Team P-nut/Enigma
Formation: 5-3-2
Style - Counter attacking set up. Sit deep and compact and break quickly.
Philosophy/Ideology of the tactical set up:
We're setting in a counter attacking formation with two no-nonsense defenders as stoppers, Vasovic sweeping behind and pushing forward in possession boosting numbers in midfield. 2 fast wingbacks, who are also good crossers of the ball and that can overlap in attack and man their flanks. In attack we are going with similar style to Herrera's Inter and using the basics - vertical football at great speed, with direct passes to get to the opponent's box as quickly as possible.
In defence we're staying deep, soaking the pressure, win the ball back in their half and launch the ball forward with speed and directness. Xabi or Vasovic can start an attack from deep and look for space on the flanks for our quick full backs, or either Signori, Mazzola or Vieri up field. All players can move quickly in transition and are used to counter attacking style of football. Directness is the key.
Mazzola has Vieri and Signori - two excellent goalscorers with solid link up game and most of all great off the ball movement which will allow him to create space for himself or use his passing and vision to set them up.
Player roles:
GK: Thibaut Courtois - Solid in the air and excellent at starting the attacks if needed.
LWB: Zé Roberto - Stretch the attack, man his own flank moving vertically through the lines when in and off possession. Cross from deep and get the ball to the forwards.
RWB: Eric Gerets - Same as Ze Roberto from the other side.
Libero: Velibor Vasović - last line of defence, start attacks from deep, overload the midfield moving vertically.
LCB: Karlheinz Förster - One of the outstanding stoppers in the pool. Fluent in 5-3-2 system, excellent marker who is also a great overall defender
RCB: Carles Puyol - pacy and good on the ball can cover the right side when Gerets goes forward.
Deep playmaker: Xabi Alonso - look for openings both on the flank and up field, get the ball to the forwards as quickly as possible.
Box to Box: Mario Coluna - Energetic, complete midfielder who is also very solid defensively.
Central player: Sandro Mazzola - focal point of the attack. Getting the ball to him, playing in a free role and pressing the opposition defenders off the ball.
LWF - Giuseppe Signori - use his pace on counters, stretch the attack wide and more often on his favorite left position.
CF: Christian Vieri - target man, keep the opposition defence honest, make space for Mazzola, use his strength in aerial duels to bring the ball down.
Central player - Sandro Mazzola
Mazzola’s role in the Grande Inter team was particularly tasking. A wonderfully creative player who combined a glorious touch with dangerous pace and agility, Mazzola was relied upon to bring Suarez and Picchi’s sweeping balls under control and immediately feed Peiro or take a shot on goal. Inter’s system relied upon maximum efficiency up front, and it was largely down to Mazzola to turn hopeful passes into clear-cut opportunities. Mazzola was a brilliant dribbler and finisher often leading Inter goalscoring charts. The combination of notoriously hard to please and a strict disciplinarian - Herrara, and a perfectionist and hard worker - Mazzola, was always going to produce scintillating displays of football on the pitch. One where technique, flair and skill meet hard work, determination, tactics and will to win. Mazzola's role in defending was not to fall back on the pitch when not with ball, but to harry defenders get the ball back.
In this particular set up Vieri and Signori will compliment Mazzola's strengths but also allow him to play his natural game. Vieri with his strength up field can engage the central defencers in a way Peiro did, whilst allowing space for Mazzola to get the ball and run towards the goal or either look for Signori who will be hovering around the box or at the left wing. He will be overlapped by Gerets also allowing him to utilize the right flank and a 5-3-2 system will give more space for him to operate with two other clinical forwards around him.
Like Grande inter in this set up we have chosen two very efficient forwards in Vieri and Signori, fluent in counter attacking set up and very direct with their movement towards the goal.
The midfield is based on getting the ball as quickly as possible to Mazzola with two excellent passers in Xabi and Coluna, who also possess considerable work rate and can stay deep to break attacks.
