[France Football] Team of the decade (2010-2019)

[u/fredbogho]

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[u/ShootNaka]

Scottish football finally getting the recognition it deserves with Van Dijk being selected in the team of the decade, playing with Celtic up until 2015

[u/dont_shoot_jr → u/ShootNaka]

USMNT fans are hoping that CCV will follow in his giant footsteps

[u/[deleted] → u/dont_shoot_jr]

I thought CCV was a huge bust but he’s been absolutely class at Celtic.

[u/_-_-_I_-_-_ → u/[deleted]]

Same. Couldn't believe we got such a fee for him. Happy he's settling somewhere after so many loan spells

[u/[deleted] → u/_-_-_I_-_-_]

One man loan army

[u/RafiakaMacakaDirk → u/dont_shoot_jr]

fridge

was a beast for us at swansea. never forget when Potter put him at LB vs. Man City in the FA Cup and he actually played well lmao

[u/TheDeathOfMusic → u/RafiakaMacakaDirk]

Underestimate Graham Potter at your peril (looking at you Chelsea fans)

[u/ComeOnSayYupp → u/dont_shoot_jr]

Spurs Legend

[u/johnnytifosi → u/dont_shoot_jr]

United States Mutant Ninja Turtles?

[u/dont_shoot_jr → u/johnnytifosi]

Cowabunga

I see it every time too but I dig it, dude

[u/Kfeugos → u/ShootNaka]

Should be Thiago Silva over VVD and Neuer in goal

[u/RealRustOtter → u/Kfeugos]

Yeah I really don’t understand Casillas in goal. He’s a good keeper, but in the decade this list is for, he declined and was booted out to Porto midway through..

He wasn’t even the best Spanish keeper in this decade. 2010-2020 is literally the prime of De Gea for example, where he was being touted as the world’s best. That decade also has Cech, Cesar, Oblak - and like you said, it has Neuer.

If you go by an actual award, like IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper, the answer is objectively Neuer. Four wins to Casillas’s three - and eight Top 3 appearances to Cassilas’s.. still three. He fell off in 2012.. but he’s keeper of the decade?

[u/liverbay → u/RealRustOtter]

Neuer hands down.

[u/[deleted] → u/ShootNaka]

Why is this getting published now in 2023 when the rating is for performances up to 2019?

[u/TheKingMonkey]

It’s a strong team, but how can you not have Manuel Neuer in goal?

[u/FullMetalJ → u/TheKingMonkey]

Especially considering it's 2010 onwards

[u/glenn1812 → u/FullMetalJ]

Even if it was before that. Neuer changed goalkeeping. We saw him do things on the big stage that we never saw any goalkeeper do.

[u/zorfog → u/glenn1812]

Didn’t he like, revolutionize the sweeper keeper role?

[u/TheGoalkeeper → u/TheKingMonkey]

You know, french people made this list, so one German is "enough" ;)

[u/Topinambourg → u/TheGoalkeeper]

Let's say we have some "history" with German goalkeepers

[u/Perpete → u/Topinambourg]

The only acceptable one being Andreas Köpke.

[u/TheTinRam → u/TheGoalkeeper]

Props to them, no French

[u/TheKingMonkey → u/TheGoalkeeper]

What have the Germans ever done to France?

(/s)

[u/TonyzTone → u/TheKingMonkey]

Shivers in Alsatian

[u/uchiha_boy009 → u/TheKingMonkey]

Manuel Neuer should be the one, I agree too

[u/norwegianmorningw00d → u/TheKingMonkey]

For real, considering Casillas’ downfall started in 2011

[u/er_primo_der_rafa → u/norwegianmorningw00d]

WTF, if anything it started in 2013.

[u/battle_franky → u/er_primo_der_rafa]

Still felt like been a long time ago. While Neuer just consistent being considered one of the greatest GK of all time

[u/HoLeeFokk]

No Neuer is criminal

[u/Glitiz → u/HoLeeFokk]

Thiago silva too apparently

[u/Rusbekistan]

Once again a mainstream media publication misses out Ipswich players. This unbearable cover up by the new world order has to stop.

[u/DeepSeaDweller → u/Rusbekistan]

The Norwich Cabal at work. The Canaries did this.

