Best XI (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper
GK: Iker Casillas (Spain)
Defenders
RB: Khalid Boulahrouz (Netherlands)
CB: Gerard Pique (Spain)
CB: Carles Puyol (Spain)
LB: Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Netherlands)
Midfielders
MF: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
MF: Xavi (Spain)
MF: Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
MF: Andres Iniesta (Spain)
MF: Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)
Forward
FW: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
ADIDAS Golden Ball : Diego Forlan (URU)
ADIDAS Silver Ball: Wesley Sneijder (NED)
ADIDAS Bronze Ball: David Villa (ESP)
Golden Boot: Thomas Muller (GER)
Silver Boot : David Villa (ESP)
Bronze Boot: Wesley Sneijder (NED)
Iker Casillas (ESP)
Thomas Mueller (GER)
ESPANA
Nominees for the Hyundai Best Young Player Award at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa:
Thomas Mueller (GER): Thomas Mueller’s rapid rise through the senior football ranks has been nothing short of remarkable. A fringe player with his club, Bayern Munich, just two seasons ago, and with a first international cap coming only in March of this year (presciently, a friendly against Argentina), the 20-year-old striker has captured the imagination of fans everywhere with his pulsating approach play and vital goals (4) and assists (3).
Giovani Dos Santos (MEX): Still only 21, Giovani Dos Santos is one of the most famous faces in the Mexico squad. “Gio”, who played much of the most recent club season on loan to Turkish side Galatasaray, burst on to the scene aged 16 when he showed prodigious technique and vision in helping Mexico to victory in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru in 2005. The super-nimble young forward has become a key cog in the attractive Tricolor team and looks sure to be around for years to come.
Andre Ayew (GHA): The son of Black Stars legend Abedi Pele, ”Dede” Ayew is used to living his young life in the footballing spotlight and he has handled the attention with great poise. He already became a world champion with the U-20s in Ghana last year. As an attacking midfielder, Ayew has become an important part of Ghana’s playing system with a successful pass rate of 85 per cent.
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
Huge work rate, efficient, good dribbler, creates problems to each defence, good goal scorer
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Very fine ball-playing attacking midfielder, a star for the team, impressive dribbling ability
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Outstanding in his pace and creativity for his team, dribbling, shooting, passing – spectacular and efficient
Mesut Oezil (Germany)
A real talent for the present and the future, quick feet and great vision, good final and decisive passes
Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Very good pace and dribbling skills, wonderful ability to cut inside from the right, effective to his team
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Impressive by his first pass (forward and accurate), very good passer, has moments of individual brilliance, ball-winner
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)
A maestro in midfield, exceptional work rate, the engine of Netherland’s attacks, excellent passer and scorer
David Villa (Spain)
Top scorer; quick, two footed, very good on one-on-one situations, provides good final passes, excellent finisher
Xavi (Spain)
The metronome and the engine of the Spanish team, very influential in the passing style of the game, one of the finest midfielders in the tournament
