Not a bad effort from the guy and in good company:

From ESPN via Stuff.co.nz:

All Whites skipper Ryan Nelsen has been named in a football "World Cup Best XI" picked by American sports television channel ESPN.

Nelsen earned his place by "defending defiantly throughout the tournament and heroically against Italy", it said.

Last month, international football website goal.com named Nelsen its world player of the week for "inspiring his side to two draws (against Slovakia and defending champions Italy) and giving the All Whites a shot at last 16 qualification".

ESPN's Best 11 were: goalkeeper - Eduardo (Portugal), rightback - Philipp Lahm (Germany), centrebacks - Carles Puyol (Spain), Ryan Nelsen (New Zealand), leftback - Carlos Salcido (Mexico), midfield - Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Xavi (Spain), rightwing - Thomas Muller (Germany), attacking midfielder - Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), leftwing - David Villa (Spain), striker - Diego Forlan (Uruguay).

Substitutes: Justo Villar (Paraguay), Maxi Pereira (Uruguay), Lucio (Brazil), John Mensah (Ghana), Fabio Coentrao (Portugal), Mark van Bommel (Holland), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Robinho (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany).

Would have to agree. Considering the All Whites tactic was to park the bus, and it worked, you would have to give cedit to their defence being marshalled very very well by Nelson.

Only team to remain undefeated at the World Cup. Was good to see them do well (by their standards). Nelson was a massive part in that.

Well done Nelson and NZ.

I agree with the rest of their players as well, other than van Bommel.

Eduardo the keeper? Wierd.