Archive for 'World Football'
Xavi, Iniesta and Messi Makes Ballon d’Or Shortlist
Posted on21. Oct, 2011 by admin.
Xavi and Andres Iniesta, the winners of Spain’s World Cup, were joined by holder Lionel Messi on the all-Barcelona shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, as announced last December 6, Monday.
Iniesta scored the winning goal in the Spain’s World Cup final victory back in July over the Netherlands in Johannesburg and along with his midfield partner, Xavi, and the Argentina forward, Messi, was able to help Barcelona in getting the Spanish league title.
23-year-old Messi had a disappointing World Cup based on his own high standards, after failing to score in the tournament as Argentina crashed out after facing a 4-0 defeat by Germany during the quarter-finals.
Iniesta wrote on his Facebook page, “It’s an honor to be one of the three finalists for the Ballon d’Or, and even more so to be there with Xavi and Leo.” He further added, “It’s a marvelous prize for the cantera”, referring to the “La Masia” youth academy of the club where all three trained.
Vicente del Bosque, a former Real Madrid manager who was the mastermind of the first World Cup success of Spain, made the shortlist for getting the Coach of the Year award.
He was joined by Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and Barca’s Pep Guardiola. Mourinho won the Champions League and the Italian league and cup with Inter Milan during last season.
Jerome Valcke, FIFA general secretary, said in a media conference that Spanish soccer has been able to move “ahead of the rest” since 2008 and has been dominating at club level.
Valcke said, “They are crushing world football at the moment. Barcelona’s match against Madrid last week was a brilliant display of football.”