Two outstanding sides packed with players worthy of this final. Both teams are well set up. There's very little in it and much will go down to people's preferences.
Team Antohan has been reinforced by the long awaited arrival of the greatest orchestrator of them all: Diego Maradona.
GAME-DEFINING BATTLES:
1. My right flank.Cutch's left flank is his strongest point, which has led to the introduction of Stoichkov. He was at his very best on the left, but one major asset Hristo brings is his aggressive workrate and willingness to run himself into the ground to win. That will be needed here.
In attack he will be attacking the space between Santos & Baresi and will constantly give them something to think about given his goalscoring ability and Maradona's service.
Without ball, he will track Santos to avoid any 2 vs. 1 scenario, Andrade already has his hands full with Best. Rated the 10th Best World Cup performer in 1930-1990 by France Football, the Black Marvel is the man for that very difficult man-marking job (i.e. won't attack, no 2v1 on either end).
2. My left flank. Whether Cutch picks CR7 or sticks to Figo, they won't track back but Facchetti WILL bomb forward leaving Rijkaard covering.
I think Cutch will and should pick McGrath at RB. Whether it is him or Eyzaguirre, he will be doubled up on by Facchetti and a man with a similar penchant for the edge-of-the-box top right corner long ranger as Mazzola: Thierry Henry.
This is Cutch's weakest point. The RB won't do anything but defend as Cutch would rather have Hierro free than covering for him (and if they attack uncovered Henry will slaughter him).
There's only one 2v1 out of all four corners and it's Facchetti-Henry attacking Cutch's RB.
3. The middle of the park. Two exceptional creators on either side. The difference is in the CM pairs which are both excellent and complimentary, but Beckenbauer-Rijkaard is in a different bracket to Edwards-Hierro.
4. The box. Two solid core 3s. Cutch's marginally better, but they face Pelé while I face Van Basten, a great player but best known for his exploits playing off a partner (Gullit).
It's indeed very tight but Cutch only has a likely advantage in the first of those areas while I have one in two, or even three. Notably, a 2v1 on the RB that leaves little to the imagination. X-rated stuff.
Quite simply, my front 4 has too much firepower for Anto’s side to withstand. I have 3 of the best goalscorers of all time in Di Stefano (484 in 661 career games), Van Basten (276 in 363) & Cristiano Ronaldo (306 in 504) plus Best (181 in 474 for Utd). In their Ballon d’or years they scored:
Van Basten: 29 in 38
Di Stefano: 43 in 43
C Ronaldo: 42 in 49
Best: 32 in 53
When you consider i've also the considerable threat of Hierro (26 in 53 in 91-92, & 4th on Spains all time list), John Charles with over 300 career goals, and 3 of Serie A’s finest on the bench (Baggio, Hamrin & Shevchenko). Anto's side has nowhere near the same goal threat.
As well as this, my side has genuine width unlike Anto’s abundance of wannabe no.10s. You can’t mark Ronaldo or Best out of a game. There's not a single fullback good enough. Both will torment. Di Stefano will form the perfect link between midfield and the most complete no.9 imaginable. Van Basten will no doubt chuckle when he recognises Dasayev in the opposition goal who he scored his famous volley past in the 88 Euro Final.
Anto has a notable presence in centre mid & i’d expect a real war of attrition. The key will be to match up with them numbers wise and maintain the shape. The incomparable Di Stefano will no doubt occupy and nullify Riijkards involvement while the immortal and fearless Duncan Edwards will stand toe to toe with Beckenbeuer. The defensive minded Hierro will try to stop the supply to and be the first line of defence against Maradona, who will find space at a premium with teammates trying to occupy the same areas. Hierro will also be the man looking to launch the quick counter to my 2 wide men with his wonderful range of passing.
At the back i’m fortunate to have 2 of Serie A's finest, the iconic John Charles supplemented by Franco Baresi, probably the greatest ever defender. With Anto's 2 wide men pinned back to help deal with Best/Ronaldo this will ease pressure on my fullbacks who should also get a chance to attack, particularly Nilton Santos forming a dream partnership down the left with Best.
Set pieces should also produce serious joy. John Charles, one of the best headers of all time, and Ronaldo, Van Basten and Hierro all phenomenal aerially with Ronaldo and Hierro the free kick specialists.
AT THIS LEVEL PLAYERS DON'T FREE-SCORE (WHICH MANY OF MINE DID), IT IS GLARING MISMATCHES THAT DECIDE GAMES AND THERE'S NO GREATER X-RATED MISMATCH THAN FACCHETTI AND HENRY ON EYZAGUIRRE.
