http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...global&cc=4716
Spain dominate shortlist for new FIFA Ballon d'Or
7 members of Spain's WC-winning squad hv made it on2 the shortlist 4 the 1st ever FIFA Ballon d'Or award, with Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan the surprise name on the 23-man list.
Xavi, David Villa, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta & Cesc Fabregas were the Spaniards who made the list, but there was no place for an Englishman, Frenchman or Italian aft their poor performances in South Africa.
The winner will be revealed @ a ceremony in Zurich on January 10, 2011, with the players chosen by football experts fr the FIFA's Football Committee, the Technical & Development Committee & the Committee 4 Women's Football, the FIFA Women's World Cup, as well as by a group of experts fr France Football magazine.
The new award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year award & the France Football Ballon d'Or, & on December 6, 2010, FIFA & France Football will announce the names of the 3 men who hv received the most votes.
Shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010:
Argentina - Lionel Messi.
Brazil - Daniel Alves, Maicon & Julio Cesar.
Cameroon - Samuel Eto'o.
Côte d'Ivoire - Didier Drogba.
Germany - Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil & Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Ghana - Asamoah Gyan.
Netherlands - Arjen Robben & Wesley Sneijder.
Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo.
Spain - Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, David Villa & Xavi.
Uruguay - Diego Forlan.
World Coach of the Year nominees:
Arsenal - Arsene Wenger
Barcelona - Pep Guardiola
Bayern Munich - Louis van Gaal
Chelsea - Carlo Ancelotti
Germany - Joachim Low
Inter Milan - Jose Mourinho
Manchester United - Sir Alex Ferguson
Netherlands - Bert van Marwijk
Spain - Vicente del Bosque
Uruguay - Oscar Tabarez