My 2010 World Cup Best Team

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Spain) - So he didn't have a good first game, so what. He made up for it throughout the knockout stages. Some smart saves against Portugal and great saves against Paraguay and Netherlands in the final. He totally deserves the Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper for the tournament.


Right Back: Phillip Lahm (Germany) - It was a close call between him and Maicon of Brazil but the German had more influence on his team's attacks and defended very well throughout the tournament. Had two goal line blocks - one against Australia and the other against Ghana - which shows his defensive awareness when it matters.


Centre Back: Gerard Pique (Spain) - His partnership with Carles Puyol has certainly helped his development as a defender and he was solid as a rock throughout the World Cup. He often wins headers, has good pace for a big lad, showed some neat skill when bringing the ball forward, and tackles very well. Only 23 years old, he surely has at least 2 more World Cups to participate and state his claim as a world class centre back.


Centre Back: Lucio (Brazil) - The veteran defender showed why he was still rated highly in world football. Very commanding at the back, makes important tackles and makes up for a slight loss of pace through the years with superb positioning. Like Pique, he also showed some nice footwork while dribbling out of defence. Probably his last involvement in a World Cup, though.


Left Back: Fabio Coentrao (Portugal) - There's not much argument on this one as he has been the best left back by some distance. Has very good pace and always providing an option on the left flank when his team is going forward and showed he can cross the ball well. Good awareness to track back and defend as well. One for the future as he is only 22 years old.


Centre Midfield: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) - Absolutely no arguments. He has been magnificent at this World Cup. Played in a deeper role than usual and he certainly delivered the goods. Sees the game well, covers the team's defence, determined to win the ball from opponents, and orchestrates his team's attacks well. His best moment was when he dribbled past three Argentinian players to provide a goal for his teammate.


Centre Midfield: Xavi (Spain) - Again, no doubts. Played in about the same position as Schweinsteiger, he excelled for Spain. Very nimble when on the ball and has superb vision when setting up his teammates. Sometimes, you wonder whether he has another set of eyes at the back of his head. Doesn't panic when a defender gets close and often gets away from them with a simple turn which can cause lots of trouble for the opposing defence.


Right Wing: Thomas Muller (Germany) - Has been a revelation at this World Cup much like how Lukas Podolski was in the previous one. Very hardworking, has a good eye for goal, and showed very clinical finishing against Australia and England (he's after all the Golden Boot winner). He's always providing an outlet on the right flank for his team and had great awareness in terms of positioning when going forward. Deserves his Best Young Player Award as well.


Attacking Midfielder: Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands) - He probably would have won the Golden Ball had his team won the final. Excellent passing at times - especially the long through ball for Arjen Robben against Slovakia and against Spain in the final - and reads the game decently as well. He played his role perfectly for his team just like how Xavi and Schweinsteiger did for theirs.


Left Wing: David Villa (Spain) - He is a forward but he showed how dangerous he can be when being deployed on the left flank against Honduras, Chile, Portugal, and Paraguay. That's why he is considered one of the most feared strikers in the world and he can even do it from the left wing. Very good finishing as he showcased that against Chile and Paraguay and always looking to take defenders on. Barcelona would definitely love for him to continue on this sort of form.


Striker: Diego Forlan (Uruguay) - Who else but the Golden Ball winner? He has been superb throughout this World Cup. He scored 5 goals and always dictating his team's offence - often involved in Uruguay's attacks. Had quite a number of shots on target (9) in the knockout stages as well and probably would have won the Golden Boot if he has a little more luck. He was unfortunate not to get the equaliser in the third place playoff but he had 3 very well taken goals already by then. Manchester United must be wondering why he wasn't this good when he was there.

Substitutes:
Goalkeepers - Eduardo (Portugal), Richard Kingson (Ghana)
Defenders - Maicon (Brazil), Carles Puyol (Spain), Per Mertesacker (Germany), Carlos Salcido (Mexico)
Midfielders - Andres Iniesta (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Strikers - Miroslav Klose (Germany), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)

Spain Are World Champions!

Game 64: Netherlands 0-1 Spain

The final was expected to be close and it was. It took Spain 116 minutes to unlock the Dutch defence which was very organized from the start. Although Spain dominated possession as usual, they didn't have much to show for it and it was the Netherlands who had the best chances in the 90 regulation minutes. Arjen Robben would probably regret the glorious chance he missed in the second half of normal time now. Xavi and Andres Iniesta once again played well together and perhaps edged the battle against Robben and Wesley Sneijder who didn't have the best of games. The introduction of Jesus Navas and Cesc Fabregas injected pace into the Spanish attacks and it paid off in the end as both substitutes did well when coming on. Robin van Persie had the worst game of his World Cup and was hardly noticeable during the final and it's a real disappointment for a player of his calibre. The Dutch played true to their tactics but perhaps a little too brutally. Too many bad tackles and they were made to pay for their indiscipline when John Heitinga was rightly sent off for a second bookable offence. Referee Howard Webb had a bad game in my opinion as he was not in control and often looked pressured by the players. All in all, though, Spain did edge the match and perhaps deserved the win in the end. Netherlands have every right to feel aggrieved but they put up a very good fight and with a little more luck at the right time, the outcome would have been different. Man of the Match: Iker Casillas (it had to be him for me as he came up with good saves at the right moments of the match)

