They did play the WM but then Gregory VII took charge of the team - and reshuffled the deck completely, grand reformer that he is.
National team all time XIs
- Thread starter Fergus' son
- Start date
They did play the WM but then Gregory VII took charge of the team - and reshuffled the deck completely, grand reformer that he is.
I'll separate in players I've witnessed and players I haven't.
XI of players I have not witnessed
Castilho
Nilton Santos
Domingos da Guia
Pereira
Carlos Alberto
Gerson
Falcao
Zico
Garrincha
Rivelino
Pele
XI of players I have witnessed
Taffarel
Roberto Carlos
Aldair
Silva
Cafu
Mauro Silva
Ze Roberto
Ronaldinho
Rivaldo
Ronaldo
Romario
XI of players I have not witnessed
Castilho
Nilton Santos
Domingos da Guia
Pereira
Carlos Alberto
Gerson
Falcao
Zico
Garrincha
Rivelino
Pele
XI of players I have witnessed
Taffarel
Roberto Carlos
Aldair
Silva
Cafu
Mauro Silva
Ze Roberto
Ronaldinho
Rivaldo
Ronaldo
Romario
Cech
Jankulovski - Ujfalusi - Repka - Grygera
Poborsky - Berger - Rosicky - Nedved
Smicer
Koller
My "all time" XI of Czech Republic, as for Czechoslovakia I can't really tell but there should be names like Masopust, Panenka, Viktor, Bican, Kvasnak. I still hope that one day before I die some czech player will once be good enough and play for Man Utd.. we are not really up to anything these days
Jankulovski - Ujfalusi - Repka - Grygera
Poborsky - Berger - Rosicky - Nedved
Smicer
Koller
My "all time" XI of Czech Republic, as for Czechoslovakia I can't really tell but there should be names like Masopust, Panenka, Viktor, Bican, Kvasnak. I still hope that one day before I die some czech player will once be good enough and play for Man Utd.. we are not really up to anything these days
England: 4-3-3
Greaves
Finney ------------------- Matthews
Edwards Charlton
Moore*(c)
A.Cole ----- Campbell Ferdinand ----- Armfield
Banks
Ashley Cole has been there or thereabouts the best LB's on the planet for the majority of his career, and at his peak, there was no winger that could make a mug of him. I think his dominance and also peak puts him up as the premier LB. System is eclectic so can easily be a 5 or 3 man backline and Edwards and Charlton can easily work as a 2-man midfield or part of a 3.
Finney ------------------- Matthews
Edwards Charlton
Moore*(c)
A.Cole ----- Campbell Ferdinand ----- Armfield
Banks
Ashley Cole has been there or thereabouts the best LB's on the planet for the majority of his career, and at his peak, there was no winger that could make a mug of him. I think his dominance and also peak puts him up as the premier LB. System is eclectic so can easily be a 5 or 3 man backline and Edwards and Charlton can easily work as a 2-man midfield or part of a 3.
Kahn?
Haha. Took the template from the Germany one.
Italy:
Vieiri
Baggio Meazza
Rivera/V.Mazzola Tardelli
Baresi*(c)
Fachetti ----- Cannavaro Nesta ----- Maldini
Buffon
Baggio Meazza
Rivera/V.Mazzola Tardelli
Baresi*(c)
Fachetti ----- Cannavaro Nesta ----- Maldini
Buffon
Maldini as a right back? Did he ever play there?
Being naturally right footed that's where he started playing for Milan like Cesare (also a RB initially then moved to CB when Milan first won the European Cup) in the 50s and 60s. Sacchi was the one to permanently shift Maldini to left back after Paolo took shifts at both RB and LB like De Sciglio now.
Being naturally right footed that's where he started playing for Milan like Cesare (also a RB initially then moved to CB when Milan first won the European Cup) in the 50s and 60s. Sacchi was the one to permanently shift Maldini to left back after Paolo took shifts at both RB and LB like De Sciglio now.
Wasn't aware of that story, cheers mate.
Scotland: 4-2-4
H. Gallacher
Liddell -------Dalglish------ Jinky/Patsy
Mackay(c) Souness/Bremner
Caldow ----- Grieg Hansen ----- McGrain
Simpson
Liddell -------Dalglish------ Jinky/Patsy
Mackay(c) Souness/Bremner
Caldow ----- Grieg Hansen ----- McGrain
Simpson
Don't know who to choose between Billy Bremner and Graeme Souness or Jimmy Johnstone and Patsy Gallacher. If it wasn't for McGrain, I'd go 3 at the back and have both Bremner and Souness in midfield ahead of Mackay in a 3-3-4.
@Gio, did you do a Scots xi?
@Gio, did you do a Scots xi?
Yes. It's fairly similar. The most notable omission being Dave Mackay who I'd look to crowbar in somewhere now. Simpson didn't get his first Scotland cap till 36 and, with a lack of challengers from yore, Goram makes it in. On reflection, Scotland had one of the best teams in the world during the 1930s and that era should be better represented than the typical XI confined to the post-war period.
