International peak draft

Raees said:
Not as busy as Gio or Theons - clearly
Click to expand...
Touché.

Since it's his 70th birthday today, we'll take Johan Cruyff. Spent the last couple of hours enjoying footage from 1974, really persuasive stuff.
 
16BFFC51000005DC-3507755-image-a-13_1458824135537.jpg
 
International Peak Draft

Semi final teams:

Enigma 1. G. Müller 2. B. Moore 3. P. Maldini 4. Didi 5. H. Stoichkov 6. M. Amoros 7. Z. Boniek 8. C. Makélélé 9. S. Campbell 10. M. Ballack 11. U. Fillol 12. G. Hagi 13. R. Ayala 14. C. Ronaldo 15. Pelé 16. E. Figueroa 17. F. Beckenbauer

Gio/Theon 1. L. Matthäus 2. M. Sammer 3. Z. Zidane 4. R. Carlos 5. D. Džajić 6. B. Schweinsteiger 7. J. Zanetti 8. P. Schmeichel 9. C. Gamarra 10. C. Vieri 11. G. Buchwald 12. Leonidas 13. J. M. Moreno 14. T. Silva 15. L. Ronaldo 16. F. Cannavaro 17. Cruyff

Raees/Invictus 1. Eusébio 2. A. Brehme 3. M. Desailly 4. O. Varela 5. J. Tigana 6. G. Bergomi 7. P. Nedvěd 8. A. Robben 9. H. Chumpitaz 10. O. Kahn 11. L. Suárez 12. Zizinho 13. M. Kaltz 14. G. Sárosi 15. D. Maradona 16. F. Baresi 17. van Basten

Annahnomoss 1. K. Hamrin 2. N. Liedholm 3. G. Nordahl 4. G. Gren 5. L. Skoglund 6. O. Bergmark 7. E. Nilsson 8. B. Gustavsson 9. S. Andersson 10. B. Rosengren 11. K. Svensson 12. P. Kock 13. K. Rosén 14. A. Simonsson 15. F. Rijkaard 16. V. Voronin 17. Kohler 18. Djalma Santos


Reminder: Please don't hesitate to leave your pick to somebody (Annah, GreenSmiley or somebody else) if you expect to be busy while your turn is coming up.

Players available for reinforcements:

EAP 1. J. Cruyff 2. Cafu 3. L. Messi 4. J. Masopust 5. B. Schuster 6. U. Seeler 7. O. Ruggeri 8. F. Collovati 9. H.P. Briegel 10. N. Stiles 11. D. Zoff 12. D. Forlan 13. S. Busquets 14. D. Da Guia 15 J. Neeskens 16. R. Gullit

Sjor/Physio 3. A. Iniesta 4. L. Figo 5. P. Lahm 6. M. Coluna 7. J. Nasazzi 8. T. Cubillas 9. G. Batistuta 10. L. Yashin 11. N. Hidegkuti 12. Y. Zhirkov 13. A. Giresse 14. Julinho

Isotope 2. E. Davids 3. R. Baggio 5. D. Passarella 6. C. Gentile 7. A. Nesta 8. I. Netto 9. L. Júnior 10. G. Banks 11. J. Angloma 12. D. Deschamps 13. A. Tarantini 14. A. Vidal

2Mufc0 2. P. Rossi 3. R. Rivellino 4. R. Koeman 5. Dunga 6. G. Zambrotta 7. A. Pirlo 8. E. Abidal 9. T. Müller 10. M. Neuer 11. HG Schwarzenbeck 12. S. Pluskal 13. A. Sanchez 14. A. Shearer

Pat Mustard 3. L. Thuram 4. M. Kempes 5. B. Lizarazu 6. P. Elkjaer 7. P. McGrath 8. S. Lerby 9. A. Ghiggia 10. J. Chilavert 11. L. Fernandez 12. J. Schiaffino 13. Jorginho 14. T. Hassler

Skizzo 2. Rivaldo 3. Ronaldinho 4. A. Cabrini 5. J. Kohler 6. T. Burgnich 7. M. Tardelli 8. G. Buffon 9. M. Senna 10. M. Olsen 11. Maicon 12. T. Zagorakis 13. H. Szymaniak 14. R. Milla

