Before I get into the next Top Ten, I wanted to call attention to ESPN Soccernet's decade review, which, in part, inspired my own similar review of 2009. Of particular interest are the Premier League Team of the Decade, which was more or less fair in my estimation (though Gary Neville at right back irks me... I mean, Gary Neville, really?), Worst Kits of the Decade (that's British for uniform, and there are some truly abhorrent inclusions) and International Team of Decade. This last one draws my ire for it's exclusion of Thierry Henry from the first XI. Instead, they've gone with the attacking trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Yes, I'm an Arsenal fan and yes, I am a massive fan of Thierry Henry, but let me try to give an objective analysis of their respective CV's here:
Rutgerus Johannes Martinus van Nistelroij (I'd happily reserve him a place on my all name team)
Club: 3 Premier League titles, 2 La Liga, 2 FA cups. 219 goals this decade.
International: Euro 2004 semifinalist, WC 2006 rd of 16, Euro 2008 quarterfinalist. 32 goals this decade in in 55 appearances
Lionel Andres Messi
Club: 3 La Liga Titles, 2 Champions League, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 World Club Cup (it should be noted that he only made a handful of appearances in Barca's 2006 La Liga and Champions League triumphs) 94 goals.
International: WC 2006 quarterfinalists, Copa America 2007 finalist. 13 goals in 41 caps.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Club: 3 Premier League titles, 1 Champions League, 1 World Club Cup. 136 goals this decade.
International: Euro 2004 finalist, World Cup 2006 semifinalist, Euro 2008 semifinalist. 22 goals in 68 caps.
Thierry Daniel Henry
Club: 2 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups, 2 La Liga, 1 Champions League, 2006 Champions League finalist, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 World Club Cup. 257 goals this decade. And, perhaps the greatest achievement, going through the entire 2003-2004 Premier League season undefeated. Also, holds the Arsenal goal scoring record with 226.
International: Euro 2000 Champion, World Cup 2006 finalist (France though, were flops in World Cup 2002 and Euro 2008), 43 goals in 95 caps this decade. Holds the France goal scoring record with 51.
Is this even a contest? Certainly, there is something to be said for the intangibles of the game, but anyone that watched Henry through the early to middle part of this decade will know he had plenty to offer in the parts of his game that aren't reflected in the numbers. Maybe the British pundits still begrudge him for his handball against Ireland.
Another scandalous exclusion: Kaka wasn't included on a single pundit's list despite being the World Player of the year in 2007 (the year he won the Champions League with Milan) and a World Cup champion in 2002.
Mildly questionable ommisions: Defender Lillian Thuram (Euro 2000 winner, WC 2006 finalist, 2 time Serie A champion; Samuel Eto'o (who has become the most decorated African footballer of all time); Michael Ballack (bridesmaid in WC 2002, CL 2001, 2008, Euro 2008, 5 time Bundesliga champion); Andrey Shevchenko, CL champion 2003 and 2007 with Milan, 2nd all time in that clubs goal scoring charts.
What the hell... here's the Geek's Team of Decade:
4-3-3 with Henry at the point
GK Buffon
Def: Thuram, Cannavaro, Maldini, Cafu
Mid: Makele, Pirlo, Zidane
Fwd: Henry, C. Ronaldo, Kaka
Subs: Kahn, Puyol, Messi, Ballack, Xavi
Just missed: Ronaldinho, Gerrard, Shevchenko
Feel free to disagree... but be warned, if you do, I want nerdy stats.
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