The set up is aimed to get the best out of Mazzola in a way that it would highlight his dribbling and creative talent by being our focal attacking point and would allow Alonso, Coluna and Vasovic to find him into space while Signori and Vieri occupy the opposition defenders. In the same time we have very direct and fast players on both wings and up front who will give a lot of passing options for him to link up and combine in the attacking third.
Defence - Our defence is made up of 2 stoppers combined with a sweeper. A classic 5-3-2, composed of one of the best stoppers in history in Karlheinz Förster and Carles Puyol who slots perfectly into the RCB role. Both CB's will be tasked with no nonsense defending. When they win the ball they will simply shift it to either the sweeper in Vasović or play a simple ball to Alonso if it is on.
Vasović will be tasked with deciding when to step into midfield and when to drop off so that our defence always has the numbers to deal with any threat.
Both wing backs will provide the same roles of manning their flanks and providing outlets out wide. Ze Roberto will have slightly more license to tuck into midfield if the situation arises where he has to, however most of the time he will keep his width.
Defensive Line - Deep
Marking - Custom (1 stopper to pick up the striker, other sliding wide to help the wing back, sweeper following any strikers that drop deep)
Off the ball - Standing off
On the ball - Rapid transitions through sweeper (or Veron)
Midfield roles:
Coluna will be playing as a complete box to box midfielder. His energy passing range and strength will be a huge boost. Both Xabi Alonso and Coluna will be deeper when off the ball then either move vertically into space and shoot from distance, combine with Mazzola or get the ball to the attackers. Vasović in his libero role will be pushing up when needed to overload the midfield and keep things tight. When off the ball Zé Roberto can also shore the space by tucking in.
Our midfield has taken an upgrade this round with Xabi Alonso stepping in for Veron. He adds a degree of defensive stability that Veron was questioned for in the last round, whilst still providing the passing range he is most known for.
His addition should allow our tactics of sitting deep with quick counters to be even more effective and thus bringing out even more of Mazzola's key qualities.
A worthy addition to team P-Ma
Attack - Three pronged attack all designed to give Mazzola space to work and options to link up with. Vieri will occupy the centre backs whilst Signori keeps the pitch stretched to afford maximum room. Attack can expect to receive the ball quickly and will stay high up the pitch in order to gain ground on quick counter attacks.
Team Raaes/Invi
Philosophy/Ideology of Tactical set-up:
Harmonizing Law in a team that suits his abilities is tricky concept since he was a unique attacker at his peak - he would be wasted as a pure 9 because that wouldn't utilize the full extent of his comprehensive skillset, but he also wasn't a #10 in the classic sense of the term. Meanwhile, by limiting his industry off the ball, you could negate on of the most important facets of his game. His best would come as a hybrid forward/second striker where he has the remit to not only drop deeper to link up the play with trademark urgency, but also arrive in the box at will (since that was where he created the greatest statistical impact - scoring 46 goals in 1963/64). His role in the team is close to his pomp in the mid '60s where Law won the Ballon D'Or for his exploits with United. It's not a remake of the United team from that period since replication is no fun, but a tactical evolution based on a simplistic 442 that will grant him unlimited freedom to influence the play from his favorite inside left position:
Credit: @Joga Bonito for the match compilation of the 1963 FA Cup Final.
In our opinion, the overall rugged composition of the team in a counter-attacking setup will bring out the best in Law - he will recede to get involved in the thick of things - which highlights his scrappy nature, he will benefit from goalkicks to Ceulemans deflected at Law, he will thrive off the runs of Ceulemans and conversely make dummy runs himself (a trademark of his), he will have the room to use his quickness at the edge of penalty area to ghost his markers, he has the wingers to gel with his prodigious leap in Giggs and Conti and attacking fullbacks in Amoros and Briegel, and a midfield general in Pirri to bring the ball to him at the edge of the box. Plus, the aggressive mentality of the supporting cast is the perfect blend for a consummate team player like Law:
Defensive line - Medium.