THAT'S THE SORT OF ACHILLES HEEL THAT GETS MERCILESSLY EXPOSED TIME AND AGAIN UNTIL, SOONER OR LATER, THE GOALS COME
EYZAGUIRRE WAS PICKED BECAUSE AT HIS PEAK HE WAS CALLED UP FOR "REST OF THE WORLD" (BY A CHILEAN MANAGER). HERE'S APATHE CLIP OF THE GAME. HE IS THE THE NUMBER 2 IN BLUE IN THE 2ND HALF.
The right back being a liability means John Charles will be dragged out of position. The moment he is, I no longer have to worry about his aerial dominance, any crosses I float in will find Stoichkov & Pelé v Santos & Baresi. Baresi is in all sorts of trouble against Pelé.
RINAT DASAYEV
The second best keeper in Russian history behind Yashin and one of the best on here. His distribution and triggering of counters through quick throws is an often understated goalkeeping attribute which sets him apart (see video from 2:28).
JOSÉ LEANDRO ANDRADE The first international football superstar. Yes, you've never heard of him, others think differently:
France Football's World Cup Top 100 1930–1990:10th (YES, THAT'S TENTH, FROM THE VERY PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU THE BALLON D'OR EVERY YEAR SINCE 1956)
Why? Because at a time when football was about 5 defensive players vs. 5 attacking players, Andrade was the first to combine both to devastating effect. He would both shut out his flank AND make the transition to attack, carrying the ball out of his own half and terrorising defences with his dribbling and precise long passing/crossing.
The Black Marvel, as the French baptised him was the fulcrum for a dominant Uruguay side which picked up two Olympic Golds, the first World Cup and three Copa Américas.
Raúl Barbero* said:
France brought him to the limelight. The nickname "The Black Marvel" was coined after he entangled and captivated the gaul stands with his bewitching play. A polished technique, his feline movement across the pitch, a sense of positioning and timing which allowed him to be in the right place at the right time to avoid a goal, even when the ball had already beaten the keeper. He nullified his rival -whoever that was-; and played his way upfield with a perfect dribble; passed the ball to the centimetre; and defended "from head to toe".
A complete player. A few years ago, a group of reputable critics had a roundtable to determine Uruguay's Best Ever XI and he was undisputed as a right half-back, but also picked as centre-half, and was in with a shout for his latter days as a forward when his pace was gone but his ability on the ball wasn't.
His burst into the Parisian scene was followed by the triumphant campaigns in Amsterdam and Montevideo. In the seven years between 1923 and 1930 he defended the sky blue 43 times, losing only three games and in all the major finals not once did a rival goal originate on his side of the pitch
*Raúl Barbero was at the 1930 World Cup and edited the first World Cup magazine while still a wouldbe journalist. In 1935 he starts doing it professionally and goes on to chronicle every World Cup from 1950 to 1982, including the 1966 one as the commentator on the BBCs Spanish-language World Cup broadcast
RIO FERDINAND
Need I say more? The best English centre-half since Bobby Moore.
ELÍAS FIGUEROA "The area is my home, and I decide who enters it"
Figueroa was noted for his elegant style of play, his calmness in the centre of defence and his ability to cut out opposition attacks and immediately launch counterattacks from the back. With a great positional sense and aerially dominant, Figueroa would be remembered by all as one of the best ever had he not turned down Real Madrid and favoured Inter de Porto Alegre (which allowed him to stay in the Chilean NT setup).
Unfortunately, rankings and awards were less popular in the 60s, or else he would have even more than these individual honours:
6 times Best Centre-half in the Americas (1972-77)
4 times Best Centre-Half in the World (1974-77)
3 times Best Player FROM the Americas (1974-76)
2 times World Player of the Year (1975-76)
Best Centre-half at 1974 FIFA World Cup
3 Times Best Player in the Uruguayan League
2 Times Best Player in the Brazilian League (ahead of Falcao, Zico, Rivelino, etc.)
Best Foreign Player in the history of Brazilian Football
Pelé's nonsense 125 Living Legends
IFFHS Best South American Defender ever
IFFHS 8th Best South American Player ever
IFFHS 37th Best World Player ever (5th among defensive players, third among centre-halves)
Amazing backs-against-the-the-wall display vs. Germany '74
GIACINTO FACCHETTI
Let's make this simple, think Maldini but much better going forward and clocking 0:11 in 100m. Played 634 games and scored 75 goals for Inter over 18 years, mostly as captain, winning four scuddeti, two European and International Cups and being runner-up twice. He was capped 94 times over 11 years, 74 of them as captain, and was runner-up at the 1970 World Cup.
