With UEFA’s Team of the Year just announced, we look at what the lineups of a continental championship may look like. In part one we will focus on North America, Asia/Australia and Africa.
Many ’80s and ’90s kids may remember the all-continental XIs of EA Sports game FIFA 2002 World Cup. These XIs may bring back memories of that game and open discussion for what each continent’s best team is.
It is impossible keep everyone happy with these kind of selections, as every fan will have a different view and opinion.
They have, however, been picked with a focus on balance across the pitch, so each side includes:
A goalkeeper.
Two centre-backs and a left and right-back.
Two central midfielders, with an effort to have one holding midfielder.
Two wingers and an attacking player.
One striker.
Therefore, some big names miss out. It is also important not to have a single national side dominating a continental team so an effort has been made not to include more than five starting players from the same national team.
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Asia/Australia
Decorated Reading goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi (Oman) takes the netminder slot. With 118 international caps, Al-Habsi is one of the Arabian Gulf’s best ever football exports. Yuto Nagatoma (Japan) of Inter Milan is an exciting full-back who burst onto the scene during his country’s 2011 Asian Cup victory.
Centre-back Maya Yoshida (Japan) is a household name for most Premier League fans and is a regular for Southampton. Fellow defender Matthew Spiranovic (Australia) is perhaps less known, but the Hangzou Greentown is one of the highest rated players in the star-studded Chinese Super League. Ali Adnan (Iraq) of Udinese has drawn comparisons to Roberto Carlos. He possesses a thunderous left foot and is a free-kick specialist.
Mile Jedinak (Australia) has forged a good career for himself in England and took the drop to try and help Aston Villa return to the Premier League. A physical player, Jedinak captained Australia to last year’s Asia Cup.
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Keisuke Honda (Japan) was one of the star players at the 2010 World Cup. The AC Milan midfielder remains one of the most technically gifted midfielders to come from Asia.
Spurs man Son Heung-min (South Korea) is proving a key player for the Londoners and was named Asian International Footballer of the Year in 2015.
Tom Rogic (Australia) is finally realising his potential at Celtic and was impressive in this season’s Champions League campaign and pips Shinji Kagawa, who has struggled for form since his first spell at Borussia Dortmund.
Hiroshi Kiyotake (Japan), who currently plays with Sevilla, made a name for himself in Germany and is now enjoying a strong season with the Europa League champions. Premier League winner Shinji Okazaki (Japan) is one goal shy of 50 international goals and is a key player for the Foxes.
Subs: Matthew Ryan (Australia), Hiroki Sakai (Japan), Park Joo-ho (South Korea), Ki Sung-yeung (South Korea), Koo Ja-Cheul (South Korea), Shinji Kagawa (Japan), Tim Cahill (Australia)
* Yeah, you know; It’s NagatomO.
- READ MORE: http://www.punditarena.com/football/nmenezes/football-xi-continent-part-1/
