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Slight twist on a familiar concept, pick your best side containing one player from each of FIFA's top ranked 11 national sides.

 

My attempt:

 

                                            I. Akinfeev (Russia)

 

      P. Lahm (Germany) T. Silva (Brazil) R. Carvalho (Portugal) A. Cole (England)

 

              L. Modric (Croatia) X. Alonso (Spain) C. Eriksen (Denmark)

 

      L. Messi (Argentina) E. Cavani (Uruguay)  R. Van Persie (Netherlands)

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Alonso ahead of Xavi? Have I missed something with this?

 

Balanced side. Modric's role would be analogous to that of Xavi's, playing them both together would be ineffectual. Alonso is more suited to playing a defensive-minded role, with interceptions and high pass completion being his aims, rather than goals/assists.

 

FWIW, this is what I think makes this particular spin on a familiar concept interesting, balancing what one deems to be an effective cohesive team with players suited to their positions (and considering potential ego-clashes), whilst considering the limitations on individual talent possessed by some of the lower-esteemed nations in FIFA's top 11. Leads to players being picked, despite them not actually being the best player in their role, but by far the best contribution their nation has to offer my side.

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OK, I'll leave it there, but I think you're fucking nuts.

 

You don't think that a midfield of Xavi, Modric, Eriksen would be exposing the defence, when they're not on the ball? Not adept enough at defending, nor enough brute force to overcome that. It's be ridiculously unbalanced.

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                    Akinfeev

 

Alves      Lugano    Agger      Cole

 

    Xavi  Schweinsteiger  Modric

 

    Ronaldo    Messi    RVP

 

I win.

Just done this exact team you absolute bastard :lol:

 

Akinfeev (Russia)

 

Alves (Brazil)

Cole (England)

Agger (Denmark)

Lugano (Uruguay)

                       

Schweinsteiger (Germany)

Modric (Croatia)         

Xavi (Spain)

 

Messi (Argentina) 

Ronaldo (Portugal)

RvP (Netherlands) 

 

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                              Messi

 

 

Neymar                    Ozil                    Ronaldo

 

 

                    Dejong            Xavi     

 

 

Cole            Agger              Cáceres          Vrsaljko

 

                           

                            Akinfeev                 

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                                              Akinfeev (Russia)

 

 

Lahm (Germany)      Lugano (Uruguay)        Agger (Denmark)      Cole (England)

 

 

          Sneijder (Netherlands)        Xavi (Spain)        Modric (Croatia) 

       

 

Ronaldo (Portugal)                    Messi (Argentina)                      Neymar (Brazil)

 

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How about if you had to make a World XI which is balanced by continental federation roughly proportionately to World Cup berth?

 

So roughly, 4 Europeans, 2 South Americans, 2 Asians, 2 Africans, and 1 North American. Just to make it more interesting, you're not allowed to use 2 players from the same country.

 

This was the best I could come up with

 

                              Howard(CONCAF)

 

Lahm(UEFA) Thiago Silva(CONEMBOL) Vidic(UEFA) Nagatomo(AFC)

 

                Yaya Toure (CAF) Xavi(UEFA) JS Park(AFC)

 

              Ronaldo(UEFA) Ba(CAF) Messi(CONEMBOL)

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                              Messi

 

 

Neymar                    Ozil                    Ronaldo

 

 

                    Dejong            Xavi     

 

 

Cole            Agger              Cáceres          Vrsaljko

 

                           

                            Akinfeev                 

 

Van der Wiel RB and Modric CM? Just makes me sick seeing De Jong there. :lol: Also Caceres is FB? Move him to right and insert any Dutch CB.

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                              Messi

 

 

Neymar                    Ozil                    Ronaldo

 

 

                    Dejong            Xavi     

 

 

Cole            Agger              Cáceres          Vrsaljko

 

                           

                            Akinfeev                 

 

Van der Wiel RB and Modric CM? Just makes me sick seeing De Jong there. :lol: Also Caceres is FB? Move him to right and insert any Dutch CB.

 

Caceres has played full back and centre back for Uruguay and at Sevilla/Villareal before.

 

Dutch centre backs? They're pap (well average at best) these days....From the last squad, I don't particularly rate any of them Mathijsen, Boulerouz and Heitinga are average. Bruma looks a good prospect though.....

 

the LB Pieters is out for the season....blessing in disguise tbh for us (we can get better). He's average too....just they have no one any better amongst a poor selection of defenders.

 

 

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How about if you had to make a World XI which is balanced by continental federation roughly proportionately to World Cup berth?

 

So roughly, 4 Europeans, 2 South Americans, 2 Asians, 2 Africans, and 1 North American. Just to make it more interesting, you're not allowed to use 2 players from the same country.

 

This was the best I could come up with

 

                              Howard(CONCAF)

 

Lahm(UEFA) Thiago Silva(CONEMBOL) Vidic(UEFA) Nagatomo(AFC)

 

                Yaya Toure (CAF) Xavi(UEFA) JS Park(AFC)

 

              Ronaldo(UEFA) Ba(CAF) Messi(CONEMBOL)

 

Got me thinking.

 

Brad Friedel retired from the US squad after the 2002 World Cup-- a decade ago.  I'd still take him ahead of Howard. 

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                                Akinfeev

 

van der Wiel      Lucio            Agger            Cole

 

        Modric    Schweinsteiger        Iniesta

 

Ronaldo              Tevez                Cavani               

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