While FIFA and the football world might have already submitted their team and player’s of 2012 today, Gambetta Football pride ourselves on our own opinions, and so we have added a team from each of our regular contributors below. FIFA’s top three players for 2012, as nominated by international coaches, captains, and journalists from around the world were Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Andres Iniesta. Few will have been surprised that Messi picked up the award for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year and Cristiano Ronaldo will no doubt be frustrated once again, as surely during no other period in history would he have had to settle for second best for so long. For quick comparison FIFA voted for a team made up of:
…And so without further ado let’s move on to the Gambetta World Football Awards for 2012.
Stuart Boyd:
1. Mats Hummels 2. Lionel Messi 3. Cristiano Ronaldo
Andrew Gillooley:
1. Lionel Messi 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Andrea Pirlo
John Gillooley:
1. Lionel Messi 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Andrés Iniesta
George Dugdale:
1. Lionel Messi 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Andrés Iniesta
Kenny Jarvis:
1. Lionel Messi 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Andrés Iniesta
David Rodríguez Glez:
1. Lionel Messi 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Sergio Ramos
Andrew McFee:
1. Lionel Messi 2. Andrés Iniesta 3. Cristiano Ronaldo
Much like the FIFA Ballon d’Or vote Gambetta have also awarded the top three places to Lionel Messi in first place, Cristiano Ronaldo in second and Andrés Iniesta in thrid. It’s hard to argue that FIFA didn’t manage to get that decision spot on.
So the biggest difference between FIFA and Gambetta appears to be in the Team of the Year, and at full back, where Dani Alves and Marcelo barely appear amongst Gambetta writers, with them instead going for Lahm, Piszczek and Jordi Alba.
In goal Casillas would appear a justified choice making it into 57% of Gambetta teams. Further disagreements appear at center back with Hummels, Kompany and Thiago Silva well represented.
In midfield Xavi and Iniesta both make it into 86% of Gambetta teams. Xabi Alonso however drew considerably less support with Pirlo the most common alternative offered.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are obviously automatic selections featuring in every writer’s team. Unlike the FIFA team though Falcao is not popular, featuring in only 28% of Gambetta teams, Robin van Persie meanwhile was selected in 43%.
Below is a team made up from the Gambetta writer’s picks… Introducing the Gambetta World XI 2012.
Not a Bainsey in sight!?! Pure tosh I tell thee.
On a more serious note I think the lack of players from ‘the best league in the world’ is quite telling.
Baines would definitely be in my EPL team of the year, but he hasn’t touched the levels that Jordi Alba has both at club and international level in my opinion.
True about the self proclaimed “best league in the world”, only van Persie made the Gambetta team, and that was far from a clear cut decision.