The Fox Sports World League All-Stars sponsored by Budweiser

As an informed football fan with genuinely no preference regarding the affairs of the English Premier League, I feel I'm the perfect man to select the best XI from the self-billed "greatest league in the world". So here goes... let the arguments begin...

Pepe Reina
I take little pleasure saying this but Petr Cech hasn’t been the same keeper since the Stephen Hunt incident. Until then the big Czech looked very close to perfect. This leaves Liverpool’s Pepe Reina as the Premier League’s finest goalkeeper. Athletic and good with the ball at his feet he really is excellent between the sticks. Still young with his best years ahead of him he’s just unlucky to have the same passport as Iker Casillas, his international chances will be few and far between, but he’s the best keeper in England just now.

Jose Bosingwa
Chelsea have got their hands on a truly wonderful footballer. Fast with two great feet and the ability to contribute in attack. The perfect modern full-back. If he keeps up his current form he’ll break all kinds of Fantasy Football stats for a “defender” (which is good because he's in my team!).

Nemanja Vidic
It’s no coincidence Manchester United became champions again as the big Serbian found his feet in English football. Aggressive, hard as nails and brave – as long as he tolerates the Lancashire rain United will be hard to beat. Probably the world’s best central-defender.

Martin Skrtel
Škrtel is a poor man’s Nemanja Vidic – but even that makes him better then every other player in his position. Much of Liverpool’s future promise depends on the young Slovakian staying fit.

Patrice Evra
The Frenchman is a flying machine and provides Manchester United with a wonderful attacking outlet down the left. Like his team-mate Vidic, who arrived at the same time, he took as wee while to get settled – the Reds have been unstoppable ever since.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Yeah he’s a total arse-hole but a total arse-hole who’s brilliant at football. In time he’ll prove better than George Best, David Beckham and Eric Cantona put together. Will one day be considered Europe’s greatest ever player. People should just enjoy his career as long as it lasts.

Javier Mascherano
I’ve always fancied myself as a bit of a player at my own amateur level, then one day I played against a Northern Irish lad who dominated me so completely I realised I was in fact shit. That’s what I imagine all the midfielders in the world feel like when playing against Liverpool’s Argentinean water-carrier. The best sitting midfielder I ever saw in the flesh was Celtic and Dortmund's Paul Lambert – Mascherano is like watching Lambert wearing jet boots and a rocket pack. Phenomenal player even if he does appear to be an utterly disagreeable little character.

Michael Ballack
Sorry Cesc, but I need some physical presence in my midfield next to Mascherano. And I wouldn’t misuse my good Footbo friend Mick Ballack by playing him in a midfield 3 or 5, I’d give the big German the free reign and responsibility he enjoys with his national team. I doubt the Premier League will ever see the best of Ballack, but he’s still the best in his position currently playing in England. One of the greatest players of his generation.

Martin Petrov
Evra and Petrov in the same side may well end in disaster, alternatively the pair of them bombing forward would scare the bejesus out of any right-sided defender. When on his game the balding Bulgarian is unstoppable and provides wonderful width to any side he’s part of.

Fernando Torres
In the age of Joga Bonito and the Soccer AM showboat reel, Torres proves football at its best is very simple; clever movement, running at pace and finishing chances with very little fuss. Having been lucky enough to enjoy, in person, one of Spain’s matches at Euro’08 I was astonished by the shift Torres puts in. He is a perfect role model for all aspiring young footballers with a tremendous attitude. A steal at £20 million – and we all know how much Liverpudlians like stealing things.

Dimitar Berbatov
The highest compliment I can pay United’s Bulgarian forward is to say this; if Zinedine Zidane had ever been used as a striker, Dimitar Berbatov is what he would have looked like. And I don’t say this lightly. His attitude is crap, his ego inflamed and I personally dislike him for forcing through his move to Old Trafford next to the smarmy smug smirk of Alex Ferguson, but he’s one of those special footballers capable of doing things with a ball which are laughably good. Between himself and Torres the Premier League is blessed with the best two strikers in the world.

8 Comentários

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Por NellyRice

05.12.2008 01:09

Nice 11, but I dont agree with your midfield, I miss creativity, what about Deco, and Drogba, he prooved himself much better than berbatov...

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Por soccerjunky

05.12.2008 01:18

4times manu...I like this team :D

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Por Antony

05.12.2008 01:18

Drogba's best days have without doubt been and gone. He simply can't stay fit for long enough to find form. In the next few years Berbatov will out-do everything the big African ever achieved playing in England. Beyond Torres and Berbatov I'd choose, in this order, Adebayor, Van Persie then Anelka.

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