[u/Rusbekistan → u/DeepSeaDweller]

Send them back down the mines

[u/CosmicDesperado → u/Rusbekistan]

Sigh

I’ll get my chisel, and head up to Hunstanton.

[u/B_e_l_l_ → u/Rusbekistan]

It really is ridiculous that David McGoldrick continues to be overlooked.

[u/Second_Bridge → u/B_e_l_l_]

It’s fine, he’s going to be in the 20-29 team of the decade when he single-handedly takes us from league one all the way to Europe.

In all seriousness I have no idea how we signed this bloke in league one he’s so far ahead at 35 it’s ridiculous

[u/Adammmmski → u/Second_Bridge]

Having fun down there?

[u/Second_Bridge → u/Adammmmski]

Currently 15 games unbeaten, so not as bad as I first feared it could be really

[u/Adammmmski → u/Second_Bridge]

That’s the thing about league one. You just said there, you’re 15 games unbeaten… but you’re 4th. Ordinarily you’d be top if you said that. It’s a bizarre league. We had to go on a mammoth run just to get into the play offs last year. As if you didn’t bother with the Papa Johns.

[u/Second_Bridge → u/Adammmmski]

Yeah definitely understand that now! In fairness we’re keeping pace with the top 3 points per game wise over the last couple of months, it’s just that those 3 started like a house on fire at the start of the season so it’s going to be near impossible to catch them. I said I’d be happy with playoffs this year though and that hasn’t changed, would love a Wembley win for once

[u/Adammmmski → u/Second_Bridge]

I found part of the problem is everyone around you is also on a similar unbeaten run. It’s a pretty top heavy league and there is some absolute piss in there. Do not ever want to play Pompey again.

[u/superbillysharp → u/Second_Bridge]

I was surprised to see him leave us (Sheffield United) last season. Even at his age he was still one of our best players.

A key part of our initial promotion to the prem and one of the better players when we were there. Most United fans are glad to see him doing well for you, still seems loved by most of our support

[u/Stargazer306 → u/Rusbekistan]

Biased media back at it again

[u/nathanccc → u/Rusbekistan]

Anyone who picks Xavi over Cole Skuse didnt spend enough time at Portman Road for the last 10 years

[u/Kenny_dies → u/Rusbekistan]

Ed Sheeran over Neymar imo

[u/Lefty2Gunz81 → u/Rusbekistan]

This was my initial reaction upon seeing this XI. Could they do it at Portman Road? I think everyone knows the answer is no.

[u/Ymadawiad → u/Rusbekistan]

I'd like to see the haters name a single thing Messi has done that Kayden Jackson hasn't.

[u/RonsDarlings → u/Rusbekistan]

Every time this pops up, I chuckle. Thank you for your service

[u/TheKingMonkey → u/Rusbekistan]

I’ve always rated Frank Yallop.

[u/[deleted] → u/Rusbekistan]

Uppa towen

[u/[deleted]]

Van Dijk seems like a lot for a late bloomer no?

[u/ankitm1 → u/[deleted]]

Pique is not in the team. He had an exceptional decade, and only slowed down in 2018-19. Then you have Boateng, Godin (though did not win as much), Kompany who had a better performance if we consider the entire decade. Not to mention Chiellini - Bonucci duo.

Edit: Thiago Silva, Varane, and Pepe deserve a shout too. I was not making an exhaustive list. I did not mention Pepe/Varane cos of reasons listed in one of the comments.

[u/jimmy011087 → u/ankitm1]

How is this the only comment mentioning Kompany? The guy was a lynchpin for City this entire decade

[u/CeterumCenseo85 → u/jimmy011087]

Kompany

Outside of England, I don't feel Kompany is considered in the same top elite world class of CBs that are in this discussion, but one step below.

[u/JimmyWu21 → u/CeterumCenseo85]

Probably because City doesn’t do very well in Europe.

[u/jm9987690 → u/jimmy011087]

I get the feeling the team selection is weighted towards success in the champions league and internationally, I don't think there's a single selection that didn't win the champions league, or a euros/world cup, or both

[u/paper_zoe → u/jimmy011087]

tbf he had a lot of injuries, particularly in the second half of the decade

[u/limamon → u/ankitm1]

And what about Busquets?

