Because I know everyone cares! (Football in General)

Name: Archimedes

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Product:	Football in General
Date:	09/04/01 (94 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Just look at all of them, it's enough to make saliva drip from your mouth.

Disadvantages: Look at those egos, they'd self-destruct in minutes!

Recently more and more people have been writing about their dream teams. Obviously I wouldn't want to miss out on the bandwagon, so aboard I jump!

Formation and tactics: A basic 3-5-2 with Giggs and Beckham moving up and down the flanks. Stam, Carlos and Nesta would stick tightly together along the back and allow Zidane to cover any runners to the left or right. Giggs and Beckham would also have to track back and watch any wingers. Both Raul and Figo are very attack minded and would be looking to break forward and supply themselves, each other or the two forwards with plenty of goals.

1. Fabien Barthez (Manchester United and France)
2. Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid and Brazil)
3. Alessandro Nesta (Lazio and Italy)
4. Luis Figo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
5. Raul (Real Madrid and Spain
6. Jaap Stam (Manchester United and Netherlands)
7. David Beckham (Manchester United and England
8. Rivaldo (Barcelona and Brazil)
9. Thierry Henry (Arsenal and France)
10. Zinedine Zidane (Juventus and France)
11. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United and Wales)

12. Edwin Van der Sar (Juventus and Netherlands)
13. Paolo Maldini (AC Milan and Italy)
14. Djalminha (Deportivo la Coruna and Brazil)
15. Andrei Shevchenko (AC Milan and Ukraine)
16. Gabriel Batistuta (AS Roma and Argentina)

Reasons for selection…
1. Fabien Barthez (Manchester United and France)
Could there be any doubt? The flamboyant Frenchmen would really spice up the back line and his unorthadox style would certainly be appreciated by the fans. At a time when everyone was saying Manchester United would never find a replacement for Peter Schmeichel he proved them wrong, at a time when everyone was calling France's defensive line suspect he proved them wrong and, hopefully, at a time when all the Dooyooers in the land are saying that Taffarel, Van der Sar or Seaman should be in the team he proved them wrong!

>2. Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid and Brazil)
In a team of flair, sophistication and skill, Roberto Carlos' blundering and powerful game would really set the elephant among the beavers (interesting phrase that). He possesses one of the most powerful shots in the game and has a great bender, no innuendo intended! He's sturdily built with a good turn of pace but he is slightly suspect on crosses.

3. Alessandro Nesta (Lazio and Italy)
Nesta is the great hope for the future of Italian football. Currently plying his trade in the heart of Lazio's now rock-solid defence, he is going to be the best in the world within years.

4. Luis Figo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
His wonder goal againt England in Euro 2000 proved to anyone who still doubted his wonderful credentials as a player, world's most valuable player and UEFA European Player of the Year. He has a great eye for goal and works well as an attacking midfielder or as an outright forward. His passing is also of a generally high standard.

5. Raul (Real Madrid and Spain
This guy is a great talent with a huge future ahead of him. A few years ago he seemed worried by the big games but a more regular place in the Real Madrid line-up has quashed any fears of that ilk. His lightning pace and frightening skills see off lesser defenders although his finishing is a little suspect.

6. Jaap Stam (Manchester United and Netherlands)
Probably the best defender in the world at the moment, and his price tag reflects it. His heading is second to none and commands the box beautifully. His partnership with Nesta will see off any of the more physically minded attackers.

7. David Beckham (Manchester United and England)
Could any dream team be complete without the squeeky voiced skinhead? No, he is a fantastic player with a great football brain. His precision and thinking is shown in his beautifully crafted free kicks and each and every cross he puts into the box
is pure gold. He may not be much of a runner and a dribbler but the rest of the team make up for that, tenfold.

8. Rivaldo (Barcelona and Brazil)
The World Player of the Year for 1999 seems to have lost his touch somewhat, and his undying support from the Brazilian fans, although this is probably due to his role as the scapegoat from the 1996 Olympics, which has followed through, even 5 years after the event. His skilful touches and technique will dazzle all but the most level-headed defenders, he would be welcome in anybody's, bar George Graham's, team.

9. Thierry Henry (Arsenal and France)
The blistering pace of the great Frenchmen will tear apart any defence. His insightful runs into the very heart of a team always produces goals, and plenty of them. He has a cool head and a great finish for the one-on-one situations.

10. Zinedine Zidane (Juventus and France)
The rock in midfield. Feet that match up to the marvellous Puska and Best. He is the complete package, he can shoot, pass, tackle, dribble and make coffee. I fail to see how any team can be complete without him.

11. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United and Wales)
He's been playing at the top level since he was 17 and has been one of the most influential players at Manchester United for the best part of a decade. He relationship with the other Old Trafford based players.

12. Edwin Van der Sar (Juventus and Netherlands)
He ran Fabian Barthez very close for the number one spot but he just lacks the catlike agility and reactions of the gallic wonder. He has the stature that Barthez lacks but still does not knock him off.

13. Paolo Maldini (AC Milan and Italy)
The mainstay of both the Italian and the AC Milan team for a decade, this former left back can fill in right along the back three, and will do so with great quality.

14. Djalminha (Deportivo la Coruna and Brazil)
Temperamental, inspired, breathtaking. All word
s that come nowhere near summing up Djalminha. In the end though his wild fluctuations in form are too much of a risk when you have other world class players at your disposal.

15. Andrei Shevchenko (AC Milan and Ukraine)
The man who sprung to the forefront of the world's attention in 1999 with a series of stunning displays in a Dynamo Kiev side, that he and Sergei Rebrov guided through to the final stages. He then moved to AC Milan in a multimillion pound deal, where he has not lived up to the potential he promised at Kiev but has still played very well. He would prove to be a fantastic substitute for any striker in the world.

16. Gabriel Batistuta (AS Roma and Argentina)
There has been no striker more consistently scoring goals on the worlds top stage than the gaunt Argentinean hero. A true mark of his value is the fact that the match between Fiorentina, his ex-club, and AS Roma, his current club, was nearly played behind closed doors because of the deep-felt feelings regarding his departure.

Well, wasn't that worth reading. Give me a crown! Well, it might have worked!

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