Playing style - Fast, intense, direct counter-attacking football with an effort to get Law involved in every phase of the game - from defending to instigating counters to playmaking to scoring.
Creative Freedom - Unlimited freedom for Law. Ceuelemans will operate as a forward who will help create space for Law - his physical prowess, guile, intelligence in space and ability to drag markers will be the perfect complement to liberate Law. Pirri will reprise his peak Madrid role in midfield as a midfield general. And Chumpitaz + Amoros + Briegel will help transition from defense to attack at a brisk pace.
Closing down - Law will lead the charge in a 2 man attacker press with Ceulemans up top - this is perfect because he was a proactive worker off the ball and had an innate urge to dispossess the opposition. The rest of the team is also going to aggressively and high - trying to dislodge the ball from the opposition, and if it's in dangerous forward areas - countering on the break with urgency using Law.
Specialized roles - Law as a free-ranging forward, Ceulemans as a bettering ram type faux 9, and Pirri as a midfielder who will influence the game immediately behind Law.
Central Player:
Forward - Ceulemans
Has been addressed before - but just to highlight it again - Ceulemans was a long ranging battering ram of a forward/attacking midfielder who combined the strength of an ox with the technique of stereo-typically diminutive players and the determination of a woodpecker - will unsettle the opposition defense, fill in as the 9 when Law goes deep, provide directness, and draw markers off Law with his movement and positional versatility as a forward.
Wingers - Conti and Giggs
In our opinion, this is the perfect duo given the shape of the team. Giggs will stretch the flank outside of Law and scorch the left channel. His overpowering pace and dribbling ability is the perfect complement for Law, and his astounding ability to feed the forwards will aid Law to no end.
All touches vs Fiorentina in the 1999/2000 season in the Champions League:
On the other flank we have the 'Mayor of Rome' - the greatest Italian winger of all time, and one of the most complete offensive laterals in the history of the game - fast, a great passer and a phenomenal dribbler - who peaked as one of the highlights of the 1982 World Cup for eventual champions Italy.
All touches in the final of the 1982 World Cup vs West Germany where Conti delivered a man of the match performance at the biggest stage:
Midfield duo - Pirri + Stielike
Talismanic box-to-box dynamo in Pirri to influence the game behind Law and facilitate the movement of the ball:
He really was the soul of the famous Yé-yé Futbol team for Real Madrid, and epitomized the position.
Perfect midfield destroyer for the setup in Stielike with his ability to disrupt the play and aid the transition from defense with his timely passes - winning the Premio Don Balón for 4 consecutive seasons (the most by any foreign player):
Center Defensive Duo - Godín + Chumpitaz
Centerback: Godín - Complete central defender and the marshal of the best defense in the world for the last half-decade, though one who gets underrated by virtue of being a current player.
Sweeper: Chumpitaz - Probably the best South America has to offer after Figueroa and Passarella. El Capitán de America offers a potent mix of technique and ball-playing ability, coverage on both sides of the pitch - or vertically, leadership, and organisation ability on the field at the position. The perfect player in this pool to initiate transition from central defense.
Together they form a nigh impenetrable wall - which will allow us to soak and counter with relative ease.
Attacking Fullbacks: Briegel + Amoros
In the absence of the likes of Facchetti, Cafú, Brehme - this is the cream of the crop in the pool for the position in terms of proven ability to dominate the flank, and excelling in all phases of the game to round off the complete and aggressive nature of the team.
Briegel was a machine on the left for West Germany. His role here is very important because with Giggs in front of him stretching the flank - Briegel will have the freedom to attack the inside channel and could be a nightmare to defend given his brute physicality and athleticism. Let's put it this way - if you take Denis Iwin and drown him in Chernobyl waste, you get The Hulk - Steamroller from Palatinate.