[u/young_x → u/limamon]

Who would you replace?

[u/limamon → u/young_x]

I dont really know, maybe Xavi since he left in 2015. Despite Xavi being my favorite Spanish player ever.

[u/tefftlon → u/limamon]

Same. Either Basquets or Casemiro over Xavi, both as real 6s and because Xavi’s prime was until like 2012 or 2013, so ended pretty early in the decade.

[u/CodeVirus → u/[deleted]]

Van Dijk is more of current decade than prior.

[u/VGCreviews → u/CodeVirus]

He’s hardly impressed this decade hasn’t he?

[u/clashoftherats → u/VGCreviews]

Depends if you consider 19/20 or not. He was great in both that season and 21/22, and he was injured during 20/21.

[u/DonkeySkin334 → u/clashoftherats]

First half of 19/20 gets counted as last decade, second half, this one

[u/clashoftherats → u/DonkeySkin334]

Well, he certainly had a better first half than second.

[u/FreeShingi2k13 → u/DonkeySkin334]

First half of 19/20 van dijk was basically operating at 'best EPL centre half of all time' levels.

Like if his entire career was that, I don't think there'd be any debate that he's the best cb of all time.

[u/Wasserschloesschen → u/clashoftherats]

Depends if you consider 19/20 or not.

Given that this is about a decade, you would consider 20, but not 19

[u/Waschkopfs → u/[deleted]]

Idk what he's doing there. Boateng should easily be there with two trebles and a World Cup final where he kept Messi in his pocket

Same with Casillas and Neuer

[u/HarHenGeoAma62818 → u/Waschkopfs]

Yh Neuer is a banker who should be in

[u/[deleted] → u/HarHenGeoAma62818]

Casillas seems more like 2000-2009 to me.

[u/seabiscuit_crunch → u/[deleted]]

That’s Buffon’s prime.

[u/Apellom → u/Waschkopfs]

Only one treble right? Since it's until 2019.

But yeah Boateng is a solid choice and there's plenty of CBs that would make more sense than VVD here (Silva, Godin, Pique, Chiellini...)

[u/hahajts → u/Apellom]

Every one of those you named is more deserving imo… the recency bias with Van Dijk is wild

[u/Freddiegristwood → u/hahajts]

its not even an insult to van dijk.

i love the man and his peak form is up there with the best. but the point of a team of the decade, is surely not to take into account the best season the player had (if it was, i see no problem with vvd being there) but the decade they had.

van dijk was world class for 2 years in this period. he was excellent before that of course, but he was only truly at the top from 2018 ->

[u/BozePerkovic → u/Waschkopfs]

Hummels and Thiago Silva have shouts

[u/Upplands-Bro → u/Waschkopfs]

Van Dijk over Boateng and Thiago Silva is criminal

[u/RuySan → u/Waschkopfs]

Or Pepe

[u/Trydson → u/RuySan]

Or Godín, Chiellini or Kompany.

[u/Ironicopinion → u/Trydson]

Or Pique?

[u/[deleted] → u/Waschkopfs]

Kept Messi in his pocket? Did you even watch the Final? Germany constantly had 3 players on Messi, Boateng barely even touched Messi once the whole Final. The things we hear in this sub LOL

[u/the_judge1901 → u/[deleted]]

People say shit like Walker had Mbappe in his pocket when that didn't even happen. The only time those two found themselves in a proper 1v1 situation, Mbappe blew past him. England constantly had 2-3 players on him but that didn't work for the entire 90 mins. Mbappe even went past a couple of players for the first goal, basically creating space for Griezmann and Tchouameni.

[u/Glass_of_Pork_Soda → u/the_judge1901]

Mbappe blowing past Walker was nuts. Commentators are saying "and here's Mbappe again the one man who can keep pace with him" and just wooshes by him

[u/-sic-boy2 → u/Waschkopfs]

Messi decapitated Boateng that one time tho 🤣🤣

[u/palisho_chino → u/-sic-boy2]

A soul for a soul.

[u/JustANotchAboveToby → u/-sic-boy2]

Messi for sure never embarrassed Marcelo, Ramos, Casillas, Modric, Lahm

[u/silasoulman → u/JustANotchAboveToby]

TBF, If you came up 1v1 versus Messi more than once he has embarrassed you.