Facchetti is remembered as one of the first truly great attacking-full backs. He would make marauding runs upfield using his wonderful dribbling and crossing. He could also play at centre-back where his tackling was used to great effect. He also possessed wonderful stamina and scored important goals.
FRANZ BECKENBAUER
Der Kaiser's roll of honour is unique. Captain of West Germany when they won the World Cup and the European Championship, he also led his club, Bayern Munich, to three successive European Cups and also to the European Cup Winners' Cup.
But it is not just for the medals and trophies that Beckenbauer is remembered. Rather it is for the style and the genius. Every movement he made on the pitch bristled with elegance. There was an arrogance in his play that suggested he was always in command. But more than that, he was a great thinker about the game and brought about a revolution in the way it is played by inventing the role of the attacking sweeper.
In the late Sixties Beckenbauer began to experiment with the tactic of mounting attacking raids from the centre of defence. He had watched and admired the runs down the flank of the tall Internazionale and Italy left-back Giancinto Facchetti and wanted to adapt the methods to a similar role played from centre-back. Those powerful long runs out of central defence had never been seen before. Up to then, no one had thought that a sweeper had any job being in his opponents' half of the field, let alone scoring. Beckenbauer both created and bequeathed this tactic to the modern game. It contained the element of surprise and it became his trademark.
[FONT="][FONT="]As Keir Radnedge wrote in Soccer: The Ultimate Encyclopedia: "He was the puppet master, standing back and pulling the strings which earned West Germany and Bayern Munich every major prize."
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FRANK RIJKAARD
The defensive rock for Milan's all-conquering side of the late 80s and early 90s, Rijkaard also combined that with the skills instilled into all Ajax and Dutch greats. Scored 81 goals over 414 league games and also the 1988 Euros with Netherlands and a third Champions League/EC (oh!, and a CWC) with Ajax, playing at centre-half. Beast.
DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA
The greatest football player of all time? Most experts would say so. It’s not just phenomenal ability with a ball at his feet but the charisma and propensity to lift those around him to a higher level that really sets him apart.
Maradona held perhaps the best skill level ever seen in terms of passing ability and dribbling. Famous for his hand of God goal but also the greatest individual goal of all time. Also famous for single handily carrying teams to success.
What happens when the best player of all time comes to town? About 90,000 fans turned up after he signed for Napoli along with 253 journalists and 78 photographers. 86% of Napoli’s stadium capacity became season ticket holders. ...The best player in the best league in the world. (A league with Platini, Matthaus, Rijkaard, Van Basten & Zico) Napoli had only won 2 Italian Cups in their history until Maradona came along...soon a Cult of Maradona emerged...It was said 20,000 local government voters had written “Viva Maradona” on their ballot papers, making their votes uncountable...another myth was that 100 donkeys were imported for the post-Scudetto celebrations. Floats were prepared with Maradona on a throne and Platini & Rummenigge prone at his feet
HRISTO STOICHKOV Stoichkov was feared for his speed and potent shot, but is widely remembered for his fiery temperament. When he channeled his aggression during a match, he was a formidable player, often carrying his team single-handedly. Renowned for his never-say-die attitude, Stoichkov fought for the ball with the fierce intensity whether it was the first minute or the last.
One of the stars of the Barca Dream Team that delivered their first European Cup and four consecutive league titles, will be reunited with Laudrup to form a devastating partnership, where the Dane provided the cold-blooded ‘seny’ (reason, or nous) to Stoichkov’s fervid ‘rauxa’ (passion).
The only Barça player to have won the European Cup (1992), the Golden Boot (1990) and the Balon d’Or (1995)
THIERRY HENRY Arguably the greatest player in Arsenal's history and among those who helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championships two years later.
He also won a Champions League, was runner-up once more both for the CL and World Cup, the star of The Invincibles, Arsenal's all-time top scorer and arguably the EPLs best player since its inception with a return of 71 goals and 36 assists in 106 games (2002-04)... But somehow he never got the Individual Honours that deserved.
Will be devastating with this sort of service.
PELÉ - O REI
Arguably the best player of all time. Certainly the most impressive bursting onto the scene in football history: the only quarter-final goal (against Charles' Wales), a semi-final hat-trick and a brace at the final to deliver Brazil their first World Cup. HE WAS 17.
