



Picking a best Starting XI is a time-honored tradition. In weighing the light and dark sides from all the films, we found a proper balance of the Force in a 4-2-3-1 system that abides by key Star Wars rules such as not having more than two Sith on the same side.















THE LINEUP







SCOUTING REPORT





Grand Moff Tarkin: Manager

Home Planet: Eriadu

In Tarkin, you have the key attributes to being a ruthless, effective manager. He makes decisions without becoming entangled in petty emotions (Is that your home planet of Alderaan, Princess Leia? Kaboom!). He has experience keeping Sith such as Vader on their leash and not being intimidated by big egos. He runs the club, Fergie-style, and when the going gets tough, he's not a manager to bail for another club. Remember, this man refused an escape ship when the Death Star was under siege.











Chewbacca: Goalkeeper

Home Planet: Kashyyyk

Best Skill: Aerial Dominance

Easy choice, this is. Chewie has the height, strength and wingspan to stop pretty much everything. He's basically Sunderland's Costel Pantilimon with more hair. Plus, he maintains that all-important keeper trait: He's a bit crazy, but in a good way -- a player who won't hesitate to bark at his central defense if it loses concentration. Sure, you have to worry about the Wookiee's propensity to pull opponents' arms out of their sockets if he loses, but Chewbacca will put everyone this side of David de Gea to shame.











Darth Vader: Center Back

Home Planet: Tatooine

Best Skill: The Reducer

You need an imposing veteran at the back who makes sure everyone's positioning is correct and intimidates opponents by his sheer presence. Enter the original galactic gangster, Darth Vader. A sort of John Terry in a cape and helmet, you won't find anyone better at the dark arts of soccer. Need to take someone down before he's clear on goal? No moral qualms here. And if anyone manages to get in behind, Vader can execute an invisible choke hold, and the ref will be none the wiser.











Kylo Ren: Center Back

Home Planet: Unknown

Best Skill: Force Push Block

Who better to partner with Lord Vader than Kylo Ren, the man who vows in the "The Force Awakens" trailer: "Nothing will stand in our way. I will finish what you started." Kylo Ren demonstrates a dangerous side -- he's reportedly hell-bent on destroying the last of the Jedi -- with an ability to get his hands dirty, supposedly having built his own lightsaber. What he lacks in Vader-esque experience, he makes up for in maniacal, power-hungry drive.











Boba Fett: Left Back

Home Planet: Kamino

Best Skill: Jet-Fueled Raids Down The Flank

This badass bounty hunter's jet pack allows him to blast up and down the flank -- imagine a more calculating, turbo-charged Luke Shaw -- making him all but impossible to mark in attack and catch out of position defensively. Boba Fett barely says a word, so you won't have to worry about him getting yellow carded for dissent, while his armor protects him from any dirty challenges. And let's face it: All sides need a cult antihero.











Poe Dameron: Right Back

Home Planet: Yavin IV (rumored)

Best Skill: Pinpoint Crosses

Consider Poe the Wedge Antilles of "The Force Awakens" -- he's not the star of the show, but the ace X-Wing pilot and a leader of the Resistance against the First Order will have the intellect and battle-hardened nerves to protect and attack down the right flank without grandstanding or demanding a big contract after every season. He is, in short, the galaxy's Pablo Zabaleta.











Obi-Wan Kenobi: Defensive Midfielder

Home Planet: Stewjon

Best Skill: Arguing With Refs

Obi-Wan's worldview is key to his position. "Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view," he famously said in "Return of the Jedi." Indeed, Obi-Wan intuitively understands soccer's moral relativism, the kind you need to be a little naughty in the defensive midfield. Obi-Wan can also defend his teammates: "This isn't the player you're looking for," he says as he effortlessly waves his hand in front of the match official, before pointing an incriminating finger toward Diego Costa.











Captain Phasma: Defensive Midfielder

Home Planet: Unknown

Best Skill: Late Tackling

To excel as a defensive midfielder, you need a nasty streak -- think Javier Mascherano, who never gives up in chasing balls or pulls out of a tackle. Enter First Order loyalist Captain Phasma. We don't know much about this uber-stormtrooper yet, but we know enough. Phasma commands the First Order's legions of troopers and is said to be ruthless. In short, she can help provide direction in the midfield and take anyone out at any time when there's a need to break up a counterattack.











Luke Skywalker: Attacking Midfielder, Central

Home Planet: Tatooine

Best Skill: Killer Assists

Your No. 10 between the two attacking midfielders, Skywalker will create chances in front of goal and open up space for others. It's a selfless trait Luke revealed when he travelled to Bespin to rescue Han Solo and Princess Leia. Of course, that happened after Luke disobeyed Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, again showing the young Jedi's impulsive nature. Suffice to say, Louis van Gaal would hate Skywalker's reckless nature. His tendency to daydream could also earn him the reputation of being the galaxy's Mesut Ozil, but when focused, Skywalker makes unlocking defenses look as easy as sniping womp rats from his trusty T-16.











Princess Leia Organa: Attacking Midfielder, Left

Home Planet: Alderaan

Best Skill: Bending It Like Beckham

With her ESP-like connection to her brother, Luke, Leia is always a step ahead of the opposition. It's the perfect tandem: Luke opens up space, and Leia runs into it seamlessly and without so much as a wink to alert defenders. Leia also brings more organizational smarts to the attack, and she isn't afraid to take her teammates to task if they get too big for their boots. You can already hear her telling Han Solo, after another failed long-range attempt, "I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain."











Han Solo: Attacking Midfielder, Right

Home Planet: Corellia

Best Skill: Shots From Distance

Every side needs that player -- the scruffy-looking solo artist who guns for glory and never sees a shot that's not worth taking. Han Solo brings little subtlety to his attacking role. In this intergalactic soccer world, he always shoots first (sorry, Greedo) and exhibits enough street smarts to get into the heads of opponents with his blunt trash talking. Think of him as a combination Arjen Robben and Diego Costa, only likable.











Yoda: Striker

Home Planets: Coruscant And Dagobah

Best Skill: Swirling Bicycle Kick

Let's be clear: We're talking about Yoda from "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," the little green menace who battled Count Dooku and the Emperor with such blinding speed you could only keep track of his movements thanks to his green lightsaber. This Yoda is the perfect player to run in behind defenses before they even know he's there, weave in between central defenders and jump high to get on the end of any cross on set plays. Many goals, Yoda will score.









