Shanghai, Feb 11 (IANS) Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning football team is pitted against European club football champions Real Madrid in the best team category for the 2015 Laureus awards, officials announced Wednesday.
Germany beat Argentina 1-0 to win the FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. In the same impressive manner, Real Madrid defeated city rivals Atletico Madrid to win the Champions League.
Also, 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer received two nominations for the part he played, along with Stanislas Wawrinka, in the first ever success by the Swiss Davis Cup team. The team has been shortlisted for both Team of the Year and Breakthrough of the Year awards.
Severin Lüthi-led Switzerland overpowered France 3-1 in the summit clash of the men’s tennis team championship.
Federer, Wawrinka, Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer were part of the victorious squad.
Wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden, who won the marathon Grand Slam of Boston, Chicago, London and New York for the second straight year, will be hoping to win the Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award after missing out last year.
The winners will be declared April 15.