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World Cup team of the tournament

Carles Puyol's bullet header against Germany was worthy of winning any game © Getty Images

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This week we're offering you something slightly different - a top eleven, a First XI if you will. As the 2010 World Cup draws to a close on Sunday, ESPN.co.uk has put together its team of the tournament.

Goalkeeper
Vincent Enyeama
May not have been everybody's choice between the sticks but the spot-kick specialist almost single-handedly stopped Nigeria's negative goal difference from resembling a cricket score. When his defence was found wanting, the 27-year-old time and again came to the rescue with some top class shot-stopping. Few will forget his magnificent finger-tip save to deny the mighty Lionel Messi, in what was one of the more positive goalkeeping highlights of the tournament. It's worth noting that Enyeama outscored England's goal machine, Emile Heskey, last season while playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Defence
Maicon
Tiredness, what tiredness? They say that you don't feel fatigue when you're winning and perhaps that's why Brazil's Maicon never looked short of energy. The marauding right back arrived in South Africa on the back of winning a historic treble with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan and it didn't take long for him to show his class on the biggest stage. The five-time champions were struggling to break down a stubborn North Korean defence so Maicon took it upon his shoulders to drive into the box before unleashing a ridiculous screamer past Ri Myong-guk to open the scoring.

Carles Puyol
With 17 minutes of a nail biting semi-final remaining, any player that breaks the deadlock in the manner that Carles Puyol did, fully deserves a place in our back four. Having missed a decent chance in the first half against Germany, the Barcelona centre back made amends by powering a header past Manuel Neuer to send Spain into their first World Cup final. While the front men and the nimble central midfield duo of Xavi and Iniesta take all the plaudits, Spain's surge to the final has largely been down to a rock solid defence - they have only conceded two goals.

Diego Lugano
No-one personifies the famous 'garra charrua', Uruguay's famous fighting spirit, more than their captain Diego Lugano . A reluctant spectator for much of his team's quarter-final and all of their semi-final against Netherlands, Lugano's presence was sorely missed. When Lugano featured in the side, Uruguay never leaked more than one goal per game, but when he was absent for the semi-final in Cape Town they shipped three.

Wesley Sneijder has been central to Netherlands reaching their first final for 32 years © Getty Images

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Fabio Coentrao
Was a rare shining light at the back for Portugal. In the 7-0 demolition of North Korea, he had a hand in several of the goals and proved a constant menace for the weary North Korean defence. The Benfica youngster has a bright future and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him snapped up by one of Europe's elite clubs.

Midfield
Keisuke Honda
Much was expected of Keisuke Honda after he dazzled for CSKA Moscow in the Champions League last season. And Japan's 24-year-old talismanic forward didn't disappoint and hit the ground running with two goals in Group E. Obviously Denmark hadn't taken heed of the warning signs that Honda was something of a dead ball wizard, because Thomas Sorensen was soon picking the ball out of his net having been beaten by a wondrous strike from all of 30 yards. Following the group stage, Honda went a little quiet but good players go missing from time to time, just ask Wayne Rooney.

Mesut Ozil
If there was an emerging player award then there wouldn't be many who would be a more deserving winner than Germany's Mesut Ozil . Expect all the big guns to come calling after his hugely impressive displays in South Africa. Masterful against England with intricate passing and flair to boot, the 21-year-old has been the creative spark in Germany's counter-attacking brilliance. When Germany dismantled Australia, the jewel in Werden Bremen's side was at his dazzling best and it was baffling to see him not on the score sheet considering he should have bagged a hat-trick.

Bastian Schweinsteiger
With Ozil marked out of the game against Argentina, Bastian Schweinsteiger was given the chance to take centre stage. And he didn't turn down his starring role as Germany ran riot, thumping four past Diego Maradona's side. Schweinsteiger has reinvented himself in the middle of the park, having played in a wider position during the 2006 World Cup and Germany have reaped the benefits. He hounded Messi in the quarter-final all day long, never giving the little magician a sniff, and when defence turned into attack he was the architect of Germany's magnificent flowing football.

Wesley Sneijder
Remains on course for a clean sweep, after Holland booked a place in the final for the first time for 32 years. If the diminutive playmaker was important for Inter on their crusade to the Treble last season, he is irreplaceable for Bert van Marwijk's Dutch side. He currently tops the scoring charts with Spain's David Villa with five goals and yet it is his overall performances that have helped propel Netherlands into a third final. Manchester United have been rumoured to be weighing up a substantial offer for the 26-year-old but the price may rise higher yet with a final still to be played.

Diego Forlan has let fly from long range throughout the competition and has had great success © Getty Images

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Strikers
Diego Forlan
Has rolled back the years with a stellar World Cup. After Uruguay fired blanks against France, their coach Oscar Tabarez made the decision to move Forlan into a deeper role, behind Luis Suarez and the bold call worked a treat as Forlan wreaked havoc with thunderous shots from all over the pitch. The Jabulani has come under fierce criticism but the former Manchester United striker has become its good friend with some breathtaking goals.

David Villa
While striking partner Fernando Torres has struggled, Spain's David Villa has run the show. Barcelona will be laughing their heads off after getting his services for a snip at £34.2 million - a price which surely would have risen considerably following his classy displays. He will run Sneijder very close for player of the tournament, and by the looks of things the Golden Boot also. Top scorer at Euro 2008, Villa is in his prime and with the Spanish midfield creating opportunities on a plate, his phenomenal goalscoring record for his country looks set to continue.

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