A genius who truly turned football into the ‘Beautiful Game’, his World Cup exploits are unmatched, his goal scoring record never bettered and his penchant for the sublime and breathtaking unsurpassed.
With every touch of the ball, every pass, every dribble, Pele was capable of coming up with something new - something the fans had never seen before.
Allying perfect technique with speed, intelligence, movement, a ferocious shot and an incredible leap the Brazilian was just about the perfect footballer.
Over 500 games for Madrid scoring over 100 goals. At one time was Spains all time scorer with 29 in 89 games.
Equally adept in defense or in midfield. Played in midfield until he was in his mid to late 20s with his standout season arguably in 1991-92 when he scored an amazing 26 goals.
Did this graphic out earlier but it still applies, switching Laudrup for Henry.
This is how i see the game panning out in terms of average position. Anto's fullbacks being pinned back to try and contain Best and Ronaldo, neither would dare attack surely?
In midfield Riijkaard will have to play a very disciplined holding role while ahead of him theres a clusterfeck with too many players operating in the same areas. My front 4 plus Edwards will all have more room to operate in, and with Best and Ronaldo so dangerous in one on one situations, the route to goal becomes a lot more clear cut.
Stoitchkov badly out of position surely? It looks like such a narrow side which will really hinder the impact of Beckenbeuer and Maradona in particular. Theres no way them fullbacks are providing width. They've their hands full with 2 of the most dangerous players you could ever imagine in Best and Ronaldo
Yeah, I could draw one where you look horrible too
That screen makes little sense from the moment things change quite a bit whether you have or don't have the ball.
When you don't have the ball, both Hierro and Edwards are scampering back (surely!) so it's Beckenbauer on Di Stéfano, Rijkaard on Cristiano and Facchetti-Henry doubling up on Eyzaguirre.
Facchetti is not and won't be pinned back all game. Cristiano has been marked out of games before and I have the right men for that.
I know Andrade has his hands full, even by the exceptionally high standards I hold him in, but he is a triple World Crown winner who knew how to shut down a flank. No better for the job, been there and done it, several times over.
So, a technical question. We're meant to take these players at their peak right, but also each in their own time or in todays world?
Ie, were they all rejuvenated (or resurrected, in case any of them are dead) back to their footballing peaks at this moment in time (let's just say 2013), or were they each hauled to the present through a time machine?
I ask this, because it would be of major consequence to the Pelé-Maradona relationship on the pitch
Facchetti won't get a chance to cross the half way line. All game.
Edwards will stand toe to toe with Beckenbeuer all game, and if anything i think Franz will have more bother containing dunc than the other way round (for the reasons explained earlier).
Rijkaard won't ever be near Cristiano, he'll have enough on his plate ctrying to keep up with Di Stefano.
So, a technical question. We're meant to take these players at their peak right, but also each in their own time or in todays world?
Ie, were they all rejuvenated (or resurrected, in case any of them are dead) back to their footballing peaks at this moment in time (let's just say 2013), or were they each hauled to the present through a time machine?
I ask this, because it would be of major consequence to the Pelé-Maradona relationship on the pitch
To be honest, there's no piint stating a rule there as voters won't necessarily follow it and it only leads to pointless discussion.
If your question is "should relationships off the pitch be relevant" I think not. What should be relevant is if the way the players played and the way they worked on the pitch suits them.
For instance, I wouldn't think twice about Voller and Rijkaard being able to play together in a team, regardless of what happened at some point in one game.
There must be serious doubts on Andrade's ability to keep up with George Best surely. You'd be the first to admit yourself that the game has moved on drastically since Uruguay were winning World Cups in the 30s.
To be honest, there's no piint stating a rule there as voters won't necessarily follow it and it only leads to pointless discussion.
If your question is "should relationships off the pitch be relevant" I think not. What should be relevant is if the way the players played and the way they worked on the pitch suits them.
For instance, I wouldn't think twice about Voller and Rijkaard being able to play together in a team, regardless of what happened at some point in one game.
Yeah, basically that. Okay, thanks for clarifying. I agree that it's probably best to have it that way, although it could be quite relevant.
Along those same lines, how do you feel Pelé and Maradona will work together? I guess it also depends on which Pelé you've got here; the young, insanely prolific forward version or the elder statesman playmaking version?
The same Chilean guys who put together a one hour documentary on Elías Figueroa put one together for Eyzaguirre.
