TACTICS
A balanced and complimentary 4-3-3 designed around the legendary Franz Beckenbauer in defence, who Captained Bayern Munich and West Germany to the '74, '75 and '76 European Cups, the '72 European Championships and the '74 World Cup, and was voted a record five times in the Top three of the Ballon d'Or.
To the left of Beckenbauer, Jurgen Kohler is arguably the greatest 'stopper' in the history of the game - Kohler was a physical brick wall of a defender and ruthless man-marker.
Winner of the Bundesliga, Serie A, UEFA Cup, Champions League, '90 World Cup and '96 European Champions - Kohler has won it all domestically and internationally and remains the gold standard for this role.
Berti Vogts provides similar security on the right - a former teammate of Beckenbauer, Vogts was twice voted German Footballer of the Year and between 1974-1977 Kicker rated him as the best player in Germany.
There are no better players to compliment Beckenbauer than Vogts and Kohler – they provide Beckenbauer the freedom to marshal the game and move forward in possession.
“He was the puppet master, standing back and pulling the strings which earned West Germany and Bayern Munich every major prize."
MIDFIELD
Desailly plays his AC Milan holding midfield role and provides a secure base for an offense which is bursting with creativity. Offering unmatched physicality, workrate and positional discipline, Desailly was the gold standard for this role in the mid-1990s and the highest ranked midfielder in Europe in the '94 '95 and '96 Ballon d'Or.
His partner Matthaus is well regarded as the greatest box-to-box midfielder of all time thanks to his unparalleled combination of defensive nous (see his successful man-marking job on Maradona in the '86 final) and goal threat (one in two at his peak). Ballon D'Or winner in 1991 when he scored 23 goals in 46 games for Inter: impressive for a central midfielder, even moreso in the uber-defensive Serie A of the time. Often tasked with the grunt work in fantasy teams, here he is unleashed with Desailly to win the ball back and, when recovered, surge past the gifted but relatively lightweight opposition midfield.
ATTACK
In attack three all-time great Brazilian legends offer pace, dribbling and an outrageous goal threat - at their peak Ronaldo scored 101 in 106 games, Zico scored 188 in 198 games and Ronaldinho scored 85 goals in 141 games for Barcelona.
As the third highest goalscoring Brazilian ever, Zico's goal threat as a no10 was almost unmatched. Throw in the sensational dribbling, defence-splitting passing and vision that will dovetail beautifully with Ronaldo, and we've got a set-up that will maximise his considerable talents.
Socrates
"Zico was the king. He was much better than everyone else. When there is a king, the rest fight to be close to the king. So it was Zico who should lead. It was Machiavellian, but I was the prince and Zico the king."
Rounding off the attack is George Best - Manchester United's greatest ever player and arguably the best winger in the history of the game.
With the addition of Best the attack possesses the balance and width to hit the opposition from all angles - Ronaldo's pace will stretch the pitch vertically, whilst Best, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos stretch the pitch horizontally, creating gaps between the lines for Zico, Matthaus and Beckenbauer to play in.
Pele
''George Best was the greatest player in the world.''
Denis Law
''From 1964 to 1969 he was the best player in the world''
John Giles
''He had the lot: balance, pace, two good feet, he was brave, strong and a good header of the ball. Pele wasn’t as gifted as George Best and I would put George above Cruyff because he had more heart''
BETTER BACKLINE
- Both attacks are excellent but Cal? is facing a better defence built to compliment Beckenbauer and proven at the highest level - Vogts, Kohler, Beckenbauer and Roberto Carlos are all World Cup winners with 429 international caps.
- Moreover the defence is better suited to the game's individual battles - Berti Vogts is perfect tucking in next to Beckenbauer and killing space for Cristiano, whilst Kohler is a natural covering the left/central area of defence against Messi.
- The backline also has significantly better protection from midfield - Matthaus was irrepressible in that box-to-box role, whilst Desailly is arguably the most effective midfield destroyer of the last 40 years - physically imposing with wonderful stamina and graft.
COUNTER ATTACKS FROM DEFENCE
- With Beckenbauer's technical ability and accurate passing in defence we have a greater ability to release swift counter attacks.
- When possession turns over Beckenbauer can release the ball and launch rapid counter attacks to Best or Ronaldinho on the flanks - or through the lines to Zico.
ZICO VS SCHWEINSTEIGER
- As impressive as Schweinsteiger has been as an all-rounder in recent years, we have to question how well he will cope with the irrepressible Zico buzzing around him, darting into the gaps between Cal's midfield and defence, creating angles for Ronaldo.
RONALDINHO/CARLOS FLANK VS ALVES
- At his exceptional peak for Barcelona Ronaldinho was unstoppable, backed up by non other than Roberto Carlos (with Messi offering little or no defensive support) - he is too quick and too skillful for Alves (or even Lahm).
RONALDO V FERDINAND AND VIDIC
- Peak Ronaldo is sure to get the best over Ferdinand and Vidic over the 90 minutes. Everyone remembers Ronaldo destroying Nesta in the UEFA Cup Final while his pace and close control will cause Vidic problems.