Amoros is in his elements - was inspired on the right hand side of the pitch for Carré Magique - even winning the Onze d'Argent behind Maradona in 1986. We were tempted to use Burgnich as the deep anchor behind Conti, but Bruno also liked to drift inwards or drop deep - and had spectacular defensive workrate - that will allow Amoros to pour forwards using precise runs and aim at Law in the box.
Goalkeeper: Jürgen Croy - usually, not many pay attention to keepers, but Croy fits the setup perfectly given his excellent command of the penalty area, first-rate ball-handling skills, competence in the air and ability to quickly release it to start counters. Needs to be picked more often in drafts - some reckon he wasn't far from Zoff and Maier at his peak.
Formation: 5-3-2
Style - Counter attacking set up. Sit deep and compact and break quickly.
Philosophy/Ideology of the tactical set up:
We're setting in a counter attacking formation with two no-nonsense defenders as stoppers, Vasovic sweeping behind and pushing forward in possession boosting numbers in midfield. 2 fast wingbacks, who are also good crossers of the ball and that can overlap in attack and man their flanks. In attack we are going with similar style to Herrera's Inter and using the basics - vertical football at great speed, with direct passes to get to the opponent's box as quickly as possible.
In defence we're staying deep, soaking the pressure, win the ball back in their half and launch the ball forward with speed and directness. Xabi or Vasovic can start an attack from deep and look for space on the flanks for our quick full backs, or either Signori, Mazzola or Vieri up field. All players can move quickly in transition and are used to counter attacking style of football. Directness is the key.
Mazzola has Vieri and Signori - two excellent goalscorers with solid link up game and most of all great off the ball movement which will allow him to create space for himself or use his passing and vision to set them up.
Player roles:
GK: Thibaut Courtois - Solid in the air and excellent at starting the attacks if needed.
LWB: Zé Roberto - Stretch the attack, man his own flank moving vertically through the lines when in and off possession. Cross from deep and get the ball to the forwards.
RWB: Eric Gerets - Same as Ze Roberto from the other side.
Libero: Velibor Vasović - last line of defence, start attacks from deep, overload the midfield moving vertically.
LCB: Karlheinz Förster - One of the outstanding stoppers in the pool. Fluent in 5-3-2 system, excellent marker who is also a great overall defender
RCB: Carles Puyol - pacy and good on the ball can cover the right side when Gerets goes forward.
Deep playmaker: Xabi Alonso - look for openings both on the flank and up field, get the ball to the forwards as quickly as possible.
Box to Box: Mario Coluna - Energetic, complete midfielder who is also very solid defensively.
Central player: Sandro Mazzola - focal point of the attack. Getting the ball to him, playing in a free role and pressing the opposition defenders off the ball.
LWF - Giuseppe Signori - use his pace on counters, stretch the attack wide and more often on his favorite left position.
CF: Christian Vieri - target man, keep the opposition defence honest, make space for Mazzola, use his strength in aerial duels to bring the ball down.
Central player - Sandro Mazzola
Mazzola’s role in the Grande Inter team was particularly tasking. A wonderfully creative player who combined a glorious touch with dangerous pace and agility, Mazzola was relied upon to bring Suarez and Picchi’s sweeping balls under control and immediately feed Peiro or take a shot on goal. Inter’s system relied upon maximum efficiency up front, and it was largely down to Mazzola to turn hopeful passes into clear-cut opportunities. Mazzola was a brilliant dribbler and finisher often leading Inter goalscoring charts. The combination of notoriously hard to please and a strict disciplinarian - Herrara, and a perfectionist and hard worker - Mazzola, was always going to produce scintillating displays of football on the pitch. One where technique, flair and skill meet hard work, determination, tactics and will to win. Mazzola's role in defending was not to fall back on the pitch when not with ball, but to harry defenders get the ball back.