I haven't seen the majority of them play so I won't try to make my own XI, though for diversity's sake I'll post the Romanian all time XI as voted by fans.
Duckadam
Petrescu Belodedici Ştefănescu Chivu
Sabău Dobrin Hagi
Lăcătuş Răducioiu Dumitrescu
Petrescu Belodedici Ştefănescu Chivu
Sabău Dobrin Hagi
Lăcătuş Răducioiu Dumitrescu
Northern Ireland Select
Pat Jennings
Jimmy Nicholl Aaron Hughes John McClelland Mal Donaghy
Danny Blanchflower Martin O'Neill
Keith Gillespie George Best Sammy McIlroy
David Healy
Pat Jennings
Jimmy Nicholl Aaron Hughes John McClelland Mal Donaghy
Danny Blanchflower Martin O'Neill
Keith Gillespie George Best Sammy McIlroy
David Healy
Morton, good choice.
Is Johnstone seen as #1 in Scotland, or does Patsy get his due?
I put Hughie Gallacher in as an homage to the era over Law.
It's crazy how poor your sides are now considering how strong your all-time xi.
Sorry Dave for cribbing your format. Not a bad team you've picked there and I agree with most of it. I'd put Neill and Hunter at the back and Hamilton in midfield. Healey vs Dougan was a tough call but I've gone for the Wolves man just because I always liked him.
Northern Ireland Select
Pat Jennings
Jimmy Nicholl Terry Neill Allan Hunter Mal Donaghy
Danny Blanchflower Martin O'Neill
Bryan Hamilton George Best Sammy McIlroy
Derek Dougan
Northern Ireland Select
Pat Jennings
Jimmy Nicholl Terry Neill Allan Hunter Mal Donaghy
Danny Blanchflower Martin O'Neill
Bryan Hamilton George Best Sammy McIlroy
Derek Dougan
I'd have stuck Rossi up front playing off Baggio and Meazza or, if not him, Schillaci.
I think Italy is the hardest one of these.
Argentina is very hard as well.
Argentina is very hard as well.
Spain All-time eleven
Casillas
Segarra-Hierrro-Puyol-Camacho
Suarez (DM)
Xavi-iniesta (CMs)
Villa (RWF) Gento (LWF)
Zarra (ST)
Perhaps I left out some players that are individually better but I picked a team that I think could work rather than just eleven names. Perhaps pirri could be in midfield and iniesta out on the right for example.
Casillas
Segarra-Hierrro-Puyol-Camacho
Suarez (DM)
Xavi-iniesta (CMs)
Villa (RWF) Gento (LWF)
Zarra (ST)
Perhaps I left out some players that are individually better but I picked a team that I think could work rather than just eleven names. Perhaps pirri could be in midfield and iniesta out on the right for example.
Last edited:
Picking the greatest Italian XI is damned nigh-on impossible, though Fortitude's selection is pretty close to it. Looking at it again, I might swap Dino Zoff for Buffon between the sticks as well. Shows you they calibre of players they've produced when Pirlo and Del Piero don't make the cut.
Italy's striking style usually revolves around that kind of slick and cunning striker Rossi was, but I really like the way Vieri was lethal from so many different scenarios: long range shots, headers, direct running. I think he gives those around him more freedom to play either off him and his bulldozing, or just from the kind of threat he was.
It's a tight call either way.
Italy's depth at the back is ridiculous. That an entirely new back 5 could be put in and have them hardly any worse off speaks volumes.
Holland has a really nice (maybe a bit too attacking) XI :
--------------------------Van der Sar-----------------------------
--------Koeman--------------Stam----------------Krol-------------
-----------------Rijkaard-----------------Neeskens----------------
--------------------------Van Hagenem----------------------------
---------Robben--------------Gullit-----------------Cruyff----------
---------------------------Van Basten-----------------------------
--------------------------Van der Sar-----------------------------
--------Koeman--------------Stam----------------Krol-------------
-----------------Rijkaard-----------------Neeskens----------------
--------------------------Van Hagenem----------------------------
---------Robben--------------Gullit-----------------Cruyff----------
---------------------------Van Basten-----------------------------
Another player from another era who could play that role exceptionally well was Luigi Riva who was far quicker than Vieri and with better close control. Also, I think Riva was more of a threat in the air. An honourable mention too for Roberto Boninsegna who, for my money, was a superb player. Just shows you how magnificent that Brazil team of 1970 was if they could stick 4 past that Italian defence.
Will personally have Davids alongside Rijkaard and move Neeskens in the place of Van Hanegem.
And for me there is no Italy all time XI without Gaetano Scirea.
As for the hardest one of all the nations, it is without a doubt Brazil.
And for me there is no Italy all time XI without Gaetano Scirea.
As for the hardest one of all the nations, it is without a doubt Brazil.
Wilkes, Rensenbrink, Van Nistelrooy, Bergkamp, Davids, De Boer, Rep.
No backup keeper.
