FifPro World XI

[tHuG $TyLe]

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus)

Defenders: Lilian Thuram (France/Barcelona) Fabio Cannavaro (Italy/Real Madrid) John Terry (England/Chelsea) Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy/Barcelona)

Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (Italy/AC Milan) Zinedine Zidane (now retired) Kaka (Brazil/AC Milan)

Forwards: Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/Barcelona) Thierry Henry (France/Arsenal) Ronaldinho (Brazil/Barcelona)

FifPro Player of the year: Ronaldinho
Young player: Messi
Fans young player of the year: C.Ronaldo
FifPro Merit award: Samuel Eto'o

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

Someone delete the other thread. Damn server

 

[Sebastian]

Whats this? FifPro?

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

I dunno, I think its new.

43,000 players vote though or something

 

[Sebastian]

So this is about the last season including the WorldCup?

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

Indeed it is.

 

[Illuminattile]

FIFPro isn't new, but the awards only started last year. John Terry, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o were all in the World XI last year too, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo both retained their awards this year.

A number of striking facts emerge from a deeper analysis of the votes cast in each country:

* It is notable that Belgium was the only country where the players chose exactly the same final FIFPro World XI as in the total score.

* The favourite team in three countries was only different from the FIFPro World XI at one position. Nesta was chosen ahead of Thuram on Cyprus and in Slovenia, while Switzerland preferred Puyol to Terry.

* In Germany, Brazil, Italy and Mexico the result was different to the final FIFPro World XI at no fewer than five positions.

* There is no discussion whatsoever in the case of four players - Buffon, Cannavaro, Henry and Ronaldinho are included in every country’s favourite team.

* Nine players were only chosen in the favourite eleven in their own countries - Ricardo, Carvalho and Deco (all from Portugal), Cicinho and Zé Roberto (both from Brazil), Sagnol (France), Neill (Australia), Marquez (Mexico), Rooney (England), and Grosso (Italy).

* Ronaldinho was elected World Player of the Year in most countries. But surprisingly enough, Ronaldinho’s fellow countrymen in Brazil voted Zinedine Zidane the best in the world. Zidane’s powerful performance in the direct confrontation between France and Brazil was probably the deciding factor.

 

[Sebastian]

Gay! Pirlo, Zidane, Zambrotta?..pff

 

[tHuG $TyLe]

^?

Zambrotta is one of the best defenders in the world, Pirlo has always been highly rated and had a great World cup. Zidane on the other hand had 2-3 good world cup games and was inconsistant last season in the league for Real Madrid.