Germany Seal Third Spot In Thrilling Encounter

Game 63: Uruguay 2-3 Germany

Contrary to what people always say that the third place playoff is not worth watching, I actually think this is THE best game to watch. Both teams have nothing to lose and only a bronze medal to gain so there's bound to be a lot of goals - and Uruguay and Germany duly delivered. A very entertaining game with both sets of players not backing down in their attacks. Very much end-to-end for about 15 minutes during the second half and for most part of the game, both teams showed intent to score rather than sitting back. Germany once again displayed their grit and determination when going 2-1 down in the second half and probably deserved it right at the end. Uruguay should be proud of themselves for coming this far and thanks to great performances by Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, they have finished well above expectations. I'm pretty sure both teams will qualify for Brazil 2014. Man of the Match: Diego Forlan (a little unlucky to be on the losing side after putting in another superb performance - got a goal, almost got a second goal and the equaliser in the final minute, passed the ball well, was involved in most of his team's attacks, and held the ball up well again; a definite inclusion in this World Cup's Best XI)

Spain Nearly Flawless To Beat Germany

Game 62: Germany 0-1 Spain

After displaying perfect game plans while demolishing the likes of England and Argentina, Germany had a taste of their own medicine in this game. Spain were in total control right from the start and the decision to start Pedro in place of under-performing Fernando Torres probably helped Spain to control the match better. Mesut Ozil, who has had a great World Cup thus far, couldn't get himself going as the Spanish defence marshalled him well throughout the game while the absence of Thomas Mueller meant Germany lost an option down the right flank as Piotr Trochowski struggled to fill into Mueller's role. For all their passing, it took a set-piece and a header to see Spain through to their first ever World Cup final. At the end, it was just reward for the European champions who are peaking at the right moment. They face the Dutch in the final and to me, the battle between Xavi and Andres Iniesta against Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben will be the key to the outcome of the match. With both teams boasting clinical strikers, the performance of the mentioned players will definitely decide who will be crowned champions. Man of the Match: Pedro (made the most out his opportunity - looked lively throughout, showed some neat teamwork, passed the ball well - but almost had to regret not passing to Torres who was wide open to score late on)

Oranje Too Strong For Uruguay

Game 61: Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands

This was a pretty entertaining game and my goodness, 3 of the 5 goals were of top quality. Giovanni van Brocnkhorst's stunning goal has got to be the best by some distance at this World Cup. I've got to say that the Dutch have surprised me this year. I expected them to go far, just not THIS far. But come to think of it, they have deserved their place in the final. They have controlled all their games apart from the Brazil game. And with Wesley Sneijder in superb form, it's difficult to stop them. Uruguay, meanwhile, rode their luck in the quarter final and despite some good form from star striker Diego Forlan and showing some really good football in getting to the semi final, the injury to their centre-back Diego Lugano and the suspension of striker Luis Suarez were a telling factor in their loss to Netherlands. Man of the Match: Wesley Sneijder (not the most spectacular performance but his passing was once again crisp and accurate throughout the match and got a goal for himself again)

Germany Rout Argentina While Spain Scrape Through To Semis

Game 59: Argentina 0-4 Germany

This has got to be one of the most shocking scorelines in this World Cup. Most people had expected this match to be close but it was far from it. Germany once again proved they have a perfect game plan against any opponent. England and Argentina have very different football styles but Germany trashed both of them. They kept Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez very quiet throughout the game and displayed best counter attacking football and their clinical finishing once again. The early goal settled any nerves and they never looked back. Argentina got outplayed in every department and had no chance whatsoever to display their fluid passing. The Germans now have an incredible record of having reached the semi finals of the World Cup in 6 of their last 8 appearances. Man of the Match: Bastian Schweinsteiger (was absolutely brilliant in midfield - kept the Argentinian midfield quiet and had 2 assists during the game with one of those coming after a magnificent run into the opponent's penalty box)

Game 60: Paraguay 0-1 Spain

This was probably as ugly as it can get for Spain. They struggled badly in the first half to even string passes together especially in the final third of the pitch. The second half wasn't much better as Paraguay came up with another disciplined performance in defence and perhaps could have gone ahead themselves during the first half. Eventually, Spain found a way through and it was Pedro's introduction, replacing Xabi Alonso who had a surprisingly poor performance, that contributed to Spain's winner and once again, it was David Villa who scored it. This result now means that there's only one South American team (a lucky one at that) in the semi finals after showing so much promise with 4 teams in the quarter finals. Spain are up against in-form Germany in the semis and have to come up with their best football especially defensively if they are to realise their dream of winning the World Cup for the first time. Man of the Match: Iker Casillas (Spain's goalkeeper more than made up for the error in the first game against Switzerland with a penalty save when it was still 0-0 and a brilliant double-save in the dying minutes of the match)

