World Cup 2006 Dream Team
Since there were so many journalists' "Dream Teams" or "Best XI" in the newspapers, I will publish my own and see how they compare. I bet my team whups all their asses and I'll get hired as a sports columnist in the New Paper. Wahaha!
Goalkeeper : Gianluigi Buffon - Italy 
Buffon was instrumental in the Italian's World Cup triumph with his masterful saves and excellent goalkeeping. Of course it helped to have a great defence in front of him but when he was called into action, he never failed to disappoint. He only conceded one goal before the World Cup Final and that was an own goal by Cristian Zaccardo. The other was from an illegitimate penalty by Zinedine Zidane.
Right Back: Gianluca Zambrotta - Italy 
It is ironic that the best right back in this tournament is naturally a left back. After Cristian Zaccardo's horrible own goal, Zambrotta was put onto the opposite flank with Fabio Grosso on the left. Zambrotta proved his versatility by having an excellent tournament, and even scored with a clean finish against Ukraine.
Left Back: Philipp Lahm - Germany 
Relatively unknown coming into this World Cup, Philipp Lahm shot to world fame in the opening game against Costa Rica when he curled a sweet shot into the top corner of the Costa Ricans' goal, scoring the first goal of the tournament. The right-footed left back then showed he was not a flash in the pan with amazing performances throughout the World Cup. He even played on the right flank in the 3rd-4th placing match against Portugal. Philipp Lahm has a great ability to get forward and join in the attack, providing excellent crosses and the occasional deadly shot.
Centre Back: Fabio Cannavaro - Italy 
It has been said many times that the Italians are gifted in the art of defense. With three players (including the goalkeeper) in this defence, it definitely proves the old adage true. Cannavaro, although dimunitive, is a master in the art of defending. He has amazing anticipation and speed, and the ability to stick to a striker and get the ball off him or sheperd him away from the goal, without fouling him. In the seven games that he played, he did not get a single card, yellow or red, and in his 100th game for Italy, the captain of Italy led his team to glory. He is my captain for this team and for me, the player of the tournament.
Centre Back: Ricardo Carvalho - Portugal
Although the centre back has not really made a huge impact with Chelsea in England, his
confident displays at the World Cup assured us that he is still one of the world's best. In the fracas against Holland, he marshaled his defence to perfection with only nine men of his team remaining, and prevented the Dutch masters from scoring. An excellent header of the ball, Carvalho can provide impressive aerial power and height for any defence. He is no slouch on the ground as well, being a quick reader of the game and of his opponent's moves.
Right Winger: Franck Ribery - France
The youngest player in France's first team at the age of 23, Franck Ribery burst onto the scene with a huge reputation, and huge boots to fill. Touted as the "next Zidane", Scarface did not fail to disappoint when he was finally put into the starting lineup for the faltering French. The speedy winger scored against Spain with a clinical finish as he rounded Iker Casillas to slot the ball into an empty net, single-handedly hauling France back into the game with the equaliser.
Left Winger: Harry Kewell - Australia
Harry Kewell has been largely overlooked in many of the journalists' Dream Teams or Tournament XIs, but few will doubt his importance to Australia. He only played three games at the World Cup, starting two of them, due to injury. Australia look a much more attacking side with him in the team, and without him, they lost their matches (against Brazil where he was a substitute and against Italy where 
he was sidelined with an injury). He put Australia on the footballing map with an assured finish against Croatia to seal a 2-2 draw that put them into the round of 16, arguably the greatest moment ever in Australia's footballing history. A tricky winger who can provide deadly crosses and shots from midfield, he is also gifted at set pieces and scores or supplies goals with the occasional free kick or corner.
Central Midfielder: Andrea Pirlo - Italy
Andrea Pirlo is a technically gifted midfielder who can 
provide a pass as wonderful as that of Zidane's or Riquelme's, or defend as well as Makelele or Hamann. He is actually a very similar player to Xabi Alonso. In fact, he is so good that he should be placed in a class of his own. A midfielder who is the creative force both AC Milan and Italy, he possesses a keen eye for a pass and is also a great shooter of the ball. He is wonderfully gifted at set pieces as well. Elegant and refined are the only ways to describe him.
Central Midfielder: Maxi Rodriguez - Argentina
More consistent than Michael Ballack and more powerful than Maniche, Maxi Rodriguez had a fantastic World Cup where he scored three great goals. One of them
will be remembered as a moment of South American samba where 24 passes were construed before Rodriguez slammed the ball into the back of the net, and another one will be remembered as a last-gasp wonder goal against Mexico that sent Argentina into the quarter-finals. Maxi Rodriguez is an industrious attacking midfielder who terrorises defenders and pops up with vital goals for his country and club. Any player who can displace Pablo Aimar from the international team while keeping Lionel Messi on the bench must be some player, and Maxi definitely fits the bill.
Striker: Miroslav Klose - Germany
The striker was widely ridiculed in his previous World Cup 
in 2002, where he scored all five of his goals with his head, four of them coming against Saudi Arabia. In 2006, he showed us all that he is a force to be reckoned with and is very much a world class striker. Showing impressive dribbling skills and a great chemistry with his strike partner, Lucas Podolski, Klose is an unselfish striker who sets his teammates up if they're in a better position instead of going for glory. He scored a wonderfully headed goal against Argentina in the quarter final to force the game to penalties, which Germany won. Miroslav Klose is the Golden Boot winner of this year's World Cup, with another five goals to his name.
Striker: Fernando Torres - Spain
The 22 year old has been a revelation for yet another underachieving performance by Spain in this year's World Cup. Scoring three goals in his four World Cup games, Torres formed formidable partnerships with whoever he was paired with in attack, be it Raul, David Villa or Luis Garcia. He led Spain's frontline brilliantly and was a menace to every defender who came up against him. The young prodigy has finally made his first step to becoming a world class player.
Substitutes:
Jens Lehmann - Germany (Goalkeeper)
Ricardo - Portugal (Goalkeeper)
Willy Sagnol - France (Right Back)
Fabio Grosso - Italy (Left Back)
Christoph Metzelder - Germany (Centre Back)
Roberto Ayala - Argentina (Centre Back)
Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal (Right Winger)
Bastian Schweinsteiger - Germany (Left Winger)
Michael Ballack - Germany (Central Midfielder)
Juan Roman Riquelme - Argentina (Central Midfielder)
Thierry Henry - France (Striker)
Lukas Podolski - Germany (Striker)
Waiting List:
Shaka Hislop - Trinidad & Tobago (Goalkeeper)
Lillian Thuram - France (Centre Back)
Javier Mascherano - Argentina (Central Midfielder)
Luca Toni - Italy (Striker)
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
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