Onenil 3. R. Krol 6. W. van Hanegem 7. B. Laudrup 8. P. Vieira 9. E. Gerets 10. M. Overmars 11. D. Seaman 12. K. Poborský 13. P. Gascoigne 14. H. Myung-bo

Mazhar/Arbitrium 1. Jairzinho 3. Zico 4. D. Santos 5. Gérson 6. W. Schulz 7. D. Villa 8. M. Bossis 9. C. Puyol 10. Neymar 11. Gilmar 12. Denilson 13. Clodoaldo 14. L. Eyzaguirre

Joga Bonito 3. P. Falcao 4. B. Charlton 5. K. Rummenigge 6. B. Vogts 7. KH Förster 8. Z. Czibor 9. J. Klinsmann 10. 11. H. Schumacher 12. B. Conti 13. W. Overath 14. Careca

DownCast 1. J. Fontaine 2. R. Kopa 3. T. Henry 4. L. Blanc 5. G. Netzer 6. KH Schnellinger 7. Zito 8. J. L. Andrade 9. H. Rahn 10. F. Albert 11. L. Mazurkiewicz 12. M. Khurtsilava 13. A. Ancheta 14. R. Perfumo 15. Beckenbauer 16. P. Breitner

Tuppet 1. M. Garrincha 2. Romario 3. N. Santos 4. F. Puskas 5. J. Bozsik 6. V. R Andrade 7. J. Santamaria 8. M. Zagallo 9. J. Mascherano 10. A. Shesternyov 11. S. Maier 12. E. Francescoli 13. F. Redondo 14. R. Orsi 15. M. Platini 16. S. Kocsis

Moby 1. Xavi 2. G. Scirea 3. C. Alberto 4. L. Suárez Miramontes 5. G. Meazza 6. G. Lato 7. L. Monti 8. J. Stam 9. R. Rensenbrink 10. S. Marzolini 11. W. Zenga 12. D. Suker 13. P. Littbarski 14. R. Ferri 15. M. van Basten 16. G. Facchetti

@Raees @Invictus
 
cafu.jpg


International Peak Draft

Semi final teams:

Enigma 1. G. Müller 2. B. Moore 3. P. Maldini 4. Didi 5. H. Stoichkov 6. M. Amoros 7. Z. Boniek 8. C. Makélélé 9. S. Campbell 10. M. Ballack 11. U. Fillol 12. G. Hagi 13. R. Ayala 14. C. Ronaldo 15. Pelé 16. E. Figueroa 17. F. Beckenbauer

Gio/Theon 1. L. Matthäus 2. M. Sammer 3. Z. Zidane 4. R. Carlos 5. D. Džajić 6. B. Schweinsteiger 7. J. Zanetti 8. P. Schmeichel 9. C. Gamarra 10. C. Vieri 11. G. Buchwald 12. Leonidas 13. J. M. Moreno 14. T. Silva 15. L. Ronaldo 16. F. Cannavaro 17. Cruyff

Raees/Invictus 1. Eusébio 2. A. Brehme 3. M. Desailly 4. O. Varela 5. J. Tigana 6. G. Bergomi 7. P. Nedvěd 8. A. Robben 9. H. Chumpitaz 10. O. Kahn 11. L. Suárez 12. Zizinho 13. M. Kaltz 14. G. Sárosi 15. D. Maradona 16. F. Baresi 17. M. van Basten 18. Cafú

Annahnomoss 1. K. Hamrin 2. N. Liedholm 3. G. Nordahl 4. G. Gren 5. L. Skoglund 6. O. Bergmark 7. E. Nilsson 8. B. Gustavsson 9. S. Andersson 10. B. Rosengren 11. K. Svensson 12. P. Kock 13. K. Rosén 14. A. Simonsson 15. F. Rijkaard 16. V. Voronin 17. Kohler 18. Djalma Santos


Reminder: Please don't hesitate to leave your pick to somebody (Annah, GreenSmiley or somebody else) if you expect to be busy while your turn is coming up.

