By: COLIN REESE
Here is World Soccer Source’s Best Pre-World Cup XI, which has Neymar listed where a Number 10 would normally play, but Neymar is really a wing or second striker.
With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also taking part in the 2014 World Cup, Neymar was listed as the central attacking midfielder in place of a true Number 10 such as Oscar, Andrés Iniesta, Mario Götze, or even Javier Pastore.
The players included in the following Pre-World Cup Best XI provide enough passing and creativity to be able to sacrifice a player such as Iniesta, Oscar, Götze, or Pastore from the XI.
Below is the pre-World Cup Best XI:
GOALKEEPER: Manuel NEUER
Country: Germany
Club: Bayern Munich
RIGHT BACK: MAICON
Country: Brazil
Club: Roma
CENTER BACK: Raphaël VARANE
Country: France
Club: Real Madrid
CENTER BACK: THIAGO SILVA
Country: Brazil
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
LEFT BACK: MARCELO
Country: Brazil
Club: Real Madrid
RIGHT WING: Lionel MESSI
Country: Argentina
Club: Barcelona
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Paul POGBA
Country: France
Club: Juventus
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Arturo VIDAL
Country: Chile
Club: Juventus
LEFT WING: Cristiano RONALDO
Country: Portugal
Club: Real Madrid
STRIKER: Mario BALOTELLI
Country: Italy
Club: Milan
SECOND STRIKER: NEYMAR
Country: Brazil
Club: Barcelona
