FIFA World Cup 2010: Team of the Tournament
The first ever World Cup on African soil is about to come to an end, and it is time to look at the players who have shined through the different stages of the tournament in their respective positions.
Let us start with the goalkeeper. There are a few contenders for this position, since despite what the press might tell you, the goalkeeping performances have been very good generally, especially in the latter stages of the tournament. Richard Kingston of Ghana was consistently good throughout the tournament, along with Manuel Neuer of Germany and Maarten Stekelenburg of the Netherlands, but the standout performer in goalkeeping has been Iker Casillas of Spain. The Spanish Captain's penalty save in the Paraguay game, and general play throughout the tournament, has ensured Spain's progress to the final despite not scoring a great number of goals.
There have been a number of very strong performers in the full-back department. Some players who have stood out are Sergio Ramos of Spain, Maicon of Brazil, Gregory van der Wiel from the Netherland, Philipp Lahm from Germany and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, another Dutchman. Although it is difficult to pick between these exceptional players, the two full-backs who have scored in the tournament have, perhaps, made a stronger impact and so the two full-backs in this team are Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Maicon.
Central defenders are crucial to the success of any team, and there have been a number of very impressive performers in this department as well. Joris Mathijsen for the Dutch, John Mensah for Ghana, along with the Spanish pair Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, have done very well for their respective sides. It is, again, very difficult to pick two out of these players. Carles Puyol, for his match winner against Germany, makes the cut, along with John Mensah for guiding his Ghana side so well throughout the tournament and defending expertly.
With the defence settled, we move onto the mid-fielders. Wesley Sneijder's exceptional form, and five goals, in the tournament meant that his place in any team of the tournament is virtually guaranteed. He is joined in the centre of the park by the German mid-field maestro, Bastian Schweinsteiger, who made sure his team didn't miss the influential Michael Ballack. Schweinsteiger and Sneijder would make one of the best partnerships in world football if they ever played together, and have been, without doubt, the two best central mid-fielders in the tournament so far.
Arjen Robben's two goals in four matches, and amazing displays of dribbling in the most crucial games for the Dutch, earns him a place on the left wing of this side. Capable of playing on either wing and generally deployed on the right by his manager, the Bayern Munich man has carried over his club form to the international arena and has been one of the best players at the tournament. On the right is one of the youngest players at the tournament; with four goals and three assists, Thomas Muller has a great future ahead of him and were it not for the elimination of Germany, he would surely have been a contender for player of the tournament.
Both strikers up front play their football in Spain, and have been among the most prolific strikers in Europe for about half a decade. Diego Forlan's displays for Uruguay were nothing short of an inspiration. A forward who can shoot from long distances from either foot and is an equally a good free-kick taker is rare these days, and the South American's efforts in this tournament have not gone unnoticed. David Villa has topped the table, along with Sneijder, as the tournament’s top scorer, and has scored 5 out of 7 of his team's goals. The new Barcelona striker never lets the pressure of the situation get to him, and has made light work of defenders at the World Cup.
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