TEAM ANTOHAN
GOALKEEPER
JOSÉ LUIS CHILAVERT: Three times IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper and the only keeper to win South American Footballer of the Year. A free kick and penalty specialist, Chilavert scored 62 goals in his career and kept 30 clean sheets in 74 caps.
A formidable presence, Chilavert was also
the best keeper at France '98, managing three clean sheets in normal time out of four games (one goal in a 3-1 must-win, the other). An accomplished sweeper-keeper, his distribution was excellent and a powerful attacking outlet.
DEFENDERS
THIAGO SILVA: The best central defender of his generation, capable in both midfield and defence. Silva is described as having better physical attributes than Baresi by his own teammates, and is the best defender in the world, bar none.
No issues with the ball at his feet, Silva is not only a defender, but a footballer. He can
toy with attackers, using his immense technique to play out of danger. Quick, strong, and a
tremendous tackler. Silva is a defender who could defend in any system with any teammate. Baresi once called Silva his heir, praise that he has never given before to a defender, while Nesta says "there are no similar players to Silva, only worse ones".
MATTHIAS SAMMER: Known for his great composure on the ball as a sweeper and box-to-box midfielder, Matthias Sammer won the Ballon d'Or in 1996 (a rarity for a defender) after a brilliant European Championship where he was a cornerstone for Germany's victory.
CIRO FERRARA: Considered one of the best central defenders of his generation and a decade-long starter for Juventus. He became one of the most experienced and decorated players of the past two decades, winning eight Serie A championships, six of which were with Juventus, and two with Napoli.
A rock on which the great Juventus side of the 1990's was built, and equally comfortable as CB, RCB or RB. He was the heart of a backline that reached the pinnacle of European club footall and also made 49 appearances for Italy despite the dominance of the Milan contingent.
ERIC ABIDAL: Another hugely-decorated member of my squad with several Ligue 1 and La Liga titles, two CLs and a runner-up at the 2006 WC.
Known for his anticipation and reading of the game, Abidal is an elegant defender who is
extremely comfortable in possession and shone as a calming influence at the heart of Barca's defence. A left-flank version of Lilian Thuram, Abidal can play CB, LCB and LB.
MIDFIELDERS
STEFAN EFFENBERG: Der Tiger was your typical dominant angry German midfielder, but also possessed a sublime passing ability, both short and long (
do watch the clip). He captained Bayern through a very successful spell which, after heartache in 1999
, landed them the Champions League in 2001 and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year for him.
JOHAN NEESKENS: An instrumental part of the clockwork orange and hugely responsible for keeping it ticking. Cruyff was the face of total football, but Neeskens was the heart, lungs and legs of it. One of the finest midfielders of all-time, equally capable of scoring (18 goals in one season for Barca, Silver boot on 1974 WC), creating and defending. He was the inspiration for the Ajax's and Netherlands's pressing game, Bobby Haarms described him as being "like a kamikaze pilot", so fiercely he pursued his opponents in order to retrieve the ball.
A very adaptable player who would display aggression and doggedness in defence, and finesse on the ball. Neeskens was the most consistent performer at the 1974 WC getting both the Silver Boot and Ball.
PAVEL NEDVED: An all action midfield who pivots his game on versatility, energy and teamwork while being explosive in attack, the Czech Cannon had a vicious shot and was incredibly two footed, to an extent that he did not know what his stronger foot was. Playing as the left midfielder he won the Ballon D'or for taking Juventus to the final and would have arguably won it had he not been suspended.
ZBIGNIEW BONIEK: Platini's partner in crime. What a wonderful player. He could head, pass or shoot with both feet, had great technique and determination, and a big game player to boot. He was a tireless runner who could play anywhere across the frontline and buzzed across the opposition's back-line hunting for weakness. His unmatched engine and workrate allowed him to extend his career playing in midfield, as a sweeper and even as CB.
But his most remarkable asset was his incisive mazy running. Devastating stuff. Imagine Giggs keeping his early pace and dribbling skills until well after he had added the experience
Author of a delightful hat-trick against Belgium at the 1982 World Cup which shows what a nightmare he was, popping up in completely different places and finishing differently for each of them (long shot, header, one on one).
FORWARDS
RAÚL GONZÁLEZ BLANCO: He owns just about every goal-scoring record in Real Madrid history. Scored the most goals in Champions League history, won the UEFA Best Forward award three times - a record - two Pichichis, five Don Balón awards, six Liga titles and three CLs. One of the best CFs of his generation, a legend in every sense of the word. Really a ruthless finisher, converted even the smallest of opportunities. Loved a good vaselina and was
a great technician with the ball as well (the winning goal in the 1998 Intercontinental Cup).
SAF: "
Real [Madrid] buy these big players like Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo but I think the best player in the world is Raúl."
Zidane: "
Raúl is the best player in the world. That is all I can say."
CAÑIZARES: "
He's a nightmare. No one can improvise like him in the penalty box. Some strikers play just the one tune. They're the easiest for keepers to figure out. Raúl is unreadable."
ROBERTO BAGGIO: The
dribbling ability, technique and vision he possessed bordered on obscene and were outrageous to say the least. Baggio was an artist on the pitch and had the ruthless efficiency to go with it. He was equally at home racking up assists and slotting the ball in the net. In the 452 Serie A matches he played, he scored 205 goals and 118 assists which is exceptional for a Second Striker/Playmaker. Of the 205 goals 96 were decisive, meaning that they were either equalisers or match winners. He also scored the most goals for Italy in the World Cup as well and is the only Italian to score in 3 WCs.
Baggio dragged Italy to the 1994 final. He scored the last-minute equaliser against Nigeria in the last-16, the late quarter-final winner against Spain and then tore Bulgaria apart in the semi-finals. In terms of match-winning influence in latter-stage games, there have been very few players who have matched Baggio’s in that World Cup. It remains one of the competition’s great individual displays, pity about the peno.
Roberto Baggio is considered one of Italy's greatest and most beloved players of all time.
Gianni Brera, a famous Italian sports writer who had seen both the Italian Legends
Giuseppe Meazza and
Gianni Rivera play, stated that Baggio was the best and most talented Italian player he had ever seen.
CHRISTIAN VIERI: Bobo was a beast. A classic CF with bags of pace and built like a tank. He was unplayable at his peak dominating aerially and in one on one situations. A fearsome physical presence who remains the all-time top scorer of headed goals in Serie A. A ruthless finisher however the chances came to him, grabbing the Pichichi with 24 in 24 for Atletico and banging in 103 in 143 for Inter. Also awarded best player in Serie A and best Italian player twice, he got the WC Silver and Bronze boot on the back of a 9 in 9 World Cup record for a typically miserly Italy (unfortunately injured in 2006).