I know I said the last time I would show you my team in this article, the problem is that I am a little undecided about my final selections, so I will make a better one and give you two teams. The problem you see is deciding whether I want a really balanced team or one with some exceptional stars and less spent elsewhere. Without further ado, let’s look at the balanced team:

GK Akinfeev – Russia

DF Puyol – Spain

DF Boateng – Germany

DF Cahill – England

MF Nigel De Jong – Netherlands

MF Lampard – England

MF Shirokov – Russia

MF Sneijder – Netherlands

FW Benzema – France

FW Silva – Spain

FW Muller – Germany

At first glance, I really like it. It works well as a balanced team and only includes players from Spain, Russia, England, Germany, Holland and France, which was my preferred route. The only problem I can foresee is that if one or two stars, like Van Persie, Ronaldo, etc., start to score really well. This is what led me to my next team …..

GK – Casillas – Spain

DF – Cahill – England

DF – Lahm – Germany

DF – Ignashevich – Russia

MF – Iniesta – Spain

MF – Van Bommel – Netherlands

MF – M’Villa – France

MF – Dzagoev – Russia

FW – Van Persie – Netherlands

FW – Christiano Ronaldo – Portugal

FW – Jelavic – Croatia

It’s not lopsided per se, but I’ve had to cut back a few favorites to get those two big names out front. My logical and experienced side says that the first team is the only way to go, but my heart loves the strikers in the second. Of course, to get an amazing player you will probably have to “demote” another 3 or four so that the math doesn’t really work. You should also be on the lookout for your first transfer at this stage, I am currently planning to bring Ronaldo for Muller for the second day, as Germany faces the Netherlands, which is much more complicated, and Portugal, the lowest team in the Denmark group.

A consistent part of both teams are the facilitators. As I mentioned in my last article, these are the players that should play but cost no more than 4 points, allowing you to spend more elsewhere. The ones I have chosen are:

GK – Karnezis – Greece

DF – M Olsson – Sweden

DF – Bjelland – Denmark

MF – Andrews – Ireland

There are others like Polanski from Poland, M Olsson from Sweden and Zimling from Denmark, but the ones I have chosen seem to be the strongest candidates.

In my next article, we’ll cover, among other things, who to pick as your captain. You can also get more ideas on this kind of approach through my book on Amazon here.