Europe North vs. Europe South: Picking the European All-Star XIs
A European All-Star game? Could that really be a thing?
According to a report from The Daily Telegraph, which cites the Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, it could well be, with UEFA apparently considering an NBA-like match that would bring together the very best players on the continent in a battle between Europe North and Europe South.
As The Telegraph suggests, that could mean a team made up of Premier League and Bundesliga players (the North) taking on an XI from La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1 (the South).
You'd pay to watch that, right? But who'd get in the teams?
Let's get picking.
The Concept
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First, a little more on the concept.
The NBA have been putting on an All-Star game for 64 years, with the first meeting of the best players from the Eastern and Western Conferences taking place in the Boston Garden back in 1951, and the match now the feature element of the All-Star Weekend which takes place every year and features an array of the sport's best players taking place in all sorts of games and drills.
The teams for these match-ups are determined by a fans' vote, which these days of course can easily occur online, whilst various coaches are also asked for their opinions and their help in determining the make-up of the squads.
How Would It Work and When Would It Be Played?
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Being the governing body of the European football, UEFA would of course have a huge say in staging any such match, but given the radical approach to their decision to host Euro 2020 in various cities across the continent then they clearly aren't averse to shaking things up.
Presided over by Michel Platini, UEFA already honour the best club players every year at their Best Player in Europe Awards staged just before the draws for the group stages of the Champions League and Europa League, but this would be a huge step up.
The idea that the All-Star match could replace the traditional UEFA Super Cup Final is sure to be popular with many, but that would of course require the clubs of the players involved to alter and cancel their own matches.
A more viable solution could involve staging the match during the winter when club football is on a break in most European countries, although this break would need to be implemented in the Premier League for their players to be able to be involved.
Where Would It Be Played?
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UEFA would have no problem attracting potential venues for the match, and they could indeed take it on the road with them as they have recently done with the Super Cup final, which was played in Monaco for 14 years before moving to Prague in 2013 and Cardiff last year. This year's final will be played in Tblisi, Georgia, and 2016's will be in Trondheim in Norway.
Alternatively, it could be decided that the winners of the Champions League get to host that year's All-Star game, or the venue could be put to a vote just as selecting the players for the teams would be.
And now, it's on to selecting those teams.
Europe North Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer
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We’ll start off with a fairly easy one, and seeing as we don’t know where this cat comes from, we’ll pick Manuel Neuer in goal.
The World Cup winner was rightly lauded for his displays as his national team triumphed in Brazil last year, with his position and the title of best goalkeeper in the world surely secure for the forseeable future, even though he might eventually face competition for that title from Manchester United's David De Gea and Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois.
Squad members: David De Gea, Thibaut Courtois
Europe North Defence: David Alaba, Mats Hummels, John Terry, Philipp Lahm
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There's a very Bundesliga look to our back four, which features Bayern Munich's full-backs on either side.
David Alaba has become every inch the modern full-back thanks to his displays for the German champions, while his captain, Philipp Lahm, would be his usual steady self on the right-hand side.
Borussia Dortmund's highly sought-after centre-back Mats Hummels slots in between them, with Chelsea skipper John Terry providing an experienced head alongside him following a stellar season that looks set to end with him lifting a fourth Premier League title, each one under Jose Mourinho - who could well be a shoo-in to manage this side.
Squad members: Vincent Kompany, Jerome Boateng, Branislav Ivanovic.
Europe North Midfield: Nemanja Matic, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Yaya Toure
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We've gone for power in our midfield, which will be protected by Chelsea's Nemanja Matic in the manner that he has done so impressively for the Blues all season.
The Serbian is joined by fellow Premier League star Yaya Toure, who might not have had the best of seasons but is still capable of moments of quality that can make the difference at crucial moments. The consistent excellence of Bayern Munich and Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger completes this terrifically talented trio, which will provide both the defensive solidity and attacking power that will be vital in this meeting of superstars.
The North also has plenty of other options in midfield, with plenty of the talented Spanish stars playing their football in England and Germany making the cut.
Squad members: Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, Thiago Alcantara, Ander Herrera.
Europe North Attack: Eden Hazard, Sergio Aguero, Arjen Robben
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Onto our gifted attack, which is again made up of two Premier League players and one from the Bundesliga.
