Liga title. We could write another article on his individual achievements, however, the highlights include, two FIFA World player
of the year awards in 2000 and 2003, three times a member of UEFA team of the year, a FIFA World Cup Golden ball winner in 2006 and much more.
Zidane had a stellar World Cup in 2006; however he ended his international career in the final of that World Cup with a red card. He head butted Metarazzi in an infamous moment of his glorious football career.
We can go on and on talking about the legend of the modern game but in short he was simply the best. Considering he had Steven Gerrard and Xavi up against him for the attacking midfield berth, and yet it was an easy decision to pick him,
goes on to show the class of Zinedine Zidane.
Verdict: Attacking Midfielder of the decade: Zinedine Zidane
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