The Best of the European Season.

Almost the end of the season...

The various Cup finals might change a thing or two, but I think, I've seen enough of the season to decide on my best XI.

Here's my team from Europe (cue widespread debate, discussion and denigration):

(4-4-1-1)

Goalkeeper: Sebastient Frey (Fiorentina)

19 times he has kept a clean sheet in Italy. Whereas some teams may have conceded less goals per game than Fiorentina, and others may have a worse set of defenders, there's no denying that Frey has had a stellar season between the pipes for the Viola. Despite their 15 point deduction they are in the running for a UEFA cup place and that's due in no small part to the 26 year old Frenchman's efforts.

Right Back: Daniel Alves (Sevilla)

Quite simply superb. The best attacking wingback on the continent. For most of the season, whenever he gets the ball, you sense a goal is in the offing, bombing forward and ghosting into scoring positions all over the pitch - Daniel Alves has shown that defending can be a creative experience and has brought joy back to football fans everywhere (along with the rest of Sevilla).

Left Back: Eric Abidal (Lyon)

It's hard to find fault with him - both domestically and in Europe. People may point to the faltering challenge in Europe or the lack of challenge domestically - but whereas the knockout round of the Champions' League is often a lottery, Lyon's consistency in the early part of the Ligue 1 season was due to efficient, solid performances from players like Abidal. It's been a bad season overall for left-backs everywhere but whereas Stuttgart's Ludovic Magnin is very good - Abidal is simply World class.

Centre Back: Raul Albiol (Valencia)

Not quite a superstar but the tall, gangly Ches defender has been one of this season's best. He has been the most versatile and the most consistent defender in La Liga this year. Playing anywhere among the back four, in addition to filling in occasionally in defensive midfield in Europe, Albiol has been a revelation for Valencia. Strong in the air, composed and very quick to snuff out danger, he has been one of Quique Flores' first names on the team sheet. His performance against Inter in the Champions' league round of 16 made compulsive viewing.

Centre Back: Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

United fans will quickly point to Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney as their players of the season but in my opinion, their most significant and consistent player was Vidic. He lent an air of composed stability at the back that allowed teammate Rio Ferdinand to flourish. He was, for the most part, unbreakable and even scored some crucial goals. The only game in which he played badly was the Champions' League humbling at the hands of Milan - but that was his first game back from a broken collar bone.

Deep-lying Central Midfielder: Esteban Cambiasso (Inter)

Excellent movement of the ball, good tackler and passer par excellance, The Argentine has been Inter's heartbeat for most of the season. Admittedly the job is often easier when surrounded by so much talent and class but Cambiasso's efficiency and skill made Inter's runaway title bid that much easier. Lyon and Inter may have walked away with their domestic titles but a lot of that is due to hardworking and quietly thorough performances from the likes of Cambiasso.

Attacking Midfielder: Kaka (Milan)

Having the purplest of patches currently, he single handedly destroyed Manchester United that put paid to the latter's claims of being the treble winning champions' of Europe. Easily the Champions' League's best player, he lends trickery, speed and quick thinking to an established blend of skill and tactical awareness. A joy to watch, he's been Milan main attacing fulcrum and Brazil's new fountainhead. Like countryman Alves, Kaka threatens a goal whenever he gets the ball.

Left Winger: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

I don't like him but I have to grudgingly admit he's been on fire for most of the season. Unpredictable and on occasion abysmal against bigger teams in crunch games, he's been murderous against the rank and file. No one plays better against mid table mediocrity and his slimy habit of getting free kicks and penalties, albeit questionable, is handy. His goals have been the catalyst that sparked United't title charge.

Right Winger: Ricardo Quaresma (Porto)

On his day, unplayable on the right flank. His combination for Portugal with teammate Ronaldo was a one-two punch that Brazil could not handle in the friendly. His performances for Porto have been breathtaking, especially in the Champions' League. Portugal are truly blessed to have the 2 best wingers in the game right now. Quaresma has been fast, technical and strong on the ball, resorting to bulldozing past opponents rather than tricking his way past them. When it comes to the right side of midfield, David Silva may be the best in Spain, but the Iberian peninsula's marquee talent is the young Portugese star.

Attacking midfielder/Forward: Francesco Totti (Roma)

Loyal, even in his relative old age, he's been Serie A's top goal scorer this season. Brilliant with or without the ball, his experience, skill and cheekiness has wrought havoc on opponents season long. It's a pleasure to watch Totti play and rally Roma around him. 22 goals and counting from someone who's not an out and out striker is some achievement indeed. Add in the fact that he assists as well as he scores and his all round game marks him out as the talisman for Roma.

Striker: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

The West London Club have been distinctly average this season for long stretches. The fact that they remained on course for an impossible quadruple that existed only in the mind was due to the big Ivorian. 32 goals off headers, flick-ons and shots under pressure while carrying the line singlehandedly for a misfiring Chelsea is an achievement unlikely to be matched by a blues player again - unless Drogba repeats the trick next year. As a choice unpopular perhaps, but not undeserved.

Subsitutes:

David Villa (Valencia) - Scores tonnes of goals, creates a fair bit too. Spain's best striker and possibly best player.

Juninho Pernambucano (Lyon) - Best dead ball expert in the game, able to attack and defend in equal measure. His lively performances in Lyon's midfield seem to get better every year.

Frederick Kanoute (Sevilla) - Perfect symbol of the fluid attacking style that Sevilla bring to the table. Ganglyish while on the ball, he creates and buries chances with equal aplomb.

Ronaldinho (Barcelona) - A bad year by his standards but still one of Barcelona's best players. The fact that his residual talent is more than most players maximum is reason enough to have him in your team.

Diego (Werder Bremen) - Solid blend of workman and wizard, skilled artist and slick artisan. Werder and Bundesliga's best attacking player.

Gennaro Gatusso (Milan) - The best defensive anchor of this and, arguably, the last few years. While he's on the pitch, it seems the opposition are playing against 12 men.

Michael Essien (Chelsea) - Remarkably consistent and versatile and often, Chelsea's main threat. Fearless and focussed on the ball, impossible to dislodge while going forward.