Figueroa's is 40mins long, Eyzaguirre's 8mins. The other ten "Legends" covered are Carlos Caszely, Finito Lopez, Mateo Flores, Ulises Poirier, Sergio Livingstone, Juan Olivares, Jorge Toro, Leonel Sanchez, Manuel Muñoz and Iván Mayo.
An entire Chilean media company could not find more than this worthy of inclusion. This is ALL the footage available to make our minds up on Eyzaguirre.
Looks a liability to me against Henry and Facchetti.[FONT="]
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There must be serious doubts on Andrade's ability to keep up with George Best surely. You'd be the first to admit yourself that the game has moved on drastically since Uruguay were winning World Cups in the 30s.
Marking a winger out of a game hasn't moved on, has it? Teams played with wingers then, George Best is a winger, and his times are actually closer to Andrade's than today's!
Along those same lines, how do you feel Pelé and Maradona will work together? I guess it also depends on which Pelé you've got here; the young, insanely prolific forward version or the elder statesman playmaking version?
My surprises: Cutch sticking with Eyzaguirre and Anto dropping his 1st pick of the whole draft, Laudrup. Both for tactical reasons I see but still surprised me.
and then,
Pelé and Maradona in the same team... unstoppable?
Stoitchkov badly out of position surely? It looks like such a narrow side which will really hinder the impact of Beckenbeuer and Maradona in particular. Theres no way them fullbacks are providing width. They've their hands full with 2 of the most dangerous players you could ever imagine in Best and Ronaldo
Andrade is doing a man marking job. I have no natural width on that right side, I agree. Stoichkov is attacking the space between Baresi and Nilton Santos and keeping both on their toes.
On the left Facchetti is bombing forward as there is appropriate cover and Facchetti and Henry on Fifo Eyzaguirre is as close to sinful activities as anyone can get in this game.
I think you are overrating width a tad, I'm actually glad you don't have either wide player much closer to van Basten to give Figueroa and Ferdinand more to think about. I think it's a great option, but Maradona has plenty of options to play on with Henry, Stoichkov and Pelé, all exceptional goalscorers.
A lot of teams have been incredibly successful with no out and out line-hugging wingers. I have natural width on one side, don't need it on both.
Of course, there's also what you pointed about Dan, the risk of Ronaldo getting into a personal skillz contest with Ronaldinho. Just replace Ronaldinho for Best, and we know Best was not one to shun such challenges!
My surprises: Cutch sticking with Eyzaguirre and Anto dropping his 1st pick of the whole draft, Laudrup. Both for tactical reasons I see but still surprised me.
and then,
Pelé and Maradona in the same team... unstoppable?
Laudrup was my first choice as an outstanding orchestrator who could raise everyone's game... once Maradona was out. Once you have Maradona, there wasn't much need for him and Stoichkov puts in not just the greater workrate and tracking back, but also the goalscoring. A real headache for defenders. Laudrup would not add much that Maradona doesn't bring already.
You're making Eyzaguirre out to be John O'Shea. This is one of the outstanding rightbacks of his time, pretty much considered to be world class. One of the star names in Chile's greatest ever teams in 1962, when they got 3rd place at the World Cup. Again i stress that i may be worried if he was up against an outstanding wide player like Best or Garrincha but certainly not overly concerned about Thierry Henry.
Best/Ronaldo will surely have more of a say in this contest than Henry and Stoitchkov.
Laudrup was my first choice as an outstanding orchestrator who could raise everyone's game... once Maradona was out. Once you have Maradona, there wasn't much need for him and Stoichkov puts in not just the greater workrate and tracking back, but also the goalscoring. A real headache for defenders. Laudrup would not add much that Maradona doesn't bring already.
I think most will see Beckenbauer, Maradona and Pele and vote for Anto, they are arguably the 3 best players in the draft. However, I think Cutch's team is better balanced and has players in their correct positions, Henry was a striker for me and I wasn't aware that Stoichkov could play on the right, fair enough if I am wrong.
Aye, set-pieces are a factor which shouldn't be ignored. Ronaldo & Charles would be a headache for Anto's back line. Can imagine Ronaldo out wide, div.... I mean simulating to win a freekick and get some dangerous crosses whipped into the box.
Everyone knows, I told them that story after the semi. You are the case study on Rule #1 of management in fantasy games: don't post on other threads!
It would be as unfair on Cutch as it was on me back then, but since I start this game 1-2 votes down from the off if you take Cal? and his Ronaldo hard on into account, I'll take it.
