A lot of us football boot enthusiasts – myself included – love to debate over boots and their manufacturers, and much time has been spent examining and arguing over which ‘brand’ is king.

Now, imagine a game where players were not divided by club or country, but instead by their allegiance to their boot manufacturer. A one-off game, or perhaps a tournament, to decide the best boot company based on the athletes which have chosen to support that ‘team’. Who would the companies choose to field in such an important game?

This week on ‘From The Sole‘, I decided to have a go at arranging three Fantasy XI’s (as we love to do around here) based on such requirements. I gave heavy-hitters adidas and Nike their own squads, and also put together a ‘world brand’ side that encompasses the rest of the boot makers: Puma, Lotto, Mizuno, Umbro, Reebok, Diadora, Kappa, Lotto, and Under Armour.

The results were naturally three very impressive squads that I attempted to pick with teamwork, technique, and chemistry being the most important factors.

Team adidas – aka the ‘Triple Stripes’

GK: Edwin Van Der Sar (Predator PowerSwerve)
LB: Philip Lahm (adiPure II)
CB: Per Mertesacker (Predator PowerSwerve)
CB: Martin Demichelis (Predator PowerSwerve)
RB: Jose Bosingwa (adiPure II)

Jose Bosingwa

Defense: Edwin gets the nod over Petr Cech, who’s seemed shaky at times for Chelsea in 08-09. The monstrous 6’6″ Mertesacker is chosen at the back to dominate in the air. Lahm, a promising (and already world-class) wingback, and Bosingwa, who had a great season with Chelsea, are also chosen along with the experienced Demichelis.

DMF: Xavi (Predator PowerSwerve)
CMF: Steven Gerrard (Predator PowerSwerve)
LMF: Robin van Persie (Predator PowerSwerve)
RMF: Lionel Messi (F50i)*
AMF/SS: Kaka (adiPure II)
CF: David Villa (F50.i)
* Messi has opted for a pair of F30′s over the F50′s.

David Villa

Mid/Attack: A passing based offence is coordinated by maestros Xavi and Gerrard, the latter of which can add a lot to the attack in the final third as well. Van Persie plays best when surrounded by other talented individuals, and will provide a strong left-footed cross while Messi terrorizes the right side with his dribbling abilities. Kaka’s crafty touch and Villa’s merciless finish round out a deadly and tactical attack.

Notable Exclusions: Frank Lampard, Daniele De Rossi, David Silva, David Beckham, Petr Cech, Michael Ballack, Dimitar Berbatov, Marcos Senna, Gabriel Milito, Ashley Cole, Gonzalo Higuain

Why? Lampard is excluded, as he can’t seem to find the right rhythm with Gerrard when they play together. Ballack too is left out, as I don’t feel he’d fit in as well with this passing-based flow. I chose Villa over Higuain, as I think Villa is a little more accomplished.

Team Nike – aka the ‘Check Marks’

GK: Victor Valdes (Tiempo Air Legend II)
LB: Sergio Ramos (Total 90 Laser II)
CB: Paolo Maldini (Tiempo Air Legend II)
CB: Carles Puyol (Tiempo Air Legend II)
RB: Dani Alves (Superfly)

Sergio Ramos (extreme right)

Defence: Valdes squeaks by Almunia as first-choice keeper, though both have made some great last-gasp saves this season. Pace dominates on the sides, where Ramos and Alves can overlap with the attack all game long. Experience, grit, and speed are both in Maldini and Puyol; Maldini may be a controversial decision, but even at his older age he’s showed his class for Milan.

CMF: Cesc Fabregas (Tiempo Air Legend II)
CMF: Michael Essien (Total 90 K-Leather Laser II)
AMF: Wayne Rooney (Total 90 Laser II)
RWF: Cristiano Ronaldo (Superfly)
LWF: Franck Ribery (Superfly)
CF:  Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Superfly)

Wayne Rooney

Mid/Attack: Nike’s prolific offensive talents allow for a 4-3-3 option that still is able to maintain a strong midfield presence. Playmakers Fabregas and Essien are perfect for recapturing the ball and sending an inch-perfect pass to one of the three up front. Rooney’s two-way versatility makes him ideal to help out in the middle, while Ribery and Ronaldo add pace and dribbling while being two players who can set up plays just as easily as they can finish them. Despite Ibrahimovic’s struggles in European play, I couldn’t ignore his killer finishing and I feel his skill would complement this attack perfectly.

Notable Exclusions: Robinho, Arshavin, Fabio Cannavaro, Patrice Evra, Andrea Barzagli, Fernando Torres, Yaya Toure, Darijo Srna, John Obi Mikel, Yossi Benayoun, Andres Iniesta, Eric Abidal, Manuel Almunia

Why? Robinho and Torres miss out as I feel they don’t have the playmaking to match their finishing. Barzagli deserves to be in the centre of defense after a fantastic season with Wolfsburg but I gave it to the older Italian based on experience. Iniesta and Toure also give way to the (in my opinion, better-defensively) Essien.

Worlds Team – aka ‘Everything Else’

GK: Iker Casillas (Reebok Valde Pro)
LB: Joan Capdevilla (Lotto Leggenda Due)
CB: John Terry (Umbro Speciali)
CB: Nemanja Vidic (Puma v-Konstrukt III)
RB: Gabriel Heinze (Under Armour Dominate Pro)

Nemanja Vidic

CMF: Thomas Hitzlsperger (Puma King XL)
LMF: Ryan Giggs (Reebok Instante)
RMF: Deco (Umbro SX Valor II)
LWF: Thierry Henry (Reebok Instante)*
RWF: Nicolas Anelka (Puma v1.08)
CF:  Samuel Eto’o (Puma v1.08)
* Henry instead opted for his old Sprintfit Lite Pro’s in the Champions League final.

Nicolas Anelka

The candidate pool for the world brands was still strong, despite missing some of football’s biggest names. An outstanding central defence is flanked by experienced veterans, and the three midfielders provide technique and playmaking to the Barcelona-inspired attacking trio.

Defensively, the squad is made up of a strong Premier League inspired centre, while the two full backs have loads of quality, though I realise that I’m asking Heinze to play out of position. Mind you, having learnt to speak Welsh, I’m certain he can do pretty much anything!

In attack, I like the technical skill offered by Deco, the experience and vision of Giggs, and the power from Hitzlsperger. The front three have pure finishing prowess. Eto’o and Henry (coupled with Messi) accounted for a century of goals at club level in the past season along with Anelka, the Premier League’s top scorer for 2008-09.

Notable Exclusions: Gianluigi Buffon, Giuseppe Rossi, Luca Toni, Simone Perotta, “Hulk”, Roque Santa Cruz, Bobby Zamora

Why? I chose Casillas over Buffon for the sake of recent form. Rossi still needs experience, and Toni doesn’t have the pace to fit in with my attacking formation. The others would make strong candidates for bench players, but weren’t better than the starting eleven choices to warrant inclusion.

So, those are my 3 squads. What do you guys think? Please leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.