Chelsea's Eden Hazard is the favourite for the PFA Player of the Year award following a fantastic campaign in which he has helped drive his side toward the league title. Manchester City's forward Sergio Aguero has again shone over the campaign despite injury issues.
The attack is completed by Bayern Munich and Netherlands superstar Arjen Robben, a player who remarkably seems to be getting better and faster the older he gets, and has reached a new level of consistency at Bayern Munich which was previously absent at former clubs Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Although lacking the superstar level that we will see from the Europe South team, the attacking squad members for the North could combine Premier League legends, young talents and World Cup winners, which are always nice options to have on your bench.
Squad members: Thomas Muller, Wayne Rooney, Diego Costa, Marco Reus, Alexis Sanchez, Franck Ribery.
Europe South Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon
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Onto the Europe South XI, where the last line of defence would be the Italy and Juventus veteran Gianluigi Buffon.
The 37-year-old is still the most expensive goalkeeper in world football, a record he has held for 14 years since his 2001 move from Parma to Juventus cost Italy's Old Lady a huge £32.6 million.
You have to say he was probably worth it, and he takes our No. 1 shirt despite competition from Spain and Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas, who may have been off his game a little in recent months but who remains a top talent and one of the modern goalkeeping icons.
Barcelona and Chile stopper Claudio Bravo would also be a decent third choice.
Squad members: Iker Casillas, Claudio Bravo.
Europe South Defence: Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves
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We've got three players from La Liga's big two in our defence, plus a Brazilian star from Ligue 1.
Three of our defenders are Brazilian, with Real Madrid's Marcelo taking his place on the left-hand side after emerging as one of the best left-backs in the world game over the past few years. His international team-mate Dani Alves gets the nod on the right.
In the centre of defence are Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva and the only non-Brazilian of the back four Real Madrid and Spain's Sergio Ramos, a vital presence in his side's Champions League triumph last year thanks to his crucial goals in the semi-final against Bayern Munich and the last minute of the final against Atletico Madrid.
Atletico stalwart Diego Godin would be more than useful backup in our squad as we look elsewhere for Europe South's defenders, with the Uruguayan emerging as on of La Liga's best centre-backs and able to join the likes of Gerard Pique, Georgio Chiellini and Jordi Alba on our bench.
Squad members: Diego Godin, Gerard Pique, Georgio Chiellini, Jordi Alba.
Europe South Midfield: Andrea Pirlo, Toni Kroos, Paul Pogba
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In midfield, Juventus' old and young stars take centre stage.
Andrea Pirlo will provide Europe South's midfield with style, grace and, of course, a wonderful beard, while team-mate Paul Pogba will be the energetic force in the centre. The Frenchman would look to recreate the wonderful displays that have made him such a sought-after talent and won him the Best Young Player Award at the World Cup.
The midfield is completed by World Cup-winning Real Madrid star Toni Kroos, whose all-action displays earned him his move to the Bernabeu last summer and have established the German as one of the best midfielders in the world game and one of the most complete players within it, too.
We are spoilt for choice as we look elsewhere for squad members here, with Real Madrid and Barcelona players in particular both making strong cases for inclusion.
Luka Modric and Javier Mascherano have become vital players for both ever since their moves to La Liga from the Premier League (and Europe North to Europe South), whilst Andres Iniesta and James Rodriguez can also feel unlucky not to have earned starting berths.
Squad members: Luka Modric, Javier Mascherano, Andres Iniesta, James Rodriguez.
Europe South Attack: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez
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Europe South were always going to have a stellar attack, and we head back to La Liga's big two to create a forward line that would be quite unlike anything we've ever seen before.
Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would be central to any all-star match you'd care to create, and on current form, the player most worthy of joining them would be Messi's Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez.
The trio would produce flair, dynamism and an almost limitless supply of goals, which would make Europe South the favourites were this fantasy game to become a reality. It would also make any defence anywhere in world football tremble with fear and have plenty of sleepless nights.
Even if the stellar front three of Ronaldo, Messi and Suarez weren't available or just fancied a breather then Europe South would boast plenty of other stars, and names which would be first choices in just about any other team ever put together, although telling Zlatan Ibrahimovic that he's got to sit on the bench wouldn't be a job for the faint-hearted!
Squad members: Gareth Bale, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Carlos Tevez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
