It nearly happened. USA came so close to shaking up football's natural order in this 2009 instalment of the Confederations Cup. They ended Spain's long unbeaten run, a feat nobody thought possible (I...

Ladies & Gentlemen, the end of the Serie A season means that we have to choose a Best XI. The following 11 players and coach were our standout players from an exciting Serie A season. Here are the Serie A's Best XI for 2008-09:

Goalkeeper:
Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)
The Nerazzurri & Brazil #1 has become the best keeper in Italy and the 2nd best keeper in the world behind Real Madrid's Iker Casillas.

Our pick of the world's footballing talent Chris at Twofootedtackle has challenged Off The Post and a host of other football blogs to come up with our World XI. A blog equivalent of a chain letter? Perhaps, but we are suckers for talking football. Now, as you may have noticed, we are not ones for taking [.

In honor of Barcelona's historic season the 2008-09 La Liga Best XI will take the formation of a 4-3-3. As you might expect the side will have a distinct Blaugrana feel to it.

Goalkeeper:
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
The Real Madrid stopper is the best goalkeeper in the world and was one of the few bright spots in Los Merengues' trophy-less 08-09 campaign.

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris (Lyon)

Hugo Lloris showed Liverpool fans why he is France's number one keeper. While the Reds poured on the pressure he stood firm and made some brilliant saves early on against Kuyt, Torres, and Voronin. It took a wonder-strike from Babel to finally beat him.

Centre Back: Lucio (Internazionale)

Lucio showed why he is rated so highly around Europe.

Introducing Dexy's brand new Monday feature, The Ultimate 11. The Den will be giving you your moment in the spotlight. Choose your teams greatest ever 11 plus 3 subs from 1970 onwards (consult with Grandpa Joe or uncle Jimbob for references). Do you really know your clubs proud history or are you just a teenage glory hunter?

This week it's the turn of James Webb's best ever Spurs side in Dexy's Monday feature, The Ultimate 11's. The Den will be giving you your moment in the spotlight. Choose your teams greatest ever 11 plus 3 subs from 1970 onwards (consult with Grandpa Joe or uncle Jimbob for references).

All-Star Games are as All-American as Chevrolet, mom, and apple pie. The most famous and storied All-Star Game in the US is, of course, the one belonging to Major League Baseball, which was first played at Chicago's Comiskey Park in 1933. The NBA's All-Star Game, which, like the MLB version, is a midseason game, runs a distant second, while the NFL Pro-Bowl, is an all but ignored after thought that could disappear and no would really notice, especially since it takes place after the Super Bowl and serves more as a hangover then as one last taste of gridiron until August.

Goalkeeper: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow)

Despite being on the losing side Akinfeev kept his team close with Manchester United testing him eight times and only finding the net once. The Russian international is a top-class keeper and denied the likes of Berbatov Valencia a number of times.

Centre-Back: Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla FC)

Squillaci has plenty of Champions League experience and is will be an important part of Sevilla's side if they want to make a run.

How does this look for a best XI lineup. This is the group that was named to the MLS best XI for this 2009 season. Only a single player from the best XI will be represented in the MLS Cup this Sunday. That is of course Landon Donovan US player of the decade.

Conor Casey Jeff Cunningham

Dwayne De Rosario Landon Donovan Stuart Holden Shalrie Joseph Freddie Ljungberg

Geoff Cameron Wilman Conde Chad Marshall

Zach Thornton

So what do you think, is this a good lineup?

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech (Chelsea)

Chelsea were able to secure top spot of their group with a 1-0 win against Porto thanks to Cech. Three fine saves in the course of the match made sure that dominance by Porto did not convert to goals.

Centre Back: Gerard Pique (Barcelona)

Pique celebrates his goal off of a corner.

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We first ran the Spurs Ultimate 11 way back in 2008, at the time Spurs were heading for the Championship. Along came Harry Redknapp and in the space of a year has turned them into a side playing exciting football and a team capable of replacing Liverpool for a Champions League spot.

James Webb from AW London FC gave us his best Spurs line.

We first ran the Spurs Ultimate 11 way back in 2008, at the time Spurs were heading for the Championship. Along came Harry Redknapp and in the space of a year has turned them into a side playing exciting football and a team capable of replacing Liverpool for a Champions League spot.

James Webb from AW London FC gave us his best Spurs line.