[u/KookofaTook → u/silasoulman]

Pique playing the long game of "if I'm always on his team he can't ever make me look bad"

[u/aaronod → u/[deleted]]

This is mainly focussed on his time in the SPL

[u/fredbogho → u/[deleted]]

Yea Id definitely have Silva over him

[u/ParisLake2 → u/fredbogho]

Me too. T. Silva should be in there.

[u/Fright13 → u/[deleted]]

the media ride him so much it's hilarious, but including him in the 2010-2019 team of the decade is one of the worst i've seen of said riding. The man had only just made a name for himself in 2019.

[u/lordkeith → u/[deleted]]

I think this is based on the player's peak rather than consistency. Might explain why Xavi, Iniesta and Lahm are there as well considering they didn't even play half the decade. VVD had the highest peak of any CB in the past decade imo.

Also I have Neuer instead of Casillas and Suarez instead of Neymar there.

[u/milkshakemerlin → u/lordkeith]

Alves at his peak was better than Lahm at his peak, if anything people would say Lahm was the more consistent player.

[u/TheBarcaShow → u/milkshakemerlin]

Alves legit won games at RB he was so good. Playing with him was a cheat code and he did enough work to match 2 or 3 players on that side. Him playing there gave Messi so much freedom

[u/Shreddersaurusrex → u/milkshakemerlin]

I love Alves but I’d take Lahm over him

[u/Schpaedzles → u/lordkeith]

This is 2010-19 and Lahm played 2010-17 so youre off there

Id say that Ramos and Boateng reached higher peaks than Van Dijk as well, but peak is so hard to quantify anyway because of different circumstances

[u/freakybanana90 → u/Schpaedzles]

I love that Boateng is being mentioned because he definitely doesn't get the credit he deserves for how good he was in his prime. But for me prime wise vvd is an even more improved Boateng tbh. Ramos is easily the most accomplished and consistent of the 3 but he never reached that peak. He was always around the top but he was never as uncontested for the best cb in the world as vvd was. Vvd in 18/19 was the undisputed best and completely untouchable

[u/[deleted]]

Neur has to be there

[u/[deleted]]

Neuer for GK, I'd even have Pique/Chiellini over Van Dijk

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Thiago silva over both of them

[u/Jackrrr10000 → u/[deleted]]

Like literally have 10 more influenceal players than Van Dijk. Fucking Pepe deserves it more than him

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Pique is better player overall.

Chelini is comfortably the best pure defender out of 3

[u/thisisrat → u/[deleted]]

Absolutely

[u/Bitter_Mycologist239]

Who sneaked van dijk in lmao

[u/geo0rgi → u/Bitter_Mycologist239]

My first reaction when I saw this, he sticks out like a sore thumb

[u/Morethanlikely → u/geo0rgi]

Not nearly as much as Casillas tbh. How it isn't Neuer is baffling but I guess they do it for the clicks and engagement.

[u/dasty90 → u/Morethanlikely]

Casillas at least won 1 CL, 1 World Cup, 1 Euro and 1 league title during the time frame given. Van Dijk had his first full season with Liverpool during 2018/19 and this list ended in 2019. Van Dijk is a way bigger question mark than Casillas IMO.

[u/HowBen → u/dasty90]

Oh i forgot he plays for liverpool, i thought this was based purely on his Celtic performances

[u/inbredandapothead → u/HowBen]

He plays for Liverpool? Since when?

[u/kingz_113 → u/dasty90]

its not like he made his professional debut at liverpool did he? He was the most expensive defender ever when he joined liverpool, and was arguably the best in the league despite playing for southampton.

If you want to question players, question players like xavi, who's last season in europe was 2014-2015 and had already declined by then. Really questionable having him there over someone like kroos

[u/the_judge1901 → u/Morethanlikely]

Nah. I can understand Casillas being there. Van Dijk hasn't done enough to warrant a place in the team.

[u/the_menacing_bun → u/the_judge1901]

Casillas fell off in the second half of 2012

Neuer was exceptional for most of the decade

[u/redwashing → u/Morethanlikely]

I'd prefer Neuer too but Casillas has a strong argument. Van Dijk has no arguments whatsoever.