In this particular set up Vieri and Signori will compliment Mazzola's strengths but also allow him to play his natural game. Vieri with his strength up field can engage the central defencers in a way Peiro did, whilst allowing space for Mazzola to get the ball and run towards the goal or either look for Signori who will be hovering around the box or at the left wing. He will be overlapped by Gerets also allowing him to utilize the right flank and a 5-3-2 system will give more space for him to operate with two other clinical forwards around him.
Like Grande inter in this set up we have chosen two very efficient forwards in Vieri and Signori, fluent in counter attacking set up and very direct with their movement towards the goal.
The midfield is based on getting the ball as quickly as possible to Mazzola with two excellent passers in Xabi and Coluna, who also possess considerable work rate and can stay deep to break attacks.
The set up is aimed to get the best out of Mazzola in a way that it would highlight his dribbling and creative talent by being our focal attacking point and would allow Alonso, Coluna and Vasovic to find him into space while Signori and Vieri occupy the opposition defenders. In the same time we have very direct and fast players on both wings and up front who will give a lot of passing options for him to link up and combine in the attacking third.
Defence - Our defence is made up of 2 stoppers combined with a sweeper. A classic 5-3-2, composed of one of the best stoppers in history in Karlheinz Förster and Carles Puyol who slots perfectly into the RCB role. Both CB's will be tasked with no nonsense defending. When they win the ball they will simply shift it to either the sweeper in Vasović or play a simple ball to Alonso if it is on.
Vasović will be tasked with deciding when to step into midfield and when to drop off so that our defence always has the numbers to deal with any threat.
Both wing backs will provide the same roles of manning their flanks and providing outlets out wide. Ze Roberto will have slightly more license to tuck into midfield if the situation arises where he has to, however most of the time he will keep his width.
Defensive Line - Deep
Marking - Custom (1 stopper to pick up the striker, other sliding wide to help the wing back, sweeper following any strikers that drop deep)
Off the ball - Standing off
On the ball - Rapid transitions through sweeper (or Veron)
Midfield roles:
Coluna will be playing as a complete box to box midfielder. His energy passing range and strength will be a huge boost. Both Xabi Alonso and Coluna will be deeper when off the ball then either move vertically into space and shoot from distance, combine with Mazzola or get the ball to the attackers. Vasović in his libero role will be pushing up when needed to overload the midfield and keep things tight. When off the ball Zé Roberto can also shore the space by tucking in.
Our midfield has taken an upgrade this round with Xabi Alonso stepping in for Veron. He adds a degree of defensive stability that Veron was questioned for in the last round, whilst still providing the passing range he is most known for.
His addition should allow our tactics of sitting deep with quick counters to be even more effective and thus bringing out even more of Mazzola's key qualities.
A worthy addition to team P-Ma
Attack - Three pronged attack all designed to give Mazzola space to work and options to link up with. Vieri will occupy the centre backs whilst Signori keeps the pitch stretched to afford maximum room. Attack can expect to receive the ball quickly and will stay high up the pitch in order to gain ground on quick counter attacks.
Team Raaes/Invi
Philosophy/Ideology of Tactical set-up:
Harmonizing Law in a team that suits his abilities is tricky concept since he was a unique attacker at his peak - he would be wasted as a pure 9 because that wouldn't utilize the full extent of his comprehensive skillset, but he also wasn't a #10 in the classic sense of the term. Meanwhile, by limiting his industry off the ball, you could negate on of the most important facets of his game. His best would come as a hybrid forward/second striker where he has the remit to not only drop deeper to link up the play with trademark urgency, but also arrive in the box at will (since that was where he created the greatest statistical impact - scoring 46 goals in 1963/64). His role in the team is close to his pomp in the mid '60s where Law won the Ballon D'Or for his exploits with United. It's not a remake of the United team from that period since replication is no fun, but a tactical evolution based on a simplistic 442 that will grant him unlimited freedom to influence the play from his favorite inside left position:
Credit: @Joga Bonito for the match compilation of the 1963 FA Cup Final.
