ONTD FOOTBALL

Okay, unrelated picture but my Troll makes everything better.

Xabi Alonso has insisted that "it would be fair" if his Bayern Munich teammate Manuel Neuer won the Ballon d'Or award this year.

No goalkeeper has claimed the accolade since Lev Yashin back in 1963.

However, having spent time playing alongside Neuer this season following his summer arrival from Real Madrid, Alonso believes that the German international would be a deserving recipient.

"He is by far the best goalkeeper that I have ever played with. He is also a big player in the field. It would be fair if he won the Ballon d'Or this year, no doubt. I knew that Neuer was a top player but when I arrived at Bayern he surprised me even more," he told Bild.

Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo is the current favourite with the bookmakers to win the award for the second year running. (Please, no.)


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Wolfsburg defender Robin Knoche has been called-up to the German national team for the first time as a replacement for Bayern's Jerome Boateng.

Boateng is the latest casualty ahead of Germany's friendly on Tuesday in Vigo against Spain, dropping out due to a problem with his left-calf muscle.

Joachim Löw, the head coach, is now without four of the 23 players that were originally selected for this double-header.

With 17 outfield players and two goalkeepers for the trip to Spain, 22-year-old Knoche nominated for his first stint with the full squad.
Knoche has become a regular cog at the back for Wolfsburg this season, combining with Brazilian Naldo to put together, perhaps, the best centre-back pairing in the division.

The Wolves are the closest challengers to league-leaders Bayern Munich, lying four points behind. Löw is already without Gladbach's Christoph Kramer, Dortmund pair Marco Reus and Mats Hummels, Andre Schürrle and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Adding to that list, first-choice keeper Manuel Neuer has pulled out of the midweek clash after picking up a knee injury in the 4-0 win over Gibraltar on Friday.

Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, David de Gea and Diego Costa are all absentees for Germany's midweek opposition.

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Does Manuel Neuer want to play outfield that badly? (Of course, he does!)

Bayern Munich succumbed to a disappointed goalless draw with Hamburg after their much changed starting XI beat Manchester City in the Champions League days earlier.

With his side lacking creativity, Manuel Neuer - who was dubbed the 'sweeper-keeper during the World Cup - decided to take matters into his own hands... or feet.

After already removing the shackles on numerous occasions, Neuer went yet another 'Monk-like' run only to be caught out on the halfway line resulting in a booking for handball.

Thankfully for Neuer, the opposition's shot is absolutely rubbish.



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King ruling the pitch, sweeping aside common folk to do as he pleases.

1. Manuel Neuer Germany

Cristiano Ronaldo got an early clue that this was not going to be his tournament when Neuer produced a superb save from a stoppage-time free-kick to prevent Portugal from salvaging even a sliver of consolation from their crushing defeat by Germany. But it is not his shot-stopping that has distinguished Neuer, it is the way he has practically redefined the role of goalkeeper, taking the sweeper-keeper function to an extreme never before showcased with such success.

His charges out of his box prevented Algeria, in particular, from revelling in the space behind Germany’s high defensive line, compensating for Per Mertesacker’s lack of pace. In addition to the obvious effectiveness, the sight of the hulking keeper hurtling towards confrontation must have a potent mindgame value – Asamoah Gyan, for instance, fled ridiculously wide when presented with the chance to take on Neuer one-on-one. What is more, Neuer’s superb distribution makes him the first line of attack.

2. Guillermo Ochoa Mexico

Way to ace a job interview. Ochoa, a free agent after three outstanding seasons at Ajaccio, was unlikely to be short of offers before the tournament but his displays for Mexico may have endeared him to a new calibre of recruiter. The 28-year-old’s agility, reflexes and robust wrists enabled him to make an array of improbable saves. Brazil players wondered whether there had been divine intervention when he helped Mexico to draw against them, while it took some devilry from Arjen Robben to beat Ochoa in the end.

3. Keylor Navas Costa Rica

The 27-year-old came into the tournament after a wonderful season in which he set a clean-sheet record for Levante but it has still been a major surprise to see Costa Rica advance to the quarter-finals while conceding only two goals in five matches – Uruguay, Italy, England, Greece and Holland. Behind a solid unit, Navas was a secure presence. As the pressure increased, his performances rose accordingly, with his exhibitions of shot-stopping against Greece and Holland among the highlights of the tournament.

4. Vincent Enyeama Nigeria

Another goalkeeper who arrived after a record-breaking season at club level. Enyeama carried on the form that made him nigh-on unbeatable for Lille, pulling off a series of extraordinary saves, starting in the first match against Iran, when Nigeria dominated but would have lost if the goalkeeper had not kept enough concentration to tip away a header from Reza Ghoochannejhad. He then kept Bosnia-Herzegovina at bay before thwarting Lionel Messi and Argentina for long periods despite conceding three. When a goalkeeper falls below perfection, however, he can be punished severely and Enyeama’s mishandling of a cross against France enabled Paul Pogba to score the winning goal and ruined another otherwise immaculate performance.

5. Tim Howard USA

Even though he made a tournament-record number of saves against Belgium, the American’s shot-stopping was not the most admirable aspect of his performances in Brazil – and not only because most of Belgium’s efforts were straight at the goalkeeper, their forwards’ odd lack of composure seemingly making them unable to spot Howard’s tendency to go low prematurely, a habit that Nani had exploited earlier. That quibble aside, Howard’s influence seemed immense as his leadership helped coax valiant resistance from defenders who might otherwise have been torn apart. He inspired his team-mates with words and deeds.

Rest at the source.

The list is great for the most part, although I would kick out Tim Krul and put in Claudio Bravo. I'll post some more articles as part of the countdown to tomorrow's match.

Also, who are your favorite goalkeepers this tournament? Feel free to spam below!