Spanish trio compete for player of the finals award
Saturday, 10 July 2010
JOHANNESBURG, July 9 (AFP): Three Spaniards feature in the 10 players nominated for the player of the World Cup finals announced by world governing body FIFA Friday.
Barcelona midfield duo Andres Iniesta and Xavi - voted the player of Euro 2008 - along with leading scorer David Villa, who joined Barca from Valencia prior to the tournament for 40million euros are the trio nominated from the World Cup finalists' team.
Their opponents The Netherlands by contrast provide two in the form of Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben and Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder, joint top scorer along with Villa at the finals with five goals.
They are joined by Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, scorer of four goals as the South Americans flew the flag for their continent in reaching the semi-finals, and also Ghanaian forward Asamoah Gyan.
Gyan scored three times for the African giants as they reached the last eight, but were deprived of a place in the semi-finals after a goalbound effort was illegally punched off the line by Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.
Barcelona's Argentinian playmaker Lionel Messi features on the list despite failing to score here but he was at the heart of most of their creative play up to their humbling by Germany in the quarter-finals.
Barcelona midfield duo Andres Iniesta and Xavi - voted the player of Euro 2008 - along with leading scorer David Villa, who joined Barca from Valencia prior to the tournament for 40million euros are the trio nominated from the World Cup finalists' team.
Their opponents The Netherlands by contrast provide two in the form of Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben and Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder, joint top scorer along with Villa at the finals with five goals.
They are joined by Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, scorer of four goals as the South Americans flew the flag for their continent in reaching the semi-finals, and also Ghanaian forward Asamoah Gyan.
Gyan scored three times for the African giants as they reached the last eight, but were deprived of a place in the semi-finals after a goalbound effort was illegally punched off the line by Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.
Barcelona's Argentinian playmaker Lionel Messi features on the list despite failing to score here but he was at the heart of most of their creative play up to their humbling by Germany in the quarter-finals.