Best Budesliga XI of the first half of 2012-2013 season
Halfway through the Bundesliga 2012-2013 season we represent the best eleven players of the most important football tournament in Germany.
Goalkeeper
Rene Adler (Hamburg)
Adler has undoubtedly deserved the praise for his illustrious performance between the sticks this season making two dozens of excellent saves and keeping six clean sheets. Impressed by Adler’s form Joachim Löw has called up the goalkeeper to represent the German national team in the friendly game against Holland. These achievements are especially impressive, taking into account that Adler has returned after being sidelined for 11 months due to injury when he suffered from severe depression and dealt with suicidal thoughts. At the moment Rene Adler is the most likely candidate for the Budesmannschaft goalkeeper.
Defense
Bastian Oczipka (Eintracht)
Oczipka is one of the most remarkable players of the high-flying Eintracht. Left back is both brave in attack and composed while fulfilling the defensive duties. The 23 year-old made 8 assists this season which is more than any of the Bundesliga defender has made this season so far. His occasional presence on the position of the second winger gives Eintracht’s attackers additional options with six and a half feet tall forward Alex Meier always taking advantage of his precise crosses.
Dante (Bayern Munich)
Dante has been an ever-present in Bayern’s back four this season, playing without substitutions all of Bayern’s 17 games. In order to measure his value one needs to pay attention to the following figure – Bayern Munich have conceded just 7 goals in 17 games of the season, which is the best rate among the top European clubs. Dante is also capable to make an impact in the final third. All the attacking might of Bayern Munich would be nothing without Dante’s confidence and composure at the back.
Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04)
One can hardly find another such player capable to give but not to break under the weight of the negative circumstances. Currently Schalke 04 coach Huub Stevens just cannot get on the right road with the arguably the youngest and the most perspective Bundesliga team. Höwedes has demonstrated an outstanding resilience to lead his team into the third round of DFB-Pokal and into the knockout stage of the Champions League amid the lack of effective management.
Daniel Carvajal (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bayer Leverkuzen have signed the 20 year-old lateral possessing bags of pace and superior dribbling skills from Real Madrid. He has become an integral element of the Bayer Leverkusen’s defensive line with his elegant style of play adding a special charm to overall Bayer’s performance. After Carvajal’s arrival Bayer boss gave up using Gonzalo Castro at the back and moved him to his customary position of attacking midfielder which has proved an effective decision.
Midfield
Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht)
Cool and composed Swiss plays at the position of the defensive midfielder where he thwarts the opposition attacks and fires off 35-yard screamers on goal when given a chance. When playing as a deep-lying playmaker Schwegler likes to hold onto the ball and think out several variants of attack before making a killer pass. Schwegler appears to be the calming anchor in the heart of Eintracht midfield allowing his teammates fulfilling their attacking duties without unwanted worries.
Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen)
It has been eight years since Rolfes has joined Leverkusen from Alemannia Aachen, however now he seems to be enjoying his best season The BayArena. Over the last few years he has significantly improved his passing ability, tackling, stamina etc. and has moved to a whole new level. Thanks to his incisive, neat passing play he is currently one of the best midfielders in the Budesliga.
Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)
The sky is the limit for the high-voltage, pacey and aggressive Frenchman. Explosive Ribéry has been voted the best footballer of several Bundesliga Matchdays however his desire to score goals and make assists makes him almost unstoppable. Unfortunately the injuries have not allowed the 29 year-old to play at his full capacity over the first half of the season.
Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich)
Bayern scouts can possibly find the replacement for Ribéry and Robben, however one can hardly imagine today’s Bayern Munich without Thomas Müller. The 23 year-old midfielder ends the first half of the season as the most valuable Bundesliga player with impressive record of nine goals and nine assists to his name. After the bright start of career pundits predicted Müller an inevitable decay but he continues thriving in one of the most star-laden teams of Europe.
Marko Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
After Nuri Şahin’s departure Borussia Dortmund struggled to score from the set pieces. However Reus has almost immediately improved this component of Borussia’s game after joining the club. Reus’s free kicks, corners and excellent shooting skills proved an integral element of Borussia’s successes in both the Champions League and Bundesliga this season. Franz Beckenbauer revealed that Reus and Götze are the best attacking duo in the world football.
Striker
Stefan Kießling (Bayer Leverkusen)
Kießling leads the Bundesliga goal scoring charts with amazing 25 goals to his name leaving behind such high-profile names as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Mario Gómez and Robert Lewandowski. Should the striker not lost stream he undoubtedly realized his childhood dream of winning the “Kicker Torjägerkanone” award (kicker top scorer cannon).
Photo: bundesliga.com, goal.com, uefa.com
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Dortmund is gonna get Bayern in the second half, no doubt.. Unless they sell some of the core players this winter
good