- Ronaldo also has previous in outstretching Ferdinand:
A balanced and complimentary 4-3-3 designed around the legendary Franz Beckenbauer in defence, who Captained Bayern Munich and West Germany to the '74, '75 and '76 European Cups, the '72 European Championships and the '74 World Cup, and was voted a record five times in the Top three of the Ballon d'Or.
To the left of Beckenbauer, Jurgen Kohler is arguably the greatest 'stopper' in the history of the game - Kohler was a physical brick wall of a defender and ruthless man-marker.
Winner of the Bundesliga, Serie A, UEFA Cup, Champions League, '90 World Cup and '96 European Champions - Kohler has won it all domestically and internationally and remains the gold standard for this role.
Berti Vogts provides similar security on the right - a former teammate of Beckenbauer, Vogts was twice voted German Footballer of the Year and between 1974-1977 Kicker rated him as the best player in Germany.
There are no better players to compliment Beckenbauer than Vogts and Kohler – they provide Beckenbauer the freedom to marshal the game and move forward in possession.
“He was the puppet master, standing back and pulling the strings which earned West Germany and Bayern Munich every major prize."
MIDFIELD
Desailly plays his AC Milan holding midfield role and provides a secure base for an offense which is bursting with creativity. Offering unmatched physicality, workrate and positional discipline, Desailly was the gold standard for this role in the mid-1990s and the highest ranked midfielder in Europe in the '94 '95 and '96 Ballon d'Or.
His partner Matthaus is well regarded as the greatest box-to-box midfielder of all time thanks to his unparalleled combination of defensive nous (see his successful man-marking job on Maradona in the '86 final) and goal threat (one in two at his peak). Ballon D'Or winner in 1991 when he scored 23 goals in 46 games for Inter: impressive for a central midfielder, even moreso in the uber-defensive Serie A of the time. Often tasked with the grunt work in fantasy teams, here he is unleashed with Desailly to win the ball back and, when recovered, surge past the gifted but relatively lightweight opposition midfield.
ATTACK
In attack three all-time great Brazilian legends offer pace, dribbling and an outrageous goal threat - at their peak Ronaldo scored 101 in 106 games, Zico scored 188 in 198 games and Ronaldinho scored 85 goals in 141 games for Barcelona.
As the third highest goalscoring Brazilian ever, Zico's goal threat as a no10 was almost unmatched. Throw in the sensational dribbling, defence-splitting passing and vision that will dovetail beautifully with Ronaldo, and we've got a set-up that will maximise his considerable talents.
Socrates
"Zico was the king. He was much better than everyone else. When there is a king, the rest fight to be close to the king. So it was Zico who should lead. It was Machiavellian, but I was the prince and Zico the king."
Rounding off the attack is George Best - Manchester United's greatest ever player and arguably the best winger in the history of the game.
With the addition of Best the attack possesses the balance and width to hit the opposition from all angles - Ronaldo's pace will stretch the pitch vertically, whilst Best, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos stretch the pitch horizontally, creating gaps between the lines for Zico, Matthaus and Beckenbauer to play in.
Pele
''George Best was the greatest player in the world.''
Denis Law
''From 1964 to 1969 he was the best player in the world''
John Giles
''He had the lot: balance, pace, two good feet, he was brave, strong and a good header of the ball. Pele wasn’t as gifted as George Best and I would put George above Cruyff because he had more heart''
BETTER BACKLINE
- Both attacks are excellent but Cal? is facing a better defence built to compliment Beckenbauer and proven at the highest level - Vogts, Kohler, Beckenbauer and Roberto Carlos are all World Cup winners with 429 international caps.
- Moreover the defence is better suited to the game's individual battles - Berti Vogts is perfect tucking in next to Beckenbauer and killing space for Cristiano, whilst Kohler is a natural covering the left/central area of defence against Messi.
- The backline also has significantly better protection from midfield - Matthaus was irrepressible in that box-to-box role, whilst Desailly is arguably the most effective midfield destroyer of the last 40 years - physically imposing with wonderful stamina and graft.
COUNTER ATTACKS FROM DEFENCE
- With Beckenbauer's technical ability and accurate passing in defence we have a greater ability to release swift counter attacks.
- When possession turns over Beckenbauer can release the ball and launch rapid counter attacks to Best or Ronaldinho on the flanks - or through the lines to Zico.
ZICO VS SCHWEINSTEIGER
- As impressive as Schweinsteiger has been as an all-rounder in recent years, we have to question how well he will cope with the irrepressible Zico buzzing around him, darting into the gaps between Cal's midfield and defence, creating angles for Ronaldo.
RONALDINHO/CARLOS FLANK VS ALVES
- At his exceptional peak for Barcelona Ronaldinho was unstoppable, backed up by non other than Roberto Carlos (with Messi offering little or no defensive support) - he is too quick and too skillful for Alves (or even Lahm).
RONALDO V FERDINAND AND VIDIC
- Peak Ronaldo is sure to get the best over Ferdinand and Vidic over the 90 minutes. Everyone remembers Ronaldo destroying Nesta in the UEFA Cup Final while his pace and close control will cause Vidic problems.
- Ronaldo also has previous in outstretching Ferdinand:
. I can't vote anyway but I'll elaborate a bit more later.