It seems that the days of English dominance in Europe are over. At least according to UEFA anyway, who published their not very short shortlist for UEFA team of the year 2014.
Players represented from the Premiership before the summer include just Manchester City's trio of Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure. However, the Premier League representation is vastly improved should you include those brought in during the summer, with Thibault Courtois (recalled from a loan deal from Atletico Madrid), Angel di Maria, Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez joining the Man City contingent.
Premier League stars like Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero and Robin van Persie do not make the list, neither does former Liverpool hero Luis Suarez.
Britain's sole representative on the list is Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, who heads a list of 8 players from the European champions, while Germany's Bayern Munich have the highest representatives on the list with 9.
Perhaps the most interesting name on the list is former Barcelona starlet Red Bull Salzburg's Jonathan Soriano.
The 40 players have been chosen by UEFA.com writers based on their performances for a European club or national side during 2014. The public can select their preferred formation before picking their starting XI from four goalkeepers, 12 defenders, 12 midfielders and 12 forwards. Voting takes place here.
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Beto (Sevilla).
Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Miranda (Atletico Madrid), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Medhi Benatia (Bayern Munich), David Alaba (Bayern Munich), Ezequiel Garay (Zenit St Petersburg), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Angel di Maria (Manchester United), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Arda Turan (Atletico Madrid).
Attackers: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Diego Costa (Chelsea), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Jonathan Soriano (Salzburg), Carlos Tevez (Juventus), Neymar (Barcelona).
