Ahead of the Goal 50 on Monday, July 29, our countdown continues with each of Goal's five regional managing editors this week choosing their best world XIs from 2012/3
When picking a team of the season, I think the emphasis should be on the word "team". This is not a collection of the best XI players, nor necessarily the best players in their position, but I believe this is a team that would win almost all of their matches and lose virtually none. The formation comes first; any big game brings out the 4-5-1 in most teams these days.
Petr Cech did away with the inconsistency that has pock-marked previous seasons and also made the most memorable save of the year (from Javier Hernandez's header in the FA Cup), which means he narrowly edges out Thibaut Courtois, ironically enough his heir apparent at Chelsea.
Thiago Silva and Dante proved how well they play together during the Confederations Cup and I don't think there's any debate that Philipp Lahm and Ashley Cole are the most complete full-backs in the game.
After something of a golden era for defensive midfielders in the mid-Noughties, there are fewer stars to choose from in that position now. Daniele De Rossi and Sergio Busquets become no-brainers as a result.
I had no doubts about the front four - Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo could swap flanks as they pleased and score goals for fun, while Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta through the middle is a perfect combination.
Impenetrable at the back, lethal up front, this is an all-conquering XI.
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