As news breaks of a break-through moment in football with UEFA’s plans of emulating NBA’s All-Star game, fans across Europe will certainly be debating on which players deserve to participate in this momentous occasion.
The European governing body aims to split the continent’s top flight divisions in two – north and south. We’ll focus on the Northern division which will consists of the Barclays Premier League, Bundesliga, Eredivisie and the Russian Premier League.
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With the rules regarding selection scarce at this moment in time, here is a potential All-Star XI made up of the top players across Northern Europe in a 4-2-3-1 system.
GK) David de Gea – Manchester United
Alongside Thibaut Courtois and Manuel Neuer, the Spaniard is undoubtedly the standout keeper in Europe and has only raised his profile with his sensational performances this season to almost single-handedly win games for Man United.
RB) Branislav Ivanovic – Chelsea
The Serbian may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but few can deny his consistent high level performances for Chelsea. Signed in the post-Jose Mourinho era, the Portuguese coach must have been delighted to re-enter the dressing room at Stamford Bridge and be able to call upon a player who possesses all the characteristics he loves in a defender.
CB) Mats Hummels – Borussia Dortmund
Arguably the best defender at last summer’s World Cup, Hummels will be a man in demand come the summer following Dortmund’s horrendous season. The Bundesliga giants will be not be competing in next season’s Champions League and for a player of Hummels’ calibre, that is a travesty.
CB) Nicolas Lombaerts – Zenit St Petersburg
Plying his trade in Russia, Lomabaerts remains the first choice centre back alongside Vincent Kompany for the Belgian national team despite the presence of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Vermaelen.
LB) David Alaba – Bayern Munich
Continues to suffer from niggling injuries, but seeing as this All-Star game comes into affect in 2017 at the earliest, the Austrian is a shoe-in for the left-back slot. Alaba has defied his age over the past few years with consistent and versatile performances for the Bundesliga giants.