ZURICH: Gianluigi Buffon and Petr Cech go head to head in the Champions League tomorrow when Juventus face Chelsea in Turin with the losers at risk of being eliminated at the group stage.

They are also rivals, however, for the role of goalkeeper in the annual FIFA/FIFPro World XI to be narrowed down at the world federation’s annual gala in Zurich on January 7.

The other three keepers listed are Spain’s Euro 2012-winning captain Iker Casillas  (Real Madrid), England’s Joe Hart (Manchester City) and Germany’s Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich).

A 55-player shortlist for the entire team will be named in São Paulo on November 29, two days before the draw in the Brazilian city for the 2013 Confederations Cup.

The shortlists for the defenders, midfielders and forwards will be named on November 22, 26 and 29 respectively.

The World XI will be chosen by a ballot among the 50,000 professional footballers belonging to the players’ unions across the world which are members of  FIFPro. They have received voting forms to nominate their favourites in a 4-3-3 formation of goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.

The final FIFA FIFPro World XI will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 7 January 2013. During the televised gala, the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player of 2012 and the winner of the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2012 award will also be revealed.

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