In our opinion, the overall rugged composition of the team in a counter-attacking setup will bring out the best in Law - he will recede to get involved in the thick of things - which highlights his scrappy nature, he will benefit from goalkicks to Ceulemans deflected at Law, he will thrive off the runs of Ceulemans and conversely make dummy runs himself (a trademark of his), he will have the room to use his quickness at the edge of penalty area to ghost his markers, he has the wingers to gel with his prodigious leap in Giggs and Conti and attacking fullbacks in Amoros and Briegel, and a midfield general in Pirri to bring the ball to him at the edge of the box. Plus, the aggressive mentality of the supporting cast is the perfect blend for a consummate team player like Law:
Defensive line - Medium.
Playing style - Fast, intense, direct counter-attacking football with an effort to get Law involved in every phase of the game - from defending to instigating counters to playmaking to scoring.
Creative Freedom - Unlimited freedom for Law. Ceuelemans will operate as a forward who will help create space for Law - his physical prowess, guile, intelligence in space and ability to drag markers will be the perfect complement to liberate Law. Pirri will reprise his peak Madrid role in midfield as a midfield general. And Chumpitaz + Amoros + Briegel will help transition from defense to attack at a brisk pace.
Closing down - Law will lead the charge in a 2 man attacker press with Ceulemans up top - this is perfect because he was a proactive worker off the ball and had an innate urge to dispossess the opposition. The rest of the team is also going to aggressively and high - trying to dislodge the ball from the opposition, and if it's in dangerous forward areas - countering on the break with urgency using Law.
Specialized roles - Law as a free-ranging forward, Ceulemans as a bettering ram type faux 9, and Pirri as a midfielder who will influence the game immediately behind Law.
Central Player:
Here Law is in his elements as a forward, and instead of using a standard 9 - we're going to use Ceulemans physique and positional intelligence to continuously bring Law into the game.
Forward - Ceulemans
Has been addressed before - but just to highlight it again - Ceulemans was a long ranging battering ram of a forward/attacking midfielder who combined the strength of an ox with the technique of stereo-typically diminutive players and the determination of a woodpecker - will unsettle the opposition defense, fill in as the 9 when Law goes deep, provide directness, and draw markers off Law with his movement and positional versatility as a forward.
Wingers - Conti and Giggs
In our opinion, this is the perfect duo given the shape of the team. Giggs will stretch the flank outside of Law and scorch the left channel. His overpowering pace and dribbling ability is the perfect complement for Law, and his astounding ability to feed the forwards will aid Law to no end.
All touches vs Fiorentina in the 1999/2000 season in the Champions League:
On the other flank we have the 'Mayor of Rome' - the greatest Italian winger of all time, and one of the most complete offensive laterals in the history of the game - fast, a great passer and a phenomenal dribbler - who peaked as one of the highlights of the 1982 World Cup for eventual champions Italy.
All touches in the final of the 1982 World Cup vs West Germany where Conti delivered a man of the match performance at the biggest stage:
Midfield duo - Pirri + Stielike
Talismanic box-to-box dynamo in Pirri to influence the game behind Law and facilitate the movement of the ball:
If there was a predecessor to Beckenbauer, I'm pretty sure he was born in a small town called Ceuta... his name was Jose Martinez, also known as Pirri.
He could be in the back of the field, and in a matter of seconds, he could be scoring a goal, specially thanks to his superb stamina. He made his debut in 1964, as Ferenc Puskás sub and from that day on, he'd be a leader inside Real's structure, a true captain.
His rather insignificant physique was a really tricky image to hide with the ferocious ways he was covering his area, a human wall protecting his team's fortress, although his main asset was his ability to join his team's attack so quick and effectively, without leaving his duties as the defensive reference he was.
He played with his heart for the White Team. Once, in a final against Chelsea with his arm on a sling, due to an arm injury, or even with his jaw broken, this proves his amazing tolerance to injuries of all kind. He stayed in Madrid for 16 years scoring the amazing (almost ridiculous for a defensive player) amount of 170 goals in 561 games.