Players available for reinforcements:

EAP 3. L. Messi 4. J. Masopust 5. B. Schuster 6. U. Seeler 7. O. Ruggeri 8. F. Collovati 9. H.P. Briegel 10. N. Stiles 11. D. Zoff 12. D. Forlan 13. S. Busquets 14. D. Da Guia 15 J. Neeskens 16. R. Gullit

Sjor/Physio 3. A. Iniesta 4. L. Figo 5. P. Lahm 6. M. Coluna 7. J. Nasazzi 8. T. Cubillas 9. G. Batistuta 10. L. Yashin 11. N. Hidegkuti 12. Y. Zhirkov 13. A. Giresse 14. Julinho

Isotope 2. E. Davids 3. R. Baggio 5. D. Passarella 6. C. Gentile 7. A. Nesta 8. I. Netto 9. L. Júnior 10. G. Banks 11. J. Angloma 12. D. Deschamps 13. A. Tarantini 14. A. Vidal

2Mufc0 2. P. Rossi 3. R. Rivellino 4. R. Koeman 5. Dunga 6. G. Zambrotta 7. A. Pirlo 8. E. Abidal 9. T. Müller 10. M. Neuer 11. HG Schwarzenbeck 12. S. Pluskal 13. A. Sanchez 14. A. Shearer

Pat Mustard 3. L. Thuram 4. M. Kempes 5. B. Lizarazu 6. P. Elkjaer 7. P. McGrath 8. S. Lerby 9. A. Ghiggia 10. J. Chilavert 11. L. Fernandez 12. J. Schiaffino 13. Jorginho 14. T. Hassler

Skizzo 2. Rivaldo 3. Ronaldinho 4. A. Cabrini 5. J. Kohler 6. T. Burgnich 7. M. Tardelli 8. G. Buffon 9. M. Senna 10. M. Olsen 11. Maicon 12. T. Zagorakis 13. H. Szymaniak 14. R. Milla

Onenil 3. R. Krol 6. W. van Hanegem 7. B. Laudrup 8. P. Vieira 9. E. Gerets 10. M. Overmars 11. D. Seaman 12. K. Poborský 13. P. Gascoigne 14. H. Myung-bo

Mazhar/Arbitrium 1. Jairzinho 3. Zico 4. D. Santos 5. Gérson 6. W. Schulz 7. D. Villa 8. M. Bossis 9. C. Puyol 10. Neymar 11. Gilmar 12. Denilson 13. Clodoaldo 14. L. Eyzaguirre

Joga Bonito 3. P. Falcao 4. B. Charlton 5. K. Rummenigge 6. B. Vogts 7. KH Förster 8. Z. Czibor 9. J. Klinsmann 10. 11. H. Schumacher 12. B. Conti 13. W. Overath 14. Careca

DownCast 1. J. Fontaine 2. R. Kopa 3. T. Henry 4. L. Blanc 5. G. Netzer 6. KH Schnellinger 7. Zito 8. J. L. Andrade 9. H. Rahn 10. F. Albert 11. L. Mazurkiewicz 12. M. Khurtsilava 13. A. Ancheta 14. R. Perfumo 15. P. Breitner

Tuppet 1. M. Garrincha 2. Romario 3. N. Santos 4. F. Puskas 5. J. Bozsik 6. V. R Andrade 7. J. Santamaria 8. M. Zagallo 9. J. Mascherano 10. A. Shesternyov 11. S. Maier 12. E. Francescoli 13. F. Redondo 14. R. Orsi 15. M. Platini 16. S. Kocsis

Moby 1. Xavi 2. G. Scirea 3. C. Alberto 4. L. Suárez Miramontes 5. G. Meazza 6. G. Lato 7. L. Monti 8. J. Stam 9. R. Rensenbrink 10. S. Marzolini 11. W. Zenga 12. D. Suker 13. P. Littbarski 14. R. Ferri 16. G. Facchetti

@Gio @Theon
 
Complete teams for the Semi Final
International Peak Draft

Semi final teams:

