FIFA/FIPro World XI Shortlist: 55 Names, Three Broad Problems

On Thursday, FIFA announced the 55 finalists for the FIFA/FIFPro World XI, a team which will be announced at the Ballon d’Or gala on January 10. The World XI will identify the best goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards of 2010 as chosen by FIFPro’s worldwide membership of an estimated 50,000 professional players.

With a list that large, it’s hard to have any major omissions, which is why some of the inclusions are more noteworthy. A number of players whose 2010s have been defined by injury problems or dips in form have found places on the shortlist. Perhaps that’s to be expected given the bulk of names (and the nature of the electorate). Still, it gives us something interesting to talk about.

As cut-and-pasted from FIFA’s web site:

Broken down by league, 18 of the names play in Spain. Seventeen play in England, with 15 working in Italy, meaning 50 of the list’s 55 names reside in the old “big three” leagues. While (on league quality) the German Bundesliga is generally recognized for having tracked-down Italy’s Serie A, that league got only four nominations. The other nominated player works in France, meaning leagues like Portugal’s (Fabio Coentrao), Russia’s (Igor Akinfeev), and the Netherland’s (Luis Suárez) where overlooked.

France’s nomination went to Lyon’s Michel Bastos thanks to some curious positioning. I’m not sure Claude Puel considers Bastos an all-world defender, highlighting one of three major problems I found with the shortlist. Issues with positioning are the easiest to forgive, particularly in light of the shortlist’s two major problems. Of greater concern, there are a number of players just that haven’t been very good in 2010; at least, they haven’t been good beyond a few flashes of brilliance. That issue is compounded by the presence of players who have missed significant time with injury.

Briefly (and not too seriously), let’s take a closer look at these three problems:

Positioning: Michel Bastos played left back for Brazil at the World Cup, but he is an attacker. Given how Lyon sets-up, he’s closer to a forward than a defender. Likewise, listing Gareth Bale as a defender is curious given his 2010 ascension has coincided with most of his play taking place in midfield.

Seeing Kaká and Ronaldinho listed in different groups is also worth a thought, though Arjen Robben and Thomas Müller’s listings are outright perplexing. Both could be forwards, both could be midfielders, but if you were to split the two, Müller would seem the more likely to be listed as a forward. On this list, he’s a midfielder while Robben is a forward. Both should probably be forwards.

Overlooking injuries: Gianluigi Buffon hasn’t played since the World Cup and isn’t slated to do so until early 2011. That’s half the calendar year without playing a match. It’s difficult to justify his place on this list, particularly with players like Igor Akinfeev, Maarten Stenkelenburg and Hans Jorg Butt (amongst others) excluded.

Likewise, it’s difficult to see Rio Ferdinand, Pepe and Michael Essien on this list. Their inclusion makes an implicit claim that half a season of their play outweighs a year’s worth of from players like Juan, David Luiz, or Sami Khedira.

Some of these guys just weren’t good: Steven Gerrard shouldn’t be on a list like this unless recognizability is a factor. He had a down 2010 and shouldn’t be listed ahead of somebody like Florent Malouda, to pick one of many possible alternatives. Including him hints this list is more about celebrity than performance.

Kaká has not only been hurt for much of the year but hasn’t been exceptional when he has played. Franck Ribery could have his spot, as could Ángel Di Maria. If you’re looking for more of a playmaking type, consider Javier Pastore, whose strong play at the end of Palermo’s 2009-10 season augments his recent rise to prominence. At some point, the name Dirk Kuyt should be mentioned, too.

Andrea Pirlo missed the World Cup and has lost a step. Daniele de Rossi would have been a better choice. You could also make the case that Dutch deep-sitters Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, although different types and unpopular, were better throughout 2010.

Other qualms: Dimitar Berbatov has had one good month in the last ten (at least) and should not be here above Mirko Vucinic. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was benched at the end of his club season and missed the World Cup. Pedro Rodriguez is an obvious and better choice. Wayne Rooney hasn’t scored an open play goal in around nine months. His teammate Nani, amongst others, would have been a preferable selection, and if you want to stick with a “true” forward, Giampaolo Pazzini deserves some recognition, as does Rooney body-clone Humberto Suazo. Fernando Torres is a great talent, but his 2010’s been too disappointing to justify this honor.

Ultimately, don’t take this nit-picking too seriously. It’s just a team, one voted on by the players themselves. While there are a number of players deserved this recognition ahead of Kaká and Steven Gerrard, demanding those changes would overlook one very important thing. This list as much celebration as it is recognition. To a certain extent, FIFA and FIFPro want some Rios and Pirlos, particularly when their peers are providing the legitimacy by voting for them.

While it may err in some choices on the periphery, this process is still likely to pick a pretty strong World XI. In the interim, it gives us something interesting to discuss: Why some players are on this list while others are not.