In Real he stayed from the 1964-1965 to the 1979–1980 season, in which he won 1 European Cup, 10 League titles, 3 Copa Generalísimo and 1 Copa del Rey.
With NT, he was capped 41 times, making his debut against no less than Argentina in England 1966. Spain lost the game, but a 21 year old Pirri was the only one that could score against the South American giants. He also played in 1978 finals, when already aged 33.
He could be in the back of the field, and in a matter of seconds, he could be scoring a goal, specially thanks to his superb stamina. He made his debut in 1964, as Ferenc Puskás sub and from that day on, he'd be a leader inside Real's structure, a true captain.
His rather insignificant physique was a really tricky image to hide with the ferocious ways he was covering his area, a human wall protecting his team's fortress, although his main asset was his ability to join his team's attack so quick and effectively, without leaving his duties as the defensive reference he was.
He played with his heart for the White Team. Once, in a final against Chelsea with his arm on a sling, due to an arm injury, or even with his jaw broken, this proves his amazing tolerance to injuries of all kind. He stayed in Madrid for 16 years scoring the amazing (almost ridiculous for a defensive player) amount of 170 goals in 561 games.
In Real he stayed from the 1964-1965 to the 1979–1980 season, in which he won 1 European Cup, 10 League titles, 3 Copa Generalísimo and 1 Copa del Rey.
With NT, he was capped 41 times, making his debut against no less than Argentina in England 1966. Spain lost the game, but a 21 year old Pirri was the only one that could score against the South American giants. He also played in 1978 finals, when already aged 33.
He really was the soul of the famous Yé-yé Futbol team for Real Madrid, and epitomized the position.
Perfect midfield destroyer for the setup in Stielike with his ability to disrupt the play and aid the transition from defense with his timely passes - winning the Premio Don Balón for 4 consecutive seasons (the most by any foreign player):
Center Defensive Duo - Godín + Chumpitaz
Centerback: Godín - Complete central defender and the marshal of the best defense in the world for the last half-decade, though one who gets underrated by virtue of being a current player.
Godín is perfect for the scheme because Atlético employ a very similar 442 setup and he has a phenomenal right-back alongside him.
Sweeper: Chumpitaz - Probably the best South America has to offer after Figueroa and Passarella. El Capitán de America offers a potent mix of technique and ball-playing ability, coverage on both sides of the pitch - or vertically, leadership, and organisation ability on the field at the position. The perfect player in this pool to initiate transition from central defense.
Together they form a nigh impenetrable wall - which will allow us to soak and counter with relative ease.
Attacking Fullbacks: Briegel + Amoros
In the absence of the likes of Facchetti, Cafú, Brehme - this is the cream of the crop in the pool for the position in terms of proven ability to dominate the flank, and excelling in all phases of the game to round off the complete and aggressive nature of the team.
Briegel was a machine on the left for West Germany. His role here is very important because with Giggs in front of him stretching the flank - Briegel will have the freedom to attack the inside channel and could be a nightmare to defend given his brute physicality and athleticism. Let's put it this way - if you take Denis Iwin and drown him in Chernobyl waste, you get The Hulk - Steamroller from Palatinate.
Amoros is in his elements - was inspired on the right hand side of the pitch for Carré Magique - even winning the Onze d'Argent behind Maradona in 1986. We were tempted to use Burgnich as the deep anchor behind Conti, but Bruno also liked to drift inwards or drop deep - and had spectacular defensive workrate - that will allow Amoros to pour forwards using precise runs and aim at Law in the box.
Goalkeeper: Jürgen Croy - usually, not many pay attention to keepers, but Croy fits the setup perfectly given his excellent command of the penalty area, first-rate ball-handling skills, competence in the air and ability to quickly release it to start counters. Needs to be picked more often in drafts - some reckon he wasn't far from Zoff and Maier at his peak.
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I like the highlight on Mazzola
