Team idmanager Tactics
Player profiles:
Thomas N'Kono (1982) : Arguably the greatest goalkeeper Africa ever produced. African soccer had its first real break-through on the world stage in 1982. Cameroon held Peru, eventual winners Italy and semifinalists Poland to draws in the first round group. They only let in one goal, a lucky header by Italian forward Graziani, but it was enough to send them home because Italy had 2-2 in goals compared to Cameroon's 1-1. Thomas N'Kono was the main reason to their impressive defensive record. He showed goalkeeping at its finest and was nominated as one of the best goalkeepers in the tournament.
Alberto Tarantini (1978) : Part of the world cup winning Argentine team of 1978 and selected in the all stars team of the tournament. Played the role of a defensive LB alongside Passarella to great effect often covering for the CB.
Bobby Moore (1966) : World Cup winning captain of England in 1966 and one of the greatest defenders of all time. Had an immense tournament and was the best defender in it, along with assiting 2 goals in the final. Part of the all stars team of the tournament
Jose Nasazzi (1930) : World Cup winning captain of Uruguay in 1930 and one of the greatest defenders of all time. Selected as the best player of 1930 World cup and in the all stars team of the tournament.
Philip Lahm (2010): World cup winning captain in 2014 but had a great 2010 tournament as well.Lost to Spain in the semis but had a superb world cup, getting selected in the all stars team of the tournament at the end.
Luis Monti (1934) : Consecutive world winner in 1930 and 1934 and selected in the team of the tournament in both editions, albeit from different countries. Considered one of the greatest DMs of all time.
Josef Masopust (1962) : Greatest Czech footballer of all time. Captained the Czechoslovakia team in 1962 and lead them to the final losing only to Brazil, while still scoring a goal in the final. Had a spectacular world cup and won the Ballon Dor in 1962 for his WC performances. Was selected in the team of the tournament as well.
Raymond Kopa (1958) : The French attacking playmaker performed outstandingly in the 1958 and was one of the players of the tournament. Scored three goals and assisted 9 along the way. Assisted most of Just Fontaine's 13 goals in the WC. Selected in the team of the tournament and won the Ballon D'or in 1958 for his world cup performances.
Arjen Robben (2014) : The Dutch winger had one hell of a tournament smashing teams along the way with his pace and dribbling. Ran at them from all directions, be it from the left, right or centre. Selected in the team of the tournament and easily in the top 3 performers of that WC.
Jairzinho (1970) : The World Cup Hurricane won the 1970 WC scoring in all games along the way in one of the greatest teams of all time. He is one of the only 3 players in history to score in all games of a WC. Selected in the team of the tournament.
Gyorgy Sarosi (1938) : One of the greatest forwards of all time. A complete footballer. Had a brilliant 1938 WC only to lose the final to Italy while still scoring in the final. Like Jairzinho, he scored in all games of the 1938 WC as well and was selected in the team of the tournament.
Tactics:
The defense is marshalled by probably the best CB partnership of the draft in the WC context. Two captains who lead from the front in winning it for their countries.
Moore-Nasazzi form the classic sweeper-stopper partnership blocking everything in the way. Moore was brilliant at starting attacks from the back and he would be playing that role here as well. Alongside Moore on the left is
Tarantini, who is well verse with playing such a role with Passarella. Tarantini will be playing the role of a defensive left back. And at right back is one of the most balanced full backs of all time in
Philip Lahm, who was equally good at attacking and defending. He would be mthe more ambitious of the full backs.
In the midfield we have
Luis Monti to play the role of the destroyer/DM to cut any opposition attacks through the centre. Alongside him would be the box to box engine of
Masopust who again was one of the few ones in history who was brilliant with and without the ball.
Ahead of them is
Raymond Kopa as the primary playmaker of the team, a role he knows all about. Kopa and Masopust especially fit perfectly with each other with one being devastating from the right central channels while the other bombarding from the left. Would be tough for the opposition pivots to get a hold of them both together.
One the wings we have
Jairzinho and Robben. Both super fast and great dribblers, capable of both creating and scoring. Capable of creating from the flanks or cutting in at will. While Robben is predominantly a RWF, in the 2014 world cup, he didn't have a dedicated position and played around Van Persie as and how the game went along. But the important thing being he was amazing from everywhere, be the left, right and centre, creating, shooting and scoring from all directions. The 2014 edition of him should be equally brilliant as a LWF.
And the attack is built around creating chances for
Sarosi, a complete forward who was as prolific as they get.
The team is full of goals with two players scoring in all games of the WC, while others around them have scored and created plenty as well.
The defensive doesn't have any easy routes to goals with all 4 defenders and the defensive shields from the MF having great tournament in the same roles.
The defensive core of the team is so strong and balanced and hence the team would build from the back.
The team would look to transition quickly from defense to attack and try to get the ball quickly to the wingers/playmakers.
With so many great passers in the team in the form of Moore/Monti/Masopust/Lahm/Kopa, the transition should be seamless and then there is enough fire power to kill the opposition upfront.
And of course, the USP of the team, all 11 players are from 11 different countries