Confederations Cup Diary: Team of the tournament

Jonathan Wilson / Jonathan Wilson / 28 June 2009 / 2 Comments

Four Brazilians, two Americans, two South Africans, one Spaniard, one Iraqi, one Egyptian and no Italians - Jonathan Wilson selects a team from the stars of the 2009 Confederations Cup...

As the tournament winds down, it's time for my team of the tournament.

There are those who like to stuff such sides with attacking players, but I try to select a team that would actually function on the pitch, based on performances in the Confederations Cup, so have gone for a 4-2-3-1 formation, as played by Brazil and, towards the end of the tournament, by South Africa. It's probably no surprise to see no New Zealanders make the cut, but it is telling of how poor the world champions were that nobody from Italy made it either.

4-2-3-1

Tim Howard (USA) - Egypt's Essam El-Hadary and South Africa's Itumeleng Khune have both had impressive tournaments - irritating as El-Hadary undoubtedly is with his constant whinging and feigning injury - but Tim Howard takes the number one shirt thanks largely to his inspired display in the semi-final as the USA beat Spain. His dive to his left to palm away a David Villa snap-shot just after half-time was especially memorable.

Maicon (Brazil) - There are those who would hail Dani Alves as one of the greatest players in the world, but on the evidence of this tournament he is not even the best right-back in Brazil. South Africa's Siboniso Gaxa ran him close, but Maicon has been exceptional, dominating the right flank and delivering a series of dangerous crosses.

Lucio (Brazil) - In a tournament in which few centre-backs have stood out, Lucio has been excellent - calm and measured in defence, cool and expansive bringing the ball out under pressure, and a persistent threat in his opponent's box.

Matthew Booth (South Africa) - Jay DeMerit mounted an excellent case with his handling of Fernando Torres in the semi-final, but Booth takes the role of stopper centre-back for his uncompromising attitude that has inspired cult status among local fans, encapsulating the spirit of this South African side.

Baseem Abbas (Iraq) - If only Iraq had been able to create as well as they were able to destroy. Among a string of fine defensive displays, the stocky left-back was a consistent, robust presence.

MacBeth Sibaya (South Africa) - With a dash more flair and perhaps a more natural marksman than Bernard Parker, South Africa might be able to spring a real surprise next year. Their midfield, certainly, has an encouraging solidity, and in Sibaya they have a player of great discipline and accurate distribution.

Michael Bradley (USA) - In that he reads the game well and has great stamina, Bradley is the archetypal coach's son; and yet his aggression and wildness (not just on the field, but in his post-match interviews) suggests something more furious struggling to get out.

Kaka (Brazil) - Taller and more robust than many imagine, Kaka has done enough in this tournament to suggest the obsession with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi should be expanded to include a third figure. Weaving through the centre, he has once again demonstrated not just fine dribbling ability, but an acute understanding of when to release the pass.

Xavi (Spain) - Has there ever been a better passer of the ball? Johan Cruyff once joked that he had once seen Xavi misplace a pass - in 1998 - and although he certainly misplaced a couple in the semi-final defeat to the USA, he maintained an astonishing consistency. If it were needed, he is evidence that intelligent, finely-calibrated passing is as effective as more spectacular bursts of dribbling.

Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt) - Anybody who has witnessed Egypt's victories in the last two African Cups of Nations knows what a fine player Aboutrika is, but this tournament perhaps brought him, at 30, to a new audience. Against Brazil, in particular, when he laid on the first with a fine cross, and then the third with a dart and release, he was superb.

Luis Fabiano (Brazil) - Fernando Torres scored a superb hat-trick against New Zealand, and David Villa also weighed in with three goals, but for his three goals and his all-round ability to lead the line, the central striking berth goes to Luis Fabiano. Many expected Pato to challenge him, but Fabiano has seemingly become essential for Brazil.