...................................... TEAM INVICTUS ................................................................................... TEAM DOWNCAST ......................................
TEAM INVICTUS
FORMATION: WONKY 4-3-2-1
Nothing too elaborate in the tactics for this match either - we plan on playing a balanced game and will look to keep it tight and congested in the central areas whilst exploiting our advantage out wide.
1. PELÉ + GARRINCHA
An obvious point of emphasis given their exceptional historical success and personnel chemistry - and status as the two greatest players Brazil has ever produced:
South America - Player of the Century
1."Pelé" (Brazil) 220
4. Garrincha (Brazil) 142
The duo boasts an incredible and unmatched record as co-starters for Brazil: The national team has never lost a match with Garrincha and Pelé in the same team. There were 40 matches with 36 wins and four draws. Together, they scored 55 goals: Pelé, 44, and Garrincha, 11.
In terms of Pelé, his role here is in our view his peak one - the young, lightening quick and prolific striker who hit over a goal a game for Santos whilst beating the very best Europe and International football had to offer. He's the ideal point of attack for the team - a supreme dribbler with the technical ability to spearhead the attack with movement, intelligence, physicality and finishing ability.
As far as Garrincha goes, he is going to reprise his role as the winger who posed all sorts of troubles for opposition fullbacks, supplied the creative pipeline with an endless of amount goal-scoring opportunities (apart from scoring himself), and was elected to the World Team of the Century as he right sided attacker:
Yashin
Carlos Alberto Beckenbauer Moore Nilton
Platini di Stéfano Cruyff
Garrincha Pelé Maradona
Carlos Alberto Beckenbauer Moore Nilton
Platini di Stéfano Cruyff
Garrincha Pelé Maradona
2. TWO VS ONE SITUATIONS AND ADVANTAGE ON THE FLANKS
As in the previous game we feel that the opposition fullbacks are ultimately going to be outnumbered and outstretched against Garrincha/Brehme and Best/Facchetti - arguably the most rounded flanks you can build in an all-time draft.
Particularly if the opposition plays a narrow diamond/5-3-2 formation, or the Zona Mista where Cabrini is up against Garrincha and Brehme - there is going to be far too much space out wide and too much quality in the winger-wingback combination for the opposition to deal with defensively.
Containing the greatest and second greatest winger ever (in whatever order you'd like), arguably the greatest fullback ever in Facchetti, and arguably the most versatile fullback in Brehme - this is ultimately a nigh impossible task for just two players (for the most part, even with part-time help from others).
3. DI STÉFANO'S ALL-ENCOMPASSING INFLUENCE
The opposition might feature a numerical advantage in midfield if they go with a diamond, but even with four midfielders we don't see this translating into an advantageous position - primarily due to the presence of the most dominant midfielder of all time:
“Alfredo Di Stéfano was simultaneously, the anchor in defence, the playmaker in midfield, and the most dangerous marksman in attack. He was the entire orchestra.” — Helenio Herrera
“Who is this man? He takes the ball from the goalkeeper; he tells the full-backs what to do; wherever he is on the field he is in position to take the ball; you can see his influence on everything that is happening… I had never seen such a complete footballer.” — Sir Bobby Charlton
307 goals in 396 games for Real Madrid.
56 goals in the European Cup (a record that stood for about half a century until Raúl broke it).
5 Pichichi titles for highest scorer in La Liga through 6 seasons - 1954 to 1959.
Di Stéfano will be in his element here as the omnipresent midfield general - collecting the ball from deep and instigating attacks, feeding Garrincha and Best and Pelé, providing surging runs through the middle. A fantastic technical player and wonderful passer who allied ferocious determination and field coverage, with winning mentality and leadership. Behind him is is the wonderful platform of Redondo and Varela.
The former is a great match for The Don's technique, given his stature as the best Volante in South American football with Falcão. And the man completing the imperious trio is one of the most intimidating defensive midfielders of all time, and one of the most vaunted leaders in football history - who's tasked with keeping tabs on Maradona.
In our view, it is perfectly balanced and stylistically gets the most out of the collective talent on show.
4. DEFENSIVE FORTRESS LED BY A HOST OF GREAT FIELD GENERALS
The backline is stacked with quality and very difficult to improve upon - Facchetti and Baresi in particular have legitimate claims to being the best fullback and the best centre back of all time.
On the right, Andreas Brehme is that same caliber and remains one of only five fullbacks in history to be finish in the top three of the Ballon d'Or - as well as winning Player of the Year in a peak Serie A league featuring the likes of Maldini, Baresi, Rijkaard, Van Basten and co.
Brehme's role here should not be underestimated - he's absolutely capable of dominating an entire flank on his own and has a history of performing on the biggest occasions. As one of the best crossers of all time we fancy him to find plenty of space out wide against Cabrini and he's as likely as anyone to grab an assist in this match.
Rounding off the defense is the indomitable Daniel Passarella - World Cup winning Captain and widely regarded as the best central defender out of the Americas alongside Elías Figueroa. The definition of a complete footballer, Passarella was technically excellent and often players as a playmaker in possession - but he was also physically dominating, mentally intimidating and a crafty bugger to boot.
There's a fairly simple reason for starting Passarella over Nesta. We think their pure defensive skills are fairly comparable, with Nesta being slightly taller, but Passarella has that extra bit of determination, cynicism, and bloody-minded mentality to thwart the central attack. That added competitive drive can be useful in matchups like this, especially when Passarella is being asked to stay back as a defender, and is not going to contribute to the offense with his 1 in 3 record.
As a collective they've captained their teams to the World Cup, the European Championship, the European Cup - you name it, they've done it; and we can honestly say that each member of the backline was the best and most influential player for their defense in the World Cup final (1970, 1978, 1990, 1994), and not many would disagree with that assertion.
Overall, the defense is filled to the brim with technical quality, defensive ability and outstanding leadership. The opposition has some great offensive players, but it's likely to be centrally orientated and in Passarella/Baresi we think they are well placed to limit the space in that central area - particularly with Varela patrolling the area ahead of them.
At the heart of it all is a man who's widely recognized as probably the best pure defender in football history - catch a glimpse of Baresi vs Brazil in the World Cup Final:
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