You're making Eyzaguirre out to be John O'Shea. This is one of the outstanding rightbacks of his time, pretty much considered to be world class. One of the star names in Chile's greatest ever teams in 1962, when they got 3rd place at the World Cup.
That's so misleading Cutch, he was known as an outstanding attacking right back. Roberto Carlos is considered one of the outstanding left backs of his time but he'd have a nightmare up against Stoichkov - I think it's the same here with Eyzaguirre v Henry. I watched him against Italy in '62 the other week and thought about compiling a clip of all his defensive lapses for our game but couldn't be bothered in the end, here's one example of his idea of defending in that game:
That one clip doesn't prove anything but you'll have to take my word for it. He got caught under the ball for that long diagonal countless times and got sucked into the tackle over and over again. Great on the ball though, excellent passer for a fullback and really composed in possession.
Really sorry Cutch, I don't mean to get involved in the exchanges, but I would just like to out this clip here for the voters, the game between Napoli and AC Milan in which Maradona did well, particularly the second goal in which he completely overpowered Baresi.
You're making Eyzaguirre out to be John O'Shea. This is one of the outstanding rightbacks of his time, pretty much considered to be world class. One of the star names in Chile's greatest ever teams in 1962, when they got 3rd place at the World Cup. Again i stress that i may be worried if he was up against an outstanding wide player like Best or Garrincha but certainly not overly concerned about Thierry Henry.
Best/Ronaldo will surely have more of a say in this contest than Henry and Stoitchkov.
It's Henry AND Facchetti, not that Henry alone couldn't turn him but that would be as contested as any of the flank battles I have with you. It's the 2v.1, the only realistic one on either flank, which makes it an eye-sore.
Edit: having seen Brwned's clip my suspicions are confirmed, it's actually not even as contested as the others even if it were Henry alone. That's why his "Legend" clip is so bereft of World Cup footage, I guessed.
Henry's pace on the break, his goalscoring potential and greater threat vs. a weak RB is the key.
Laudrup was a superb player and I don't think he would get in Maradona's way, but Maradona already brings it all to the table in terms of pulling the strings. At some point you have to stop pulling strings and start scoring, which is why it is Henry, Stoichkov and Pelé feeding off Maradona's magic.
C. Ronaldo is on his weaker foot when cutting in though, and in a game of this magnitude where he will struggle to get time on the ball that makes a huge difference. On the other hand his crossing will be very valuable, especially with someone like Van Basten to aim for. In the free-kick department Antohan has a clear advantage in Maradona, compared to the erratic nature of C. Ronaldo's free-kicks IMO.
Funny that when Henry was playing striker I was being told he was no striker and would spend the whole game drifting wide leaving no one in the box (not you, in fairness).
Henry is completely comfortable out there and the best man to exploit the key disparity emerging anywhere on the pitch.
Stoichkov would rarely be deployed wide right (although I could put together a clipping with him operating there very effectively). He is in a way doing what Rooney has occasionally done for us as a left winger: a tactical disciplined job. The key difference is that while we associate that Rooney role on the left with us losing his creativity through the middle I don't need to worry about that at all with Diego there and Stoichkov will get chances if Santos-Baresi don't keep a close eye on him.
Pelé and Maradona surely > Ronaldo and Hiero at freekicks. Henry's are competitive if not better than your two and from the left corner of the box it would be him surely hitting them. A greta mix of free kicking styles there as well, not just whacking it.
Charles, Ronaldo, Van Basten and Hierro at corners.
Henry and Pelé were notorious long range scorers and a better mix with Pelé doing the screamers and Henry the lofted unreachable curlers. Maradona, Stoichkov, Beckenbauer and Facchetti were no mugs either. Facchetti scored 10 goals in a Serie A season at a time when the average number of goals per game in Serie A was around its lowest ever (the early 70s were the lowest though).
C. Ronaldo is on his weaker foot when cutting in though, and in a game of this magnitude where he will struggle to get time on the ball that makes a huge difference. On the other hand his crossing will be very valuable, especially with someone like Van Basten to aim for. In the free-kick department Antohan has a clear advantage in Maradona, compared to the erratic nature of C. Ronaldo's free-kicks IMO.
Wanted to get this into my opening post but hadn't the characters left. Best and Ronaldo will often swap wings as they both look to do in a game. They'll take turns to wreak havoc on either side. So you'll have Best leaving Andrade with twisted blood and Ronaldo then crossing over with his pace and power to finish the poor lad off.