Enigma 1. G. Müller 2. B. Moore 3. P. Maldini 4. Didi 5. H. Stoichkov 6. M. Amoros 7. Z. Boniek 8. C. Makélélé 9. S. Campbell 10. M. Ballack 11. U. Fillol 12. G. Hagi 13. R. Ayala 14. C. Ronaldo 15. Pelé 16. E. Figueroa 17. F. Beckenbauer
18. G. Facchetti
Gio/Theon 1. L. Matthäus 2. M. Sammer 3. Z. Zidane 4. R. Carlos 5. D. Džajić 6. B. Schweinsteiger 7. J. Zanetti 8. P. Schmeichel 9. C. Gamarra 10. C. Vieri 11. G. Buchwald 12. Leonidas 13. J. M. Moreno 14. T. Silva 15. L. Ronaldo 16. F. Cannavaro 17. Cruyff 18. L. Thuram

Raees/Invictus 1. Eusébio 2. A. Brehme 3. M. Desailly 4. O. Varela 5. J. Tigana 6. G. Bergomi 7. P. Nedvěd 8. A. Robben 9. H. Chumpitaz 10. O. Kahn 11. L. Suárez 12. Zizinho 13. M. Kaltz 14. G. Sárosi 15. D. Maradona 16. F. Baresi 17. M. van Basten 18. Cafú

Annahnomoss 1. K. Hamrin 2. N. Liedholm 3. G. Nordahl 4. G. Gren 5. L. Skoglund 6. O. Bergmark 7. E. Nilsson 8. B. Gustavsson 9. S. Andersson 10. B. Rosengren 11. K. Svensson 12. P. Kock 13. K. Rosén 14. A. Simonsson 15. F. Rijkaard 16. V. Voronin 17. Kohler 18. Djalma Santos


Reminder: Please don't hesitate to leave your pick to somebody (Annah, GreenSmiley or somebody else) if you expect to be busy while your turn is coming up.

Players available for reinforcements:

EAP 3. L. Messi 4. J. Masopust 5. B. Schuster 6. U. Seeler 7. O. Ruggeri 8. F. Collovati 9. H.P. Briegel 10. N. Stiles 11. D. Zoff 12. D. Forlan 13. S. Busquets 14. D. Da Guia 15 J. Neeskens 16. R. Gullit

Sjor/Physio 3. A. Iniesta 4. L. Figo 5. P. Lahm 6. M. Coluna 7. J. Nasazzi 8. T. Cubillas 9. G. Batistuta 10. L. Yashin 11. N. Hidegkuti 12. Y. Zhirkov 13. A. Giresse 14. Julinho

Isotope 2. E. Davids 3. R. Baggio 5. D. Passarella 6. C. Gentile 7. A. Nesta 8. I. Netto 9. L. Júnior 10. G. Banks 11. J. Angloma 12. D. Deschamps 13. A. Tarantini 14. A. Vidal

2Mufc0 2. P. Rossi 3. R. Rivellino 4. R. Koeman 5. Dunga 6. G. Zambrotta 7. A. Pirlo 8. E. Abidal 9. T. Müller 10. M. Neuer 11. HG Schwarzenbeck 12. S. Pluskal 13. A. Sanchez 14. A. Shearer

Pat Mustard 4. M. Kempes 5. B. Lizarazu 6. P. Elkjaer 7. P. McGrath 8. S. Lerby 9. A. Ghiggia 10. J. Chilavert 11. L. Fernandez 12. J. Schiaffino 13. Jorginho 14. T. Hassler

Skizzo 2. Rivaldo 3. Ronaldinho 4. A. Cabrini 5. 6. T. Burgnich 7. M. Tardelli 8. G. Buffon 9. M. Senna 10. M. Olsen 11. Maicon 12. T. Zagorakis 13. H. Szymaniak 14. R. Milla

Onenil 3. R. Krol 6. W. van Hanegem 7. B. Laudrup 8. P. Vieira 9. E. Gerets 10. M. Overmars 11. D. Seaman 12. K. Poborský 13. P. Gascoigne 14. H. Myung-bo

