体坛英语新闻：Maicon only Brazilian to make World Cup All-Star team

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's star fullback Maicon received a bitter-sweet moral boost on Thursday by being named to the South African World Cup's dream team.

The athlete scored Brazil's first goal in the competition in their 2-1 victory over DPR Korea on June 15. Although Brazil failed in the quest to win their sixth World Cup title, Maicon is consoled by the prestigious honor.

He was the only Brazilian to make the All-Star team as dictated by soccer's governing body, FIFA. World champions Spain dominated the list of All-Stars with six players. The dream team line-up of the 2010 World Cup consists of Spain's Iker Casillas as goalkeeper, Brazil's Maicon, Spain's Sergio Ramos and Carles Puyol as well as Germany's Philipp Lahm at fullback.

Lahm was the only member of the 2010 list to be named in back- to-back All-Star teams. He made the cut after his performance in the 2006 World Cup.

At midfield, Spain's Xavi and Andres Iniesta were included alongside the Netherland's Wesley Sneijder and Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Rounding out the list of 11 elite athletes, Spain's David Villa and Uruguay's Diego Forlan were named to the list as striker.

As previously announced, Diego Forlan was elected the tournament's most valuable player. The competition's best new talent award was given to Germany's Thomas Muller, but the athlete was left off the list of All-Stars.

The All-Star coach was given to Spain's triumphant leader, Vicente Del Bosque.