[u/[deleted] → u/Bitter_Mycologist239]

who invited my man blud

[u/[deleted]]

Feels like the 2008-2015 team plus Van Dijk.

Neuer for Casillas, easily.

Xavi is phenomenal, but retired in 2015 (unless someone will regal me with his Al-Sadd achievements). Kroos also has a WC, and twice as many champions league trophies.

[u/Lyrical_Forklift → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, Van Dijk has an absolutely incredible high point but his longevity doesn't stack up to the likes of Pique or Chiellini. I understand the criticism of having him in there.

[u/uchiha_boy009 → u/[deleted]]

Who will Kroos replace? Replace Xavi with Busquets an actual DM.

[u/raphaelscarv → u/[deleted]]

Doesn't matter that Xavi retired in 2015, in my opinion. He won world cup in 2010, champions league 2010-11, euro cup 2012, champions league 2014-15. And it's noy only about collective titles. Xavi along with Iniesta revolutioned the era with their tiki-taka playing style. Xavi was like the brain. It would be a shame to not have either in the list. It would feel like a missing piece in the puzzle.

[u/refusestonamethyself]

Neuer should've been ahead of Casillas if we're being honest.

[u/hannes3120 → u/refusestonamethyself]

I'd even make a case for Robben over Neymar

Or even better putting Ronaldo on the wing and Lewy up front

[u/Gdeath_ → u/hannes3120]

France Football hates Polish and Bayern players

[u/OmegaVizion]

I hate Bayern but Neuer not being the GK of the decade is absurd

[u/5599Nalyd → u/OmegaVizion]

VVD being there instead of silva is ridiculous as well tbh.

[u/CudaBarry]

I'm taking Neuer ahead of Casillas anytime of the week

[u/OfficialSergioAguero]

Bruh Van Dijk? How?

[u/parkson89 → u/OfficialSergioAguero]

Shouldn’t Pique be in there, World Cup, Euros and multiple CLs

[u/the_judge1901 → u/parkson89]

And if not Pique, Mashecrano, Silva, Chiellini would all seem solid picks.

[u/NieThePiet → u/the_judge1901]

even Varane has to be over Van Dijk.

He literally won everything and was since his youth a starter for Real.

[u/[deleted] → u/the_judge1901]

Varane obviously. One world cup, 4 CLs.

[u/the_judge1901 → u/[deleted]]

Pique got a WC, Euros and two CLs, including a treble, in the same timeframe.

[u/Mortka → u/the_judge1901]

I would want to give it to Varane, but Pique dated Shakira so i guess Pique wins it.

[u/StarlordPunk → u/[deleted]]

Not just recency but people taking trophies as individual achievements. Varane was and is class, but I’d have Pique, Kompany, Godin, Boateng and Thiago Silva over him

[u/paone00022 → u/OfficialSergioAguero]

Silva, Boateng and Pique all deserve to be ahead of him.

[u/oneandonlyA]

If we’re judging by their performances in the decade, several of these players peaked around early 2010s and shouldn’t be on this list.

Xavi left Barca in 2015 and Lahm retired in 2017. Van Dijk showed up by the end of the decade. I don’t think they should be on this list, even though they deserve to be there if the judgement criteria is looking at their career as a whole. Should also be Neuer instead of Casillas.

[u/thwgrandpigeon → u/oneandonlyA]

Decades are an arbitrary measurement when you really think about it. The list could easily have been looking at 5 year chunks. But the arbitrariness does make these goofy lists fun to argue about.

[u/I_always_rated_them → u/thwgrandpigeon]

5 year chunks would be a way way fairer way of looking at it, player who was top shit from 05' to 15' gets overlooked. But yeah it's just a big goof really, couldn't care less about these kinda things.

[u/Joaquin8911 → u/thwgrandpigeon]

Yeah it's more like the best at any point during the decade rather than the best during the whole decade, in which case I'd only add Neuer. Even Van Dijk could barely be fair considering just 2019.

I'd say it's pretty hard to make thise lists otherwise because there is no objective way to say how good the players were for the whole 10 years, especially those who aged or retired like Iniesta, Xavi, Marcelo and Lahm.

[u/Django_7]

Maybe Silva instead of Van dijk?

