Edgar Allan Pillow
Ero-Sennin
.......................................... TEAM HARMS ...................................................................................... TEAM ENIGMA ..........................................
TEAM HARMS
Player roles:
Marco van Basten is arguably the best target striker in the whole football history. A complete forward with mesmerizing technique, shooting ability, hold-up play and aerial prowess he is going to harass Enigma’s center backs, forcing them to seat deeper and creating space for Messi and Masopust to run into. He is also a fantastic goal threat on his own, obviously
Lionel Messi has a free role on the right. We all know how he plays, I won’t try to change his game which made him one of the best ever, he is by best and most important players and he’s got players all around him whose main task is to maximize Messi’s impact on this game
Dragan Džajić was known for his outstanding dribbling ability and, albeit scoring almost in every other game, he wasn’t a wide forward but rather an archetypical winger. He will provide width on my slightly more conservative left flank and his inch-perfect crosses on van Basten is one of the most obvious way to goal.
Josef Masopust in Suarez’ absence will be my standout midfielder. The classic half-back transforms very well into the modern box-to-box midfielder and his engine, defensive ability and tactical nous makes him perfect for this role, but the player I found myself comparing him with is Andres Iniesta. His preference of the left side, incisive runs with the ball (which were trademarked by the fans as the «Masopust’s slalom»), vision and passing ability, stepping up at the international stage (he won Ballon D’Or in 1962 after leading his team to the World Cup final) when it really matters, there are so many similarities between them. We all know how well Iniesta dovetailed with Messi - and imagine a more physical version of the Spaniard who is even going to cover for the left back if needed, although Iniesta was probably a slightly better passer than him.
Rainer Bonhof may not be the shiniest name around but you can’t build a team without a water-carriers, you need someone to do the dirty work for your stars. Bonhof won almost everything imaginable - WC, Euros, multiple Bundesligas (competing with Beckenbauer’s and Müller’s Bayern), UEFA Cup and EC runner-up. Hardworking all-rounder he could’ve played anywhere in defence and midfield, man-marking Müller as a center back for Borussia and assisting him after beating the Netherland’s left back in the World Cup final from the right side of midfield. With Messi having a free role on the right and Cafu bombing forward, Bonhof is arguably the most crucial tactical cog at that side - covering for Cafu as a right back (a role that he performed regularly), Schuster-esque runs to the right wing when Messi cuts inside (like the one that ended up at him assisting the winner in the WC final) or staying centrally and breaking up the opposition’s play. His football ability shouldn’t be underestimated - he made 4 assists in the semi-final and final of Euro 1976 and he possessed one of the hardest shots in history (Ray Clemence famously ducked Bonhof’s free kick because he was too afraid to catch the ball)
Zito should be known to any football fan out here, it was his introduction that proved to be the turning point in Brazil’s 1958 campaign and he got into the team of the tournament 4 years later, making him one of the few footballers to win two World Cups. He also captained Os Santásticos - Pele’s Santos what won a total of 25 titles between 1959 and 1974, playing 733 games for them. Pele, Didi and Garrincha stole the headlines, but the neat, pragmatic, impeccably organised wing-half was invariably instrumental in creating the platform from which the stars dazzled. He was also a tidy passer who believed that it isn’t the footballers who should do the running, but the ball - he continuously and accurately took the ball from the opposition and gave it to his more creative partners in genius simplicity. The closest comparison in modern football would be Busquets - but, like with the Masopust/Iniesta example, he was more dynamic and physical.
Paolo Maldini is considered by many the greatest defender that ever lived and while you can argue with that it’s impossible to find a more balanced one. He was impecable at everything, defending, attacking, pressing, organizing - and for my team he plays in his preferred left back position. I don’t have any specific instructions for him and you all know his game.
Héctor Chumpitaz is considered one of the greatest South American defenders of all time (he shares 35th place with Passarella in SA Player of the century list compiled by IFFHS). A brilliant defender without any significant weaknesses, he was an outstanding leader, organizer, read the game brilliantly, had a great leap that made up for his relatively short hight and also had great ball-playing skills which he showed quite a lot.
Fabio Cannavaro remains the only pure defender (not libero like Beckenbauer and Sammer) to win Ballon D’Or after the absolutely perfect performance at 2006 World Cup. One of the stand outs of his generation, he earned 136 caps for Italy, captaining them to the World Cup win, he was another complete defender, marrying brutal physicality with outstanding positioning and reading of the game. Another well-known player without any special instructions.
Cafu, like Maldini on the other flank, is probably the most complete right back in history - you can argue that Djalma or Thuram were marginally better defensively or that Alves was a slightly bigger attacking threat but Cafu had everything. His was a freak of nature, regaining ridiculous fitness level even at the late 30’s and single-handedly manning the whole flank. His particular set of skills is perfect for handling Cristiano Ronaldo - I would assume that Enigma will use Madrid’s version of him, that mainly relies on the pace, strength and positioning - and Cafu is one of the few players in history who can match Ronaldo’s physicality and pace. Some may argue that a defensive RCB like Thuram or Vogts would’ve been better but Cafu is also capable of capitalizing on Ronaldo’s unwillingness to track back, which is one of the few things that gives me clear advantage in a close game like this.
Sepp Maier belongs to the elite tier of keepers like Yashin, Zoff, Banks and Schmeichel who proved their level at the highest stages and very little separates them from each other. Fits my team like a glove and also adds something to the mentality of my side with his facetious approach and winner’s attitude.
Points of discussion:
- My right side is set-up perfectly to counter Enigma's weaknesses, while Messi's unpredictability (compared to the current C. Ronaldo) and Bonhof's superior tactical nous will create all sorts of problems for my opponent
- With van Basten pushing the Enigma's defensive line deeper there would be lots of space between the lines, considering that my opponent doesn't have an actual defensive midfielder - Tigana is more of a defensive box-to-box, Seedorf is a physically imposing playmaker and Xavi bases his game on other qualities. Messi and Masopust (to a lesser extent) will thrive there
- I believe that Enigma's best chance of scoring is by crossing the ball on Pele or Ronaldo. My center backs are exceptional in the air, but my main preventive strategy is going to be cutting of their service - neither Nedved nor N. Santos aren't at the Beckham/Kaltz/Dzajic level when we're talking about crosses (they have lots of other strengths though) and they are facing the best fullback pairing in the draft with the help of hardworking midfielders who are comfortable out wide in Masopust and Bonhof