English Snub in FIFA Ballon d’Or Short list
Not a single English player was able to make it to the last 23 of FIFA Ballon d’Or nominees. The terrible display by English footballers during the 2010 World Cup was the main reason for a complete English snub.
The likes of Wayne Rooney, who undoubtedly had the best season of his career to date, have been ignored. As expected, Spain dominates the nominees. Andrea Iniesta, who scored the winner in the final, is joined by his midfield partner both for club and country,
Xavi Hernandez.
Barcelona has the biggest representation with Carlos Puyol and David Villa among its 6 nominees. Real Madrid has 4 players nominated that include club captain Iker Casillas, former winner Cristiano Ronaldo, summer signing Mesut Ozil and former Liverpool
midfield maestro Xabi Alonso.
Two non-Spanish Barcelona players nominated for the award are reigning winner of both FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or as well as hot favourite, Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Daniel Alves.
A total of 11 players have been named from Spanish La Liga, 6 from Barcelona, 4 from Real Madrid along with Atletico Madrid’s Golden Ball winner, Diego Forlan.
One of three Premier League representatives, Cesc Fabregas was also nominated for the award. The other two are Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Sunderland’s Asamoah Gyan who had a stellar World Cup.
After leading his side to the World Cup final and winning Champions league, Seria A and the Italian cup with Inter Milan, Wesley Sneijder is one of the favourites to land the award along with Lionel Messi. His Dutch team mate Arjen Robben, who was instrumental
in both Bayern Munich’s and Holland’s run to the final of Champions League and World Cup respectively, has an outside chance of winning the award.
Inter Milan’s amazing season meant that they too have 4 members in the last 23. Along with Sneijder, Brazilian Maicon, Striker Samuel Eto’o and Goal keeper Julio Cesar are also included in the list.
There is also a strong German representation, who surprised everyone with their attacking and stylish brand of football at the World Cup. Apart from Mesut Ozil, World Cup’s top scorer Thomas Muller, Bayern captain Phillip Lahm and his team mates Bastian
Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose complete the list.
Jose Mourinho will be the favourite to land the World Coach of the Year award. He will be rivalled by Spanish World cup winning coach, Vicente Del Bosque.
This is the first year where instead of two different awards of FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or, there will be one combined award of FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Other top players such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney failed to make it to the last 23 which is a shame. English football is proud of what it has given to the sport and Premier League is by far the most watched League in the World. To
not have a single English Player will be considered humiliating to say the least by the English fans.
Regular culprits, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would be amongst the favourites, however, a World Cup year can always bring in a surprise or two. Wesley Sneijder, Andrea Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Diego Forlan are amongst others who have a strong chance
to win the new prestigious award.
On 6th December 2010 at an evening in Paris, the winners will be announced.
World Player of the Year nominees:
Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Julio Cesar
(Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Holland), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Holland),
David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).
World Coach of the Year nominees:
Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Barcelona), Joachim Low (Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Louis Van Gaal (Bayern Munich), Bert van Marwijk
(Holland) and Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).
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