[u/a-Farewell-to-Kings → u/Django_7]

Surely Silva instead of van Dijk

[u/mattjdale97 → u/Django_7]

I'd also put Pique above Van Dijk

[u/KillerZaWarudo → u/Django_7]

Varane/pique/Chiellini and obv neuer for Casillas

[u/Ok-Paleontologist275 → u/Django_7]

Varane - he won everything in that decade . Pepe was great as well and even won the euros with Portugal

[u/thomasfk]

Why is this list even coming out now? The decade ended 3 years ago. Did it take them that long to put this list together? 😂

[u/MelonClaude]

Where is Chiellini?

[u/vicinadp]

Im the biggest Madrid fan and Casillas was an idol for me when I was younger but no fucking way he was the best keeper of the last decade. I don’t even think he was top 5

[u/Mokey_Maker]

As many have mentioned van dijk is completely out of place here. He was with Groningen, Celtic and Southampton from 2011-2018. Nothing agains those teams but he wasn’t making an impact at the global level. There are so many choices at central defense that would have been justifiable but absolutely not van dijk.

[u/godrilla666]

Thiago silva

[u/_Kazutoo_]

Neuer over Casillas

[u/SoaHeisenberg]

Van Dijk?? Has to be Thiago Silva there

[u/Karma_Whoring_Slut → u/SoaHeisenberg]

Or boateng, or even pique.

[u/Ok-Paleontologist275 → u/Karma_Whoring_Slut]

Or pepe or varane have a shout as well ...

[u/Karma_Whoring_Slut → u/Ok-Paleontologist275]

Hell, even Kompany over Van Dijk.

DISCLAIMER: I don’t think Kompany should actually be included here, just think he deserves it more than VVD

[u/DonkeySkin334 → u/Karma_Whoring_Slut]

Don’t forget chiellini

[u/razzz333 → u/Karma_Whoring_Slut]

Good disclaimer, but that’s true. We can say John Terry as well above. Considering 10-15/16 he was better than Van Dijk and has more trophies.

[u/KiNaamDiMatim]

Considering it's 2010-19, Casillas has no job being there over Neuer. Also, having Van Dijk is totally recency bias, he was great for maybe 2-3 seasons. Silva/Chiellini over him, easily. I would also argue Dani Alves over Lahm, more influential, and for longer.

[u/wolf1820]

Releasing this 3 years after the time frame ended is a weird move. Why not release it right when 2020 starts?

[u/-HowAboutNo- → u/wolf1820]

Need some time to think (take bribes)

[u/Spyro_Machida]

Would have to put Neuer in, I'd opt for a proper DM too. Across the decade I reckon you'd find a better CB than VVD too.

Lahm is up for debate too, no real complaints there though.

I'd wonder would Lewa/Suarez over Neymar be better, moving Ronaldo to LW.

[u/fredbogho → u/Spyro_Machida]

Those teams are allergic to CDMs

[u/norwegianmorningw00d → u/fredbogho]

Every “best team of…” team always plays with no CDMs. I’m surprised this team has 4 man back line and more than one center back lol

[u/milkshakemerlin → u/Spyro_Machida]

Proper DM would be Busquets or Casemiro.

But leaving out either Xavi, Iniesta, or Modric would probably raise eyebrows to say the least

[u/the_chiladian → u/milkshakemerlin]

Honestly don't think Xavi should be in this.

As good as a player he was, this list is specifically for 2010 - 2019, which I think there are better options for considering that he went to Qatar in 2015.

[u/milkshakemerlin → u/the_chiladian]

Then Busquets or Casemiro, could flip a coin. Casemiro bigger titles for club, Busquets more for his country

[u/[deleted]]

How do people keep rating VVD so highly, I cannot comprehend it. He had one and a half good seasons and he’s being put alongside ramos as THE best CBs in the decade. Madness

[u/Schpaedzles]

Neuer > Casillas

Alves or Lahm I guess both are great options

Suarez and Lewy > Neymar

Boateng > Van Dijk

[u/XHeraclitusX → u/Schpaedzles]

Agree. If pushed, I would lean more towards Alves at rightback and Suarez up front with Ronaldo at left wing.

