As we mentioned a week or so ago, with the season over it seems like a good time to have a peek at the best eleven players in Europe this season. In deference to footballing fashion they line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Manuel Neuer – until the Champions League final Neuer was struggling and behind Thibault Cortois and Petr Cech in this list, not for any mistakes he had made but a simple lack of action over the course of the season. While Dortmund didn’t quite besiege the Bayern keeper he was called upon, and showed his amazing skills when required. Possibly the best in the world for some time to come. Philip Lahm – people talk about Ronaldo and Messi as being on a different planet, and they are in attacking terms. While they are without equal in their positions it is fair to say Bayern and Germany captain Lahm is as far ahead of anyone else in either full-back position as either of the attacking stars, and considerably more reliable. Masterful. Mats Hummels – Dortmund have bigger names in their squad, but Hummels showed this term why he is so key to Jurgen Klopp’s master plan and the place he hold in the BVB squad. Originally a Bayern youth player, there is no more committed member of the Borussia squad, and he and Subotic are a formidable pairing at centre-back. Gary Cahill – for Chelsea fans there was always a lot of concern about replacing John Terry when the behemoth of the Bridge finally hangs up his boots, and in Cahill they’ve found a successor. Established as a key part of the team the won the Europa League and a regular in the England side, Cahill has silenced his doubters in the best possible way. David Alaba - for a long time Ashley Cole and Philip Lahm had these two positions sewn up in most dream teams, but with the fading of England’s finest has come the emergence of Alaba. In a strong Bayern back four he brings muscle, pace and some great attacking instinct, and looks like being a feature of their defence for a long time. Arturo Vidal – the Juventus midfield has had to deal with the fading of Andrea Pirlo in the last year or so, but in his place have come Paul Pogba and Vidal. The Chilean is nicknamed Il Guerriero (The Warrior) by Juventus fans for his combative nature, but from box to box there is no more powerful or dynamic player currently operating, and Juventus need to secure his future. Bastien Schweinsteiger – what can one say about ‘Schweini’, as he’s known to Bayern fans? Having faced huge disappointment and defeat last year, the Bayern midfielder returned to once again act as the brain and heart of the Bavarian attempt to scale European football, and in succeeding Schweinsteiger proved he is pretty much unequalled as a central playmaker. Frank Ribery – he may be the most infuriatingly dishonest member of the Bayern attacking committee on the pitch but Ribery is like a tiny pirate, capable of scaring defenders into giving up loot or a goal, and he is still improving. Arjen Robben worked his socks off for the Champions League, but in a great season for a great team Ribery still stood out. Juan Mata – Chelsea may only have won the Europa League but they played some lovely stuff in doing so, with Mata a key part of that. At the start of the year it looked as though his place may come under threat with the arrivals of Oscar and Eden Hazard, but the Spaniard starts every key game and is the main influence on their attack. Luis Suarez – had he not tried to take a chunk out of Branislav Ivanovic’s arm the Uruguayan would have been the most coveted player in Europe, but as it is his image has been tarnished and it may cost him a move to Real Madrid. On the pitch he is constantly involved and capable of producing something out of nothing, and no player has worried more defenders this year than Liverpool’s star. Robert Lewandowski – the Polish star is almost certainly on his way this summer after losing the Champions League final, and he may even end up with his former team-mate Mario Götze at Bayern, but they’ll face some competition for him. Incredibly well-conditioned, skilful and determined, Lewandowski can still improve from his position as most coveted in Europe.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:00:00 +0000
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