Samba Boys Undone By The Oranje While Uruguay Helped By Hand of God Version 2.0

Game 57: Netherlands 2-1 Brazil

A game of two halves. Scoreline suggests it was a close battle but in the first half it looked anything but close. Brazil were in control most of the time in the first half but despite scoring early, they opted to sit back on their lead. The second half was a totally different story as Netherlands came out and looked dangerous while going forward. They eventually got their equaliser through a communication breakdown between Brazil's goalkeeper and defender and an instinctive header from Wesley Sneijder was enough for the Dutch to edge the Brazilians. Brazil only have themselves to blame for this defeat as they were not good enough while chasing the game and Felipe Melo's stupid sending-off didn't help one bit. Man of the Match: Wesley Sneijder (once again he proved the world that he is one of the best midfielders in football and can be a match-winner - his passing and movement was brilliant and it should be no surprise to see his name in the best 11 from this World Cup)

Game 58: Uruguay 1-1 Ghana (Uruguay win 4-2 on penalties)

Call him what you want - a cheat or a saviour - but Luis Suarez's deliberate handball in the 120th minute is THE talking point of the World Cup. Forget England's disallowed goal as this handball is as controversial as Diego Maradona's infamous Hand of God in 1986. Some say he could have used his head to clear the ball off the line but even though he used his hands instead, Ghana still had the opportunity to win with a penalty which they didn't score, so I wouldn't call him a cheat. He just gave his team a very slim chance to win instead of losing it outright in the 120th minute. In the end, Uruguay took their chance while Ghana didn't. So there's no point saying Suarez should be banned for more than a match. Apart from all that, it was a really good match with both teams trying hard to win it in 90 minutes but in extra time they both played cautiously to avoid making mistakes which could lead them to concede a goal. Uruguay take on Netherlands in the semi-finals and Luis Suarez's suspension should be a telling factor as he has been in good form for Uruguay before being sent off. Man of the Match: Diego Forlan (worked ever so hard again and was at the heart of Uruguay's best attacking moves - his goal was just rewards for his efforts)

Japan Pay The Penalty While Spain March Past Neighbours

Game 55: Paraguay 0-0 Japan (Paraguay win 5-3 on penalties)

This game was a poor one. Both teams didn't manage to string good attacks and the game was largely in midfield and for most part, it was a scrappy game. In truth, Japan were just not good enough when going forward but their defence was more than decent. Paraguay were expected to easily win but their attacking play left much to be desired but at least they maintained their solid defensive play. With not much goalmouth action, the game was to be decided on penalties and Yuichi's Komano's miss in the shootout was enough to see the South Americans through. Paraguay would have to play much better in the quarter finals if they want to keep their dream alive. Man of the Match: Marcus Tulio Tanaka (the Japanese centre-back kept the Paraguayan strikers at bay with some well-times tackles and constantly winning headers against them)

Game 56: Spain 1-0 Portugal

This was a hard-fought win for Spain. They did control the possession and Portugal were relying a lot on counter attacks. In truth, Portugal looked very dangerous when they went forward on the counter attack but Spain defended just about well enough to avoid conceding. Upfront Spain were at their usual best with David Villa, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi connecting well with each other and it was Villa who got the decisive goal and Spain deservedly go through. Cristiano Ronaldo was largely anonymous again and I just wonder whether he can actually perform at the biggest stage in football or not because it seems to me that he was nowhere near the level of performance that Lionel Messi has shown in this World Cup and doesn't even belong in the top 3 players in the world. Spain meet Paraguay in the quarter finals which should be easy enough based on the performance of both teams so far. Man of the Match: David Villa (once again showed his predatory skills and his movement with and without the ball was generally good and caused a lot of trouble for his opponents)

Dutch Too Strong For Slavakia While Brazil Rampage On

Game 53: Netherlands 2-1 Slovakia

Based on this game, there was no point to doubt Arjen Robben's importance to Netherlands. His goal was trademark and his running in the first half caused a lot of trouble to the Slovakian defence. And when Wesley Sneijder put them 2-0 up with six minutes to go, they were safely through. Although Slovakia got a goal with the last kick of the game, Netherlands were just too strong throughout the match. They didn't play their best football but did enough and deserved their place in the quarter finals. For Slovakia, they should be proud of reaching the knockout stage in the first ever World Cup and should build on this and try to qualify for Euro 2012. Man of the Match: Wesley Sneijder (his excellent through ball for the first goal, his instinct to go forward and score the second, and the control of the midfield during the match proved he is just as important to the team as Arjen Robben)

Game 54: Brazil 3-0 Chile

This was by far Brazil's best performance at this World Cup. They controlled the game right from the beginning and never let Chile attack their goal with genuine threat. With Luis Fabiano looking at his predatory best and Kaka regaining his good form, the Samba Boys are looking good to capture their sixth World Cup. Chile, who in my opinion have shown great attacking football in this tournament, were totally shut out for this game but credit to them for showing fighting spirit when they were trailing. The suspensions to key players definitely played their part for this game. Brazil face Netherlands in another mouth-watering quarter final clash and with both teams defending well and controlling midfield in all their games, something's got to give. Man of the Match: Juan (he showed composure in defence, read the game well all the time, and scored the all-important first goal which set his team on their way to victory)