Peter Shilton is a consensus top 5 goalkeeper of all time in my opinion, many don’t place too much importance in their keeper selection in the draft because they believe it is a forgone conclusion that a goal will be scored not matter what. Shilton was of the standard where no matter what the attack he was facing you could put your trust in him to not concede.
Phillip Lahm, whether you consider it a testament to his versatility or just his natural talent, he has a case for being both the best left AND right back in the world, at the same time. Not many in this draft will be able to say the same about one of their full backs. Hans Briegel was on his day one of the best left backs in Europe and was the first German playing outside of their top division to win their footballer of the year award whilst playing for Hellas Verona. An equally accomplished centre back/Centre Mid/Left midfielder, he and Lahm not only provide solidity down the flanks but also a fantastic outlet on either flank to support the attack.
Briegel is re-united with Forster, a man who has done a man marking job and earned plaudits in keeping the great Maradona quiet. Quietly and effectively always seemed to nullify his opponents main attacking threat. Partnering Forster is Ruggeri, a world cup winner in a side famed for Maradona’s exploits, but built upon a tough tackling, solid defence. Ruggeri provides a perfect foil for Forster.
In the engine room, firstly, Josef Masopust. Not much is available in terms of footage of the man but from what I have read and seen of the man it doesn’t seem a stretch to put him up there with a Paul Scholes, with the added bonus of being a tireless runner and being able to tackle. He possessed the uncanny knack of arriving in the box when he needed to and being fantastic and disciplined in his defensive work. Roy Keane will be doing the mucking in alongside him, another tireless runner, quite simply a leader. With a now acknowledged, but at the time criminally underrated range of passing, if you were in space between the midfield and defence, Keano would find you, with targets like Rivaldo, Pele andSteven Gerrard, whose passing range, scoring ability, leadership, drive and again, tireless running provides the perfect attacking drive to the midfield 3.
Which brings us to the attacking trio, Rivaldo will drift deep, to the left or bound beyond the last man, he did it all his career, he was comfortable on the ball absolutely anywhere on the pitch and could unlock any defence from anywhere on the pitch. You couldn’t keep him uninvolved for a full 90, he would find a way to beat you. A pass, an overhead kick in the last minute. To be considered one of the better attacking players Brazil have produced you have to be something special.
Speaking of which, Pele. Some people may think that I lose a little something by not playing him right up top. I disagree, wholeheartedly. He was an absolute master capable of a killer pass, fake, first touch. Both from deep and around the 18 yard box, this all before being a deadly finisher. His Santos sides although derided for the league they played in domestically, regularly took on the best Europe had to offer in friendly matches, in a time there was no such thing, and regularly came out on top, usually thanks to a top level performance from the man himself. Undisputed legend.
Gabriel Batistuta is simply my favourite striker ever and his goal scoring record speaks for itself, both domestically and internationally. Tall, Elegant, Powerful, he was an absolute machine capable of putting the ball in from anywhere. He wasn’t a striker to hang around on the last man, he would come and get involved in the play and if he had possession from 35 yards or closer, there was always a goal in the air.
It is a team with undoubted quality, but also has leaders running right the way through it, people who would run themselves into the floor for a win.
So this is buzzing nicely.