During the World Cup FIFA.com Club members had the opportunity to vote on the players they thought should be part of the 2014 World Cup Dream Team. FIFA announced the voting results yesterday, and here is the selected team:
G: Manuel Neuer (Germany)
D: David Luiz (Brazil)
D: Mats Hummels (Germany)
D: Marcelo (Brazil)
D: Thiago Silva (Brazil)
M: Ángel di María (Argentina)
M: James Rodriguez (Colombia)
M: Toni Kroos (Germany)
F: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
F: Thomas Müller (Germany)
F: Neymar (Brazil)
C: Joachim Löw (Germany)
Hmmmmm. I’m thinking this is not how the team would shape up if people were asked just at the end of the tournament. Maybe? Maybe not?
In comparison, this is how the Dream Team looks based on FIFA’s Castrol Index (using the same 4-3-3 lineup):
G: Manuel Neuer (Germany)
D: Stefan de Vrij (Netherlands)
D: Mats Hummels (Germany)
D: Thiago Silva (Brazil)
D: Marcos Rojo (Argentina)
M: Toni Kroos (Germany)
M: Oscar (Brazil)
M: Philipp Lahm (Germany)
F: Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
F: Thomas Müller (Germany)
F: Karim Benzema (France)
Quite a different look and feel to this team. FIFA hasn’t “officially” finalized the Index, but the general thought out there is they’d prefer a 4-4-2 team formation instead. In such a formation, Benzema would be replaced by James. This would mean either Kroos and James or Kroos and Benzema played themselves into the World Cup starting XI. All good in the hood either way, I say.
Here’s something else I believe is all good with this Index. The top ranked player at this year’s World Cup was this shy, unassuming fellow:
And this was the shy, unassuming flamboyant, immodest fellow who topped them all back in 2010:
He’s worked out preeeeeetty well thus far for Los Blancos over the past four years. No reason not to believe the same will hold true for Kroos as Sergio’s World Cup ranking successor.
-hopechaser
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