Mazhar/Arbitrium 1. Jairzinho 3. Zico 4. 5. Gérson 6. W. Schulz 7. D. Villa 8. M. Bossis 9. C. Puyol 10. Neymar 11. Gilmar 12. Denilson 13. Clodoaldo 14. L. Eyzaguirre

Joga Bonito 3. P. Falcao 4. B. Charlton 5. K. Rummenigge 6. B. Vogts 7. KH Förster 8. Z. Czibor 9. J. Klinsmann 10. 11. H. Schumacher 12. B. Conti 13. W. Overath 14. Careca

DownCast 1. J. Fontaine 2. R. Kopa 3. T. Henry 4. L. Blanc 5. G. Netzer 6. KH Schnellinger 7. Zito 8. J. L. Andrade 9. H. Rahn 10. F. Albert 11. L. Mazurkiewicz 12. M. Khurtsilava 13. A. Ancheta 14. R. Perfumo 15. P. Breitner

Tuppet 1. M. Garrincha 2. Romario 3. N. Santos 4. F. Puskas 5. J. Bozsik 6. V. R Andrade 7. J. Santamaria 8. M. Zagallo 9. J. Mascherano 10. A. Shesternyov 11. S. Maier 12. E. Francescoli 13. F. Redondo 14. R. Orsi 15. M. Platini 16. S. Kocsis

Moby 1. Xavi 2. G. Scirea 3. C. Alberto 4. L. Suárez Miramontes 5. G. Meazza 6. G. Lato 7. L. Monti 8. J. Stam 9. R. Rensenbrink 10. S. Marzolini 11. W. Zenga 12. D. Suker 13. P. Littbarski 14. R. Ferri
 
Enigma_87 said:
Hope you don't use him as a restricted RCB on the back of a wonderful tournament as a rampaging fUll back down the right.
Click to expand...
That's what I think he picked him for but that's a really good point. Can see him work there still of course but the highlight of his tournament was pretty much taking the game by the scruff of it's neck and doing what the bloody forwards couldn't.
 
Annahnomoss said:
I chose not to do exactly that for that reason.
Click to expand...
Moby said:
That's what I think he picked him for but that's a really good point. Can see him work there still of course but the highlight of his tournament was pretty much taking the game by the scruff of it's neck and doing what the bloody forwards couldn't.
Click to expand...
Yeah, not that he's not fluent in the RCB role and probably where I'd put him in an all time draft, but with that performance in 98 he was really great and deserves to be highlighted in this exact draft.
 
interesting last few picks there.

@Annahnomoss I thought you'd go with Djalma/Thuram and maybe Krol/Schnellinger instead of Kohler.

Thought Gio would go with another CB, but if putting Thuram as RCB - would you need to refer to the 2006 version?

and Enigma - wasn't expecting that at all but your side looks formidable.

​
 
Raees said:
Thought Gio would go with another CB, but if putting Thuram as RCB - would you need to refer to the 2006 version?
Click to expand...
Probably a better fit and he was really good in that tournament as well even if not as good as 1998, and did cover for Sagnol going forward a fair bit. Past his peak in his career tho and like Zizou it was pleasantly surprising to see him respond with those level of performances.

Anyway, this is their headache, let's just take this forward in the game thread.
 
Raees said:
interesting last few picks there.

@Annahnomoss I thought you'd go with Djalma/Thuram and maybe Krol/Schnellinger instead of Kohler.

Thought Gio would go with another CB, but if putting Thuram as RCB - would you need to refer to the 2006 version?

and Enigma - wasn't expecting that at all but your side looks formidable.
Click to expand...

Kohler was the wet dream from the start as not a lot of GOAT's had the necessary attributes to play under Raynors tactics. Erik Nilsson was a LCB known for his wrestling strength, aggressive tackles and aerial ability and the greatest ever for that job is Kohler. Capable of reading the game and intercepting/tackle aggressively to win the ball back before it has reached a man.
giphy.gif

But also utterly dominant in the air and capable of keeping the likes of van Basten and Rijkaard honest in that regard. As a stopper he stands out above the rest for his ability to cover out wide with his world class 1-on-1 game.

