Just nine days until the big day so it’s about time we carried on with our Xmas advent calendar squad.
Today sees us decide who will take the number 16 in our official Christmas team.
Once again, overall talent and ability will be considered but this is mainly down to footballer’s respective performances throughout 2018, with the World Cup carrying particular weight.
No. 1: Marc-André Ter Stegen
No. 2: Kyle Walker
No. 3: Giorgio Chiellini
No. 4: Virgil Van Dijk
No. 5: Raphael Varane
No. 6: Paul Pogba
No. 7: Kylian Mbappé
No. 8: Saúl ÑÃguez
No. 9: Luis Suárez
No. 10: Lionel Messi
No. 11: Mohamed Salah
No. 12: Marcelo
No. 13: Alisson
No.14: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
No.15: Andrea Barzagli
Here are Squawka’s top three number 16’s for 2018.
3. Daniele De Rossi (A.S Roma/Italy)
What makes him so special? Known for his tough-tackling and excellent leadership, De Rossi enjoyed a progressive year with AS Roma.
Despite finishing way off Serie A table-toppers Juventus and second-placed Napoli, De Rossi and co. managed to seal third place in a hotly contested top-four finish that saw them finish five points clear of fifth-placed Lazio.
They also came close in Europe, narrowly losing out to Premier League giants Liverpool across two legs in the semi-finals of the Champions League after completing a famous comeback against Barcelona.
Barcelona are the first team in history to both overturn a 3+ goal deficit AND have a 3+ goal lead overturned in the Champions League knockout stages.
Both sides of the records books. pic.twitter.com/cX7Yt3x6jr
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 10, 2018
Losing 5-0 at Anfield in the first-leg after 68 minutes, Roma dragged themselves back into the tie to go into the second leg 5-2 down. A 4-2 victory on home soil was just not enough for the Italian side despite a valiant display of character from De Rossi at the heart of the Roma midfield.
If you asked most clubs in Europe if they would take De Rossi and put him in their starting line-up, there would be few who would turn down the services of the 35-year-old, who still continues to put his age to good use, with his experience, determination and technical ability still admired by many.
Key stat: De Rossi assisted the first goal and scored the second in Roma’s historic 3-0 Champions League against Barcelona.
2. Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain/France)
In truth, the quality that PSG possess ahead of Areola does make the Frenchman’s job slightly easier.
However, it would be both cruel and unjust to discredit the talent Areola exudes on a weekly basis for a side who expect just the highest standards with regularity.
Last season, the 25-year-old amassed 34 league appearances for PSG as they ran away with the Ligue 1 title Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, finally establishing himself as the Paris-based club’s number one option between the sticks.
Making six saves against Germany on his France debut – a tally that had not been seen for 10 years – Areola is still a victim of trying to usurp firmly established goalkeepers ahead of him.
This season has seen the talented shot-stopper battle it out with experienced goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for a place in the PSG goal, with Areola playing nine of 16 league matches so far this campaign.
Key stat: Areola kept 17 clean sheets out of 34 Ligue 1 games last season, averaging one every two games.
1. Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund/Switzerland)
The young Swiss centre-back has used 2018 to announce himself as one of the most talented defenders in European football. Introduced into the Dortmund squad last season, Akanji has quickly developed into a key member of the BVB squad.
This season, Dortmund are absolutely flying in the Bundesliga, sitting top of the league after 15 matches, a massive nine points clear of Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayern Munich who are in second and third respectively.
Seven caps for Switzerland in 2018 – including an appearance at this summer’s Fifa World Cup in Russia – it is his excellent form for both club and country that has seen him finish on top here.
The Swiss finished top of League A Group 2 in the Nations League – ahead of Belgium and Iceland – to ensure that they are in the semi-finals of the competition, where Akanji will be truly tested against a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal side.
2019 could be an even better calendar year for Akanji who at present looks as if he is on course to win his first German league title with Dortmund whilst still continue to develop into a brilliant young defender.
Key stat: Akanji committed just four fouls in his first 16 Bundesliga/Champions League games of 2018/19.
Honourable Mentions:
Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus), Lewis Cook (AFC Bournemouth).
The post Squawka’s Xmas advent squad: which No.16 had the best 2018? appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2BlJLGg
No comments:
Post a Comment