Wilkes, Rensenbrink, Van Nistelrooy, Bergkamp, Davids, De Boer, Rep.
No backup keeper.
Don't need one. Stam was a one-man defence. He could fill in.
Will personally have Davids alongside Rijkaard and move Neeskens in the place of Van Hanegem.
And for me there is no Italy all time XI without Gaetano Scirea.
As for the hardest one of all the nations, it is without a doubt Brazil.
Indeed. He died far too soon but won the lot as a player.
Fritz is one of these legends you hardly have video from. But with all the hype and things like his "goal of the century" I would still include him in a "best of WC" squad.
@Balu ; would you do one? Love your posts here.
Happy to see that Arjen gets the love he deserves. Such a world beater.
Without his injuries he would have been a megastar before Bayern got him for a bargain(24) really.
France :
---------------------------------Henry------------------------------------
--------Zidane-------------------Kopa--------------------Platini-----------
----------------------Tigana-----------------Vieira------------------------
---Lizarazu--------------Blanc-------------Thuram---------------Amoros---
----------------------------------Bats-------------------------------------
Subs :
Fontaine (), Giresse, Ribery, Makelele, Rocheteau, Desailly, Papin.
---------------------------------Henry------------------------------------
--------Zidane-------------------Kopa--------------------Platini-----------
----------------------Tigana-----------------Vieira------------------------
---Lizarazu--------------Blanc-------------Thuram---------------Amoros---
----------------------------------Bats-------------------------------------
Subs :
Fontaine (
), Giresse, Ribery, Makelele, Rocheteau, Desailly, Papin.A German best of World Cup XI? I'd probably go with a 352
Seeler Müller
Walter
Brehme -- Breitner -- Matthäus -- Lahm
Schnellinger Beckenbauer Förster
Maier
But that's really really harsh on so many great players. You could make a case for Rahn, Klinsmann, Müller, Overath, Littbarski, Schweinsteiger, Kohler, Vogts, Kahn, Neuer somewhere in there and a few more that I forgot at the moment.Walter
Brehme -- Breitner -- Matthäus -- Lahm
Schnellinger Beckenbauer Förster
Maier
Thanks! How high do you rate Fritz? For me he is this large legend who reached a WC semi with 38 years and so on. Is he someone for you who could play with Germanys all time greats or is he slightly overrated due to poor opposition?
Difficult to say how good he really was. He missed his prime because of the war and the German league system before the Bundesliga is a bit of a mess, but he still was an incredible footballer in his thirties and without his injury, there's a good chance we would have won the semifinal against Sweden in '58. He's definitely a legend and an all time great in my book. What I've seen from him clearly points to him being an exceptional footballer and all the stories around him leading us to the World Cup win in '54 complete that picture. Not sure why anyone would argue with poor opposition, after all we had to beat one of the greatest nationalteams of all time in the World Cup final and the Austrian team we thrashed in the semifinals was also a brilliant side with Ocwirk and Happel in it.
Will personally have Davids alongside Rijkaard and move Neeskens in the place of Van Hanegem.
And for me there is no Italy all time XI without Gaetano Scirea.
As for the hardest one of all the nations, it is without a doubt Brazil.
I think Italy is the hardest because you can create two perfect defensive lines depending on if you want to use a Catenaccio defense or base it of the modern Milan line.
The modern Milan line is arguably better at the LB spot with Maldini over Facchetti and Baresi I'd say edges all other CB's. But then Bergomi/Burgnich are clearly the best RB options and the third best option is quite a lot worse and Bergomi and Burgnich are the definition of Catenaccio RB.
Facchetti-Gentile-Bergomi
------------Scirea-----------
VS
Maldini-Baresi-Nesta-Tassotti
Even removing their first two options we can create a brilliant one again;
Cabrini-Cannavaro-Ferrara-Vierchowod-Burgnich
And that is just using fairly modern players if we include the rest we can create another;
De Vecchi-Cervato-Foni-Rosetta
It is just crazy how many quality defenders they have produced in comparison to the rest of the worlds nations.
Maldini vs Facchetti is mighty tough. I love Maldini as much as anyone else but Faccetti's greatness in Italy is unparalleled as well. Check out the posts by anto in the all time draft when we had him and he dug some excellent stories about him and how much he is respected, not just as a footballer but in the same breath as few other national heroes. Given Italy's lack of similar quality at RB (Burgnich and Gentile were both CBs who played a later CBs more than actual fullbacks to be considered there - the traditional catenaccio setup with one wingback (Facchetti, Cabrini) and one lateral CB (Gentile, Burgnich)) which leaves the likes of Zambrotta and Tassotti, so better just stick one of Maldini or Facchetti over there as both are more than capable of it. So I would end up with a 5 man backline :
Maldini - Baresi - Scirea - Nesta - Facchetti
Maldini - Baresi - Scirea - Nesta - Facchetti
I asked this in the newbs. Who would win out of an English all time 11 V Rest of Britain and Ireland 11 ?