Football Fantasy XI - A Dream team with a twist - Team 7

Central Midfielders – Bastian Schweinsteiger (Club: Bayern Munich, Nationality: Germany)

The duo here represent the best deep lying playmakers in the world at present. Bastian tends to drop so deep that he becomes a partly advanced center back at times, and is always open to a pass in the middle, or sometimes, even from his own goalkeeper. He also makes runs forward when his team are turning on the heat and has the shot to match. His experience further justifies his inclusion.

Advanced Midfielders – LM – Eden Hazard (Club: Chelsea, Nationality: Belgium)

It was a hazardous task trying to pick one Belgian from their current ‘golden generation’, and Hazard is my choice. He justified the hype generated with his transfer to Chelsea, showcasing electrifying pace and scoring and setting up goals effortlessly. We have also seen that Hazard is such an unpredictable player – he can either choose to lob the ball over his man, or knock the ball on and beat him for pace, choose the simplest short pass available, attempt an audacious backheel to a support runner, dribble directly and take on the defender, draw fouls whenever he likes, and when all the above get too mainstream, he usually shoots and it will probably end up in the net. As someone who can think so quickly, a future Ronaldo probably, he beat other contenders for this position primarily due to his superb skill on the ball.

Advanced Midfielders- CAM – Lionel Messi (Club: FC Barcelona, Nationality: Argentina)

The greatest player of this generation (okay, let’s add Ronaldo as well, as this is not the right place to debate), Messi is at his lethal best when deployed as a false 9. But hang on, this is Messi we are talking about! He can play in any attacking position on the pitch. I could have placed him as a center forward or as a wide forward. But considering the plethora of options available for the striker positions, placing Messi there would have been a severe injustice to the others. Messi takes this position of the ‘hole’ behind the striker, because, well, he is Messi. He doesn’t need a fixed position to play in. No matter where he is placed, the end result will always be the ball striking the back of the net. (And, before I forget, one does not need to survive a cold, wet night at Stoke to be called as the best)

[Why not Ronaldo? I could have, but including Ronaldo would have made finding another top U-20 center back other than Raphael Varane extremely difficult, as only one player per club is allowed according to the rules here.]

Advanced Midfielders – RM – Gareth Bale (Club: Tottenham Hotspurs, Nationality: Wales)

It would have been very difficult to compose this list hadn’t this guy been a Welshman. His nationality made negotiating the ‘only one player from each country’ rule so much easier. Bale is the most coveted property in the market right now, has a lethal left foot, pace to burn, and the hunger for goals. An all action, non-stop player, a must-include in this list.

In this trio, Hazard and Bale are inverted wide forwards. Hazard is stronger on his right foot and plays on the left, while Bale, whose left foot is his better one, plays on the left. Both can cut inside with their favored foot and cause havoc. Messi would have a free role to roam wherever he likes. The trio can also exchange positions with each other and cause devastation.

Strikers – Edinson Cavani (Club: Napoli, Nationality: Uruguay)

Cavani has been hot property for the past couple of years and clubs are queuing up for his signature. The fact that he hasn’t moved yet makes this list a bit easier to compose. Napoli value him at 63 million euros and they do not seem like changing their stance. With a lethal finish and the strength to beat his man, he is the perfect center forward for this team.

Strikers – Radamel Falcao (Club: A S Monaco, Nationality: Colombia)

A situation incredibly similar to Cavani’s, Falcao’s only difference from the Uruguayan is the fact that he has actually moved. Incredibly, to Monaco, chasing the millions on offer. A representation from the French League looks nice on this team sheet, and it makes it possible to include a La Liga player anywhere else in this team if required. Another goal poacher and an extremely similar player as his strike partner makes devastation in the box look certain even against the best of defenses.

What do you think? Is this team the best covering the rules set? Or can there be a better team out there? Like or Dislike this line-up below -