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Lahm among 3 Germany defenders on shortlist

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ZURICH (AP) World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm is among three Germany defenders nominated by professional players for selection in the FIFA FIFPro World XI.

Five players from Brazil, beaten 7-1 by Germany in the semifinals, are included among 20 candidates for four places in the elite lineup's defense.

The World XI will be named at FIFA's Ballon d'Or ceremony on Jan. 12 in Zurich.

All four 2013 defensive selections - Lahm, Dani Alves, Sergio Ramos and Thiago Silva - have been nominated again.

Spain has four nominees, but there are none from the Netherlands, which beat the defending World Cup champions 5-1 at the World Cup. The Dutch closed the tournament with 370 shutout minutes, including beating Brazil 3-0.

Italy, traditionally home to top defenders, is also excluded from the shortlist. For the first time in the poll's 10-year history, no English defender was voted on the shortlist.

Three of the 20 nominees were voted for despite not going to the World Cup: David Alaba of Austria, Branislav Ivanovic of Serbia and Daniel Carvajal of Spain.

Voting was organized by FIFPro, the international group of players' unions which has more than 65,000 members.

FIFPro and FIFA will announce shortlists for midfielders and attackers in the coming days.

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FIFA FIFPro World XI nominated defenders:

David Alaba (Austria, Bayern Munich); Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona); Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona); Jerome Boateng (Germany, Bayern Munich); Daniel Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid); David Luiz (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain); Diego Godin (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid); Filipe Luis (Brazil, Chelsea); Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund); Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea); Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City); Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich); Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid); Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona); Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid); Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona); Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid); Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain); Raphael Varane (France, Real Madrid); Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina, Manchester City)

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