Features

World Cup 2010 dream team

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 17/12/2009
Football betting

The World Cup has been the platform for many stars past and present to make a name for themselves since the competition's inauguration back in 1930.

Former stars such as Just Fontaine, Eusebio, Ferenc Puskas, Pele, Diego Maradona, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Johann Cruyff and Michel Platini, to name a few, have graced the world stage and now all eyes will be on next years crop as they try and cause a stir.

We will take a look at who we think will be the main men in South Africa next summer in what would be our dream team.

In goals we would stump for Iker Casillas of Real Madrid.

The Spain captain is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world on his day and, after making over 100 appearances already for his country, the 28-year-old is destined to be one of the world's best ever.

Maicon will take the right-back slot and the Brazil and Internazionale man is a pillar of strength in defence and offers an attacking threat.

He is currently at the top of his game and should prove to be an invaluable asset for the five-time world champions.

The left-back position goes to Germany's Phillip Lahm.

Despite his disciplinary problems at Bayern Munich this term, the diminutive defender will prove to be a thorn in opposition sides next year.

He played in every single minute of his country's successful qualifying campaign.

The central defensive partnership of Pepe and Gerard Pique should give strikers around the globe nightmares as they attempt to break their shackles next year.

Portugal's Brazil-born Pepe is featuring heavily in Real Madrid's successes and his no-nonsense approach is helping them no end.

Pique, who after failing to make a name for himself at Manchester United, is certainly doing so at Barcelona.

He is excelling in the heart of their defence and should be prominent in an excellent Spain squad, who are one of the early sportsbook favourites to win the tournament for the first time.

The midfield must consist of wingers in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Again it is a Real Madrid and Barcelona duo making the line-up and such is the adaptability of the pair, who can play on both flanks and up front, it is this that makes them pivotal.

Spain's Andres Iniesta and Steven Gerrard would combine effectively to bring success in the centre of the park.

Iniesta would show inventiveness and intricacy while Gerrard could also offer these attributes but his steeliness and power would help in a defensive manner.

Didier Drogba and David Villa would make up our dream team.

Ivory Coast's success will hinge on the form of the powerhouse frontman while the sublime finishing talents that Villa possesses is likely to see him as one of tournaments leading scorers.

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If you don't agree with our choices, perhaps you would opt for some of our substitutes instead.

Starting XI: Casillas, Maicon, Lahm, Pepe, Pique, Ronaldo, Iniesta, Gerrard, Messi, Drogba, Villa

Substitutes: Buffon (Italy), Johnson (England), Ramos (Spain), Terry (England), Evra (France), Xavi (Spain), Lampard (England), Ribery (France), Ballack (Germany), Torres (Spain), Aguero (Argentina), Eto'o (Cameroon).

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