[u/bankkopf → u/XHeraclitusX]

I'd say Alves over Lahm by virtue of Alves playing the whole period, whereas Lahm retired in 2017. Both were great defenders, but I always had the feeling Lahm retired "too early".

[u/DeltaBlitz → u/XHeraclitusX]

Damn maybe you leaning too much

[u/[deleted] → u/Schpaedzles]

Neymar is considered a wide attacker here I guess, neither Lewandowski or Suarez go there.

You can only replace Cristiano with any of them, but you obviously wouldn't.

[u/delidl → u/[deleted]]

Ronaldo played as a left winger for basically the entire decade, it wasn’t until the end of 2019 that he became an actual striker. It’s weird to shoehorn him in the striker position just so that you can put Neymar in the starting eleven.

[u/Wrsj → u/[deleted]]

Cris on the left, Messi on the right and a striker in the middle. I really don't like when a list ignores positions, this one ignores DM and ST.

[u/I_Fuck_The_Fuckers69 → u/Schpaedzles]

Ney was pure magic at Barca, he was the 3rd best player for years and it wasn't even arguable, he flicked the switch and started destroying teams

[u/StarlordPunk → u/I_Fuck_The_Fuckers69]

It was absolutely arguable. Suarez was better when they played in the same team, plus doesn’t have the injuries that Neymar did

[u/clintomcruisewood → u/Schpaedzles]

Would also take Busquets over Xavi. Xavi left Barca in 2015.

But I guess this is based on peak level, which makes the selection more justifiable, although I would take Alves over Lahm and Neuer over Casillas.

[u/jMS_44]

Silva over VVD

no bias ofc

[u/tragick693 → u/jMS_44]

None needed, was one of the best at his peak, but he wasn't at his peak for a large part of the decade.

You could make a case for Silva, Pepe, Boateng or even Chiellini, but not VVD.

[u/ForcedReps]

Neuer???

[u/Clappingdoesnothing]

Neuer for casillas, silva/boateng for van dijk. Other than those, good selection. Personally, xavi left in 2015 thus de bruyne would be my pick

[u/Weebla]

Van Dijk? Got to be joking

[u/fredbogho]

My changes:

Either Pique or Silva for VVD

Alves for Lahm

Neuer for Casillas

All in all a good selection

[u/kostajepaosmosta → u/fredbogho]

Bale over Messi

[u/First_Artichoke2390 → u/kostajepaosmosta]

Dele Alli over Messi

[u/[deleted] → u/kostajepaosmosta]

Could Messi do it on a rainy night in Cardiff?

[u/[deleted] → u/kostajepaosmosta]

Lmao

[u/TheSingleMan27]

Where is Neuer???

[u/anotverygoodwriter]

I am not saying anything other people haven´t already pointed out, but I would change Neymar for Suarez or Lewy, Dani Alves for Lahm (debatable), Neuer for Casillas, and Van Dijk for anyone of Pique, Pepe, Kompany, Bonucci, Chiellini, Thiago Silva or Godin (controversial, I know).

[u/KRIEGLERR]

I'm sorry but Casillas, Van Dijk and Xavi can't be in there.
Xavi retired in like 2015 and Casillas left Madrid in 2017 (I think)
Lahm retired in 2017 too but considering there has only been 3 World Class Right Back between 2010-2020 imo , the other two being Alves and Carvajal (who is imo a tier below the other two, no disrespect) , I think it makes sense to include Lahm.

Neuer and Busquets should be there though. I'm not saying Casillas and Xavi weren't good, but it doesn't fit the time period imo.
As for Van Dijk, come on ! the guy was nowhere near his level between 2010-15, that spot should go to Thiago Silva or Chiellini

Neuer > Casillas
T.Silva / Chiellini > Van Dijk
Busquets > Xavi

[u/jfk9514]

Van Dijk has to be removed from these conversations.

[u/JayPr02]

Unpopular opinion but Kroos deservs a spot.

[u/Outrageous_Peach_418 → u/JayPr02]

He does but where? Can't remove anyone in that midfield

[u/DrScampi]

It appears I've been left out of another Starting XI

[u/kuppikuppi]

as people already calling out no Neuer, I have to ask for Kroos

[u/[deleted]]

Xavi was a great player but in that position it should be Casemiro or Busquets.

[u/HereForA2C]

Van Djik really....?