World Cup Qualification Team Of The Round
Goal.com scours the globe for the best in show..
Best Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper
Essam El-Hadary - Egypt
The
veteran goalkeeper should have the entire nation singing his praises
following his heroics against Zambia. Without the interventions of the
shot-stopper, the Pharaohs would have kissed their World Cup
credentials goodbye.
Defence
Amilton Prado - Peru
Although the Peruvians were outdone at the
death by Argentina, their second half performance betrayed their status
as CONMEBOL's whipping boys. The cause of the Peruvians was aided in no
small part by the Sporting Cristal defender, who raided Emiliano
Insua's left-side time and again. Along with Juan Manuel Vargas, Prado
was among the best in red.
Ronald Raldes - Bolivia
The
Maccabi Tel Aviv defender marshalled his defence well as La Verde
recorded another memorable win in La Paz. Brazil's efforts, Nilmar's
header aside, were largely thwarted by the 28-year-old and company.
Phillipe Senderos - Switzerland
The
Swiss had revenge on their minds, surprisingly, as they travelled the
short distance to Luxembourg; the micro-nation defeated Ottmar
Hitzfeld's side earlier in the qualification phase. Senderos helped his
side to a comprehensive victory with a commanding display, featuring
two goals.
Patrice Evra - France
Enjoyed an
evening as somewhat of a left-winger as the French easily surpassed the
Faroe Islands. Evra presented a frequent attacking threat for Les Bleus
- perhaps as a reminder to Gael Clichy as to who is the definitive
choice at the France number 3 spot.
Midfield
Mesut Oezil - Germany
Two
disciplined lines of four were offered a spark of ingenuity in the
final third by the prodigious Werder Bremen star in Moscow. Oezil
created the games only goal and led the Mannschaft's attack capably. A
true star in the creative mould of Thomas Haessler and Andreas Moeller.
Jospeh Kamwendo - Malawi
Cote d'Ivoire did not
have it all their own way in Blantyre as they sealed World Cup
qualification with only a draw. Some of African football's biggest
names were given somewhat of a chasing by the 22-year-old Orlando
Pirates midfielder.
Zvjezdan Misimovic - Bonsia & Herzegovina
The
Wolfsburg midfielder was his side's most prominent link player as BiH
easily overcame Estonia. He claimed two assists, one for Dzeko and one
for Ibisevic, as the Balkan nation exercised their dominance away from
home.
Simao Sabrosa - Portugal
For once, it was
not Cristiano Ronaldo dragging Carlos Queiroz's side over the finishing
line. Should Portugal go on to qualify for the World Cup, Simao will
have played a large part in that success. The Atletico Madrid attacker
scored twice against Hungary and was heavily involved elsewhere.
Attack:
Theofonis Gekas - Greece
Greece
guaranteed themselves a play-off place after coming from behind to
defeat the upstarts, Latvia. Bayer Leverkusen's Gekas was in
irrepressible form, netting a unique quartet of goals to blast his side
further down the road to South Africa.
Andre-Pierre Gignac - France
A five-minute brace from the Toulouse forward helped Les Bleus on their
way against the minnows, Faroe Islands. A man-of-the-match performance
from Gignac will have given Raymond Domenech food for thought ahead of
the crucial play-offs.
Honourable Mentions:
Dudu Aouate - Israel
Juan Manuel Vargas - Peru
Bruno Alves - Portugal
Anatoliy Tymoshchuk - Ukraine
Karim Ziani - Algeria
Timofei Kalachev - Belarus
Dejan Stankovic - Serbia
Constantinos Charalambidis - Cyprus
Pablo Aimar - Argentina
Jeremy Toulalan - France
Pedro Mendes - Portugal
Cesc Fabregas - Spain
Xavi Hernandez - Spain
Jaroslav Plasil - Czech Republic
Andrea Pirlo - Italy
Alvaro Saborio - Costa Rica
Milos Krasic - Serbia
Jorge Valvidia - Chile
Peter Odemwingie - Nigeria
Marcelo Martins Moreno - Bolivia
Abdelkader Ghezzal - Algeria
Milan Jovanovic - Serbia
Henri Bedimo - Cameroon
Carlos Vela - Mexico
Martin Palermo - Argentina
Conor Casey - USA
Goal.com
Goal.com scours the globe for the best in show..