On the right I would have gone with Thuram if it was an all-time draft, but Djalma played in a WM formation in the 1954 World Cup and made team of the tournament. So it was too hard to resist the best defensive full back who was proven in the setup for Thuram who already is causing some drama.
 
Annahnomoss said:
Kohler was the wet dream from the start as not a lot of GOAT's had the necessary attributes to play under Raynors tactics. Erik Nilsson was a LCB known for his wrestling strength, aggressive tackles and aerial ability and the greatest ever for that job is Kohler. Capable of reading the game and intercepting/tackle aggressively to win the ball back before it has reached a man.
giphy.gif

But also utterly dominant in the air and capable of keeping the likes of van Basten and Rijkaard honest in that regard. As a stopper he stands out above the rest for his ability to cover out wide with his world class 1-on-1 game.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, wish you all the best in the semi's mate.. that is one helluva opponent you're up against.
 
Raees said:
Fair enough, wish you all the best in the semi's mate.. that is one helluva opponent you're up against.
Click to expand...

Cheers you too! Can't say I had a preference at this stage as all three of you look brutal in your own ways.
 
Raees said:
interesting last few picks there.

@Annahnomoss I thought you'd go with Djalma/Thuram and maybe Krol/Schnellinger instead of Kohler.

Thought Gio would go with another CB, but if putting Thuram as RCB - would you need to refer to the 2006 version?

and Enigma - wasn't expecting that at all but your side looks formidable.

​
Click to expand...

Well this time round I think I got your picks 100% in contrast to your opening pick for the QF. :D

I've revamped the team it was on the cards and close to what I really wanted from the off. Getting der Kaiser allowed me to create a great spine and brings balance in every line with some top players to boot, which allowed the other players to fall into place.

You guys have one helluva team(so does Gio) so the semi should be great.
 
Enigma_87 said:
Well this time round I think I got your picks 100% in contrast to your opening pick for the QF. :D

I've revamped the team it was on the cards and close to what I really wanted from the off. Getting der Kaiser allowed me to create a great spine and brings balance in every line with some top players to boot, which allowed the other players to fall into place.

You guys have one helluva team(so does Gio) so the semi should be great.
Click to expand...

Those early jabs hurt. :(
 
Enigma_87 said:
Hope you don't use him as a restricted RCB on the back of a wonderful tournament as a rampaging fUll back down the right.
Click to expand...
I had a similar thought - was his World Cup so exceptional because he got forward all the time and was consistently influential in the attacking third? Or were his performances so lauded because defensively he was completely rock solid? Mostly the latter it has to be said. Double against Croatia apart, he didn't advance all that much - particularly compared to the South Americans and the standards of the modern game.

France's strength was in the solidity of their back four and they were very selective around when they did overload the midfield from the back. And typically it was Lizarazu down the left who foraged forward most often because he was more natural going forward and was used to playing as a wing-back for his club (whereas Thuram was used to playing the RCB role for Parma). Through the middle Blanc played a fairly expansive game. And sometimes it was Desailly who hurtled on. Each of these moves inevitably required Thuram to tuck in to form a tight three. The width down the right was largely provided by Karembeu in front of Thuram, or by Guivarch pulling wide right, which he did a lot in that self-sacrificing role he didn't get a lot of credit for. Of course Thuram did get forward from time to time, particularly when the ball was on his flank, but I'd expect my RCB to open up the play regardless (because teams always tilt from their central axis).

Obviously it would be disingenuous to say he'll burst forward and score a double like he did against Croatia from a slightly more restricted position, but we certainly wouldn't make that claim. Ultimately the defining feature of his game throughout that tournament was not his attacking impact in the final third, but his defensive prowess that very much installed him as the greatest defensive right-back / right centre-back of all time.
 
Annahnomoss said:
Those early jabs hurt. :(
Click to expand...
nah, not referring to your team annah, far from it, just I enjoyed so far creating my side and Beckenbauer was really a cornerstone in this reinforcement round for me, hence couldn't risk someone else getting him, although I thought neither Gio or Raess will go for him.

