Neuer and Robben on UEFA Best Player in Europe shortlist
Nyon - Two FC Bayern München players have been shortlisted for the 2013/14 UEFA Best Player in Europe award.
Double heroics
and will battle it out along with Real Madrid CF's Cristiano Ronaldo for the prize, after journalists from each of UEFA's 54 member associations whittled down an initial ten-man shortlist, which also included Philipp Lahm and Thomas Müller, to their final three. The winner will be announced in Monaco on 28 August.
Goalkeeper Neuer didn't miss a minute of Germany's successful FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil this summer, after helping Bayern win the Bundesliga title and DFB Cup last season. He was recently voted Germany's Footballer of the Year, and is the first goalkeeper to finish among the final three in the award's history.
Robben, meanwhile, enjoyed a scintillating World Cup, scoring three times in the Netherlands' run to the semi-finals of the competition. As well as delivering the the opening goal in the 2014 DFB Cup final win over Borussia Dortmund, he also found the net on 11 occasions in the Bundesliga in 2013/14 - a Bayern return bettered only by and departed striker Mario Mandzukic.
Müller and Lahm represent the Bundesliga
Bayern duo Müller and Lahm came fourth and fifth respectively on the ten-man shortlist, having won the domestic double in 2013/14 and lifted the World Cup at the Estadio Maracana. All-in-all, four of the top five contenders currently ply their trade in the Bundesliga.
Franck Ribery won the award last season after inspiring Bayern's treble triumph, beating off stiff competition from Ronaldo and FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