Best Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper
Essam El-Hadary - Egypt
The
veteran goalkeeper should have the entire nation singing his praises
following his heroics against Zambia. Without the interventions of the
shot-stopper, the Pharaohs would have kissed their World Cup
credentials goodbye.
Defence
Amilton Prado - Peru
Although the Peruvians were outdone at the
death by Argentina, their second half performance betrayed their status
as CONMEBOL's whipping boys. The cause of the Peruvians was aided in no
small part by the Sporting Cristal defender, who raided Emiliano
Insua's left-side time and again. Along with Juan Manuel Vargas, Prado
was among the best in red.
Ronald Raldes - Bolivia
The
Maccabi Tel Aviv defender marshalled his defence well as La Verde
recorded another memorable win in La Paz. Brazil's efforts, Nilmar's
header aside, were largely thwarted by the 28-year-old and company.
Phillipe Senderos - Switzerland
The
Swiss had revenge on their minds, surprisingly, as they travelled the
short distance to Luxembourg; the micro-nation defeated Ottmar
Hitzfeld's side earlier in the qualification phase. Senderos helped his
side to a comprehensive victory with a commanding display, featuring
two goals.
Patrice Evra - France
Enjoyed an
evening as somewhat of a left-winger as the French easily surpassed the
Faroe Islands. Evra presented a frequent attacking threat for Les Bleus
- perhaps as a reminder to Gael Clichy as to who is the definitive
choice at the France number 3 spot.
Midfield
Mesut Oezil - Germany
Two
disciplined lines of four were offered a spark of ingenuity in the
final third by the prodigious Werder Bremen star in Moscow. Oezil
created the games only goal and led the Mannschaft's attack capably. A
true star in the creative mould of Thomas Haessler and Andreas Moeller.
Jospeh Kamwendo - Malawi
Cote d'Ivoire did not
have it all their own way in Blantyre as they sealed World Cup
qualification with only a draw. Some of African football's biggest
names were given somewhat of a chasing by the 22-year-old Orlando
Pirates midfielder.
Zvjezdan Misimovic - Bonsia & Herzegovina
The
Wolfsburg midfielder was his side's most prominent link player as BiH
easily overcame Estonia. He claimed two assists, one for Dzeko and one
for Ibisevic, as the Balkan nation exercised their dominance away from
home.
Simao Sabrosa - Portugal
For once, it was
not Cristiano Ronaldo dragging Carlos Queiroz's side over the finishing
line. Should Portugal go on to qualify for the World Cup, Simao will
have played a large part in that success. The Atletico Madrid attacker
scored twice against Hungary and was heavily involved elsewhere.
Attack:
Theofonis Gekas - Greece
Greece
guaranteed themselves a play-off place after coming from behind to
defeat the upstarts, Latvia. Bayer Leverkusen's Gekas was in
irrepressible form, netting a unique quartet of goals to blast his side
further down the road to South Africa.
Andre-Pierre Gignac - France
A five-minute brace from the Toulouse forward helped Les Bleus on their
way against the minnows, Faroe Islands. A man-of-the-match performance
from Gignac will have given Raymond Domenech food for thought ahead of
the crucial play-offs.
Line-Up
El-Hadary
Prado Raldes Senderos Evra
Oezil Kamwendo Misimovic Simao
Gekas Gignac
El-Hadary
Prado Raldes Senderos Evra
Oezil Kamwendo Misimovic Simao
Gekas Gignac
Honourable Mentions:
Dudu Aouate - Israel
Juan Manuel Vargas - Peru
Bruno Alves - Portugal
Anatoliy Tymoshchuk - Ukraine
Karim Ziani - Algeria
Timofei Kalachev - Belarus
Dejan Stankovic - Serbia
Constantinos Charalambidis - Cyprus
Pablo Aimar - Argentina
Jeremy Toulalan - France
Pedro Mendes - Portugal
Cesc Fabregas - Spain
Xavi Hernandez - Spain
Jaroslav Plasil - Czech Republic
Andrea Pirlo - Italy
Alvaro Saborio - Costa Rica
Milos Krasic - Serbia
Jorge Valvidia - Chile
Peter Odemwingie - Nigeria
Marcelo Martins Moreno - Bolivia
Abdelkader Ghezzal - Algeria
Milan Jovanovic - Serbia
Henri Bedimo - Cameroon
Carlos Vela - Mexico
Martin Palermo - Argentina
Conor Casey - USA
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