I thought it was you that who will be lining up for him based on some of the comments in the game against Edgar :)

I've enjoyed your story and the team that you've created which is obviously great one and deserving to be in the final 4.
 
Enigma_87 said:
nah, not referring to your team annah, far from it, just I enjoyed so far creating my side and Beckenbauer was really a cornerstone in this reinforcement round for me, hence couldn't risk someone else getting him, although I thought neither Gio or Raess will go for him.

I thought it was you that who will be lining up for him based on some of the comments in the game against Edgar :)

I've enjoyed your story and the team that you've created which is obviously great one and deserving to be in the final 4.
Click to expand...

Was just a joke! :D You didn't have to worry about me picking Beckenbauer for the same reason I didn't pick Scirea. They'd change the entire dynamics of the side and make it something it wasn't or I'd have to field a restricted all-out defensive version of them which doesn't sit right either. He was my first choice for one of the left/right half spots though!
 
Gio said:
I had a similar thought - was his World Cup so exceptional because he got forward all the time and was consistently influential in the attacking third? Or were his performances so lauded because defensively he was completely rock solid? Mostly the latter it has to be said. Double against Croatia apart, he didn't advance all that much - particularly compared to the South Americans and the standards of the modern game.

France's strength was in the solidity of their back four and they were very selective around when they did overload the midfield from the back. And typically it was Lizarazu down the left who foraged forward most often because he was more natural going forward and was used to playing as a wing-back for his club (whereas Thuram was used to playing the RCB role for Parma). Through the middle Blanc played a fairly expansive game. And sometimes it was Desailly who hurtled on. Each of these moves inevitably required Thuram to tuck in to form a tight three. The width down the right was largely provided by Karembeu in front of Thuram, or by Guivarch pulling wide right, which he did a lot in that self-sacrificing role he didn't get a lot of credit for. Of course Thuram did get forward from time to time, particularly when the ball was on his flank, but I'd expect my RCB to open up the play regardless (because teams always tilt from their central axis).

Obviously it would be disingenuous to say he'll burst forward and score a double like he did against Croatia from a slightly more restricted position, but we certainly wouldn't make that claim. Ultimately the defining feature of his game throughout that tournament was not his attacking impact in the final third, but his defensive prowess that very much installed him as the greatest defensive right-back / right centre-back of all time.
Click to expand...

Think it was combination of both, not solely on his defensive contribution in that WC. I disagree on the notion he didn't advance all that much. Of course he wasn't a wing back in the South American terms, but it is natural since France played in a back 4 so he had to be a balanced full back and the team relied both in him supporting the attack and being solid at the back.

Karembeau only featured in about game in a half or something, remember he didn't feature all that much and France's solidity at the back was highlighted by Deschamps sitting in front of the defence and having industrious CM ahead of him also protecting the back 4.

Thought both him and Lizarazu were excellent going forward and providing that balance in the team with a lot of supporting cast and team players like Guivarch, Diomande, Boghossian and Karembeau all featuring at some stage.

Thuram was excellent going forward not only against Croatia, but also against Italy, Paraguay and even in the final from what I remember. It obviously needed him to tuck in at some phases during the games as Desailly and Blanc? were send off in the knockout stages.

Obviously being at the RCB is great fit for him in terms of peak level and that's his best position, but IMO that's more at club level or the 2006 WC as Raees mentioned. I thought you guys would go with Djalma from the off as he is technically brilliant and perfect fit for 3-5-2 RCB position.

But better leave it for the games as they are bound to be very interesting. :drool:
 
Annahnomoss said:
Was just a joke! :D You didn't have to worry about me picking Beckenbauer for the same reason I didn't pick Scirea. They'd change the entire dynamics of the side and make it something it wasn't or I'd have to field a restricted all-out defensive version of them which doesn't sit right either. He was my first choice for one of the left/right half spots though!
Click to expand...
You were the hardest to predict for me as I didn't know if you will try the straightforward approach(picking LCB and RCB) or do something completely different, so at least it's easier to predict your line up based on the reinforcement round :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.