| Product: |
Football in General |
| Date: |
20/04/01 (18 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: the quality in the team
Disadvantages: the had choice's that had to be made
I have noticed around, that there is a lot of disagreement between everyone, when it comes to naming their best eleven for a world side. I have decided to share mine with you all, I am sure there will be many people who will disagree with me, but I would be happy with comments back on what you think of it. I have chosen to use a 4-4-2 formation as I feel this is most effective in all aspects of the game and at both ends of the field.
The squad of eleven I have chosen is:
Oliver Kahn-Germany
Roberto Carlos - Brazil
Lillian Thuram - France
Frank de Boer - Holland
Jaap Stam - Holland
Luis Figo - Portugal
Roy Keane - Rep.Ireland
Harry Kewell - Australia
David Beckham - England
Rivaldo - Brazil
Patrick Kluivert - Holland
The goalkeeper I have chosen is OLIVER KAHN; he is not one of those Germans who think their national team is going to Euro 2000 merely to make up the numbers. Bayern Munich's 30-year-old captain and goalkeeper, believes not just in taking part but in winning: it has been his thinking ever since he launched his career as an ambitious teenager.
Kahn was virtually unknown when he joined Bayern from Karlsruhe in 1994. Now he is No 1 for his country, holds a Bundesliga record of 737 minutes unbeaten, and has twice gone close to leading his club to a historic treble of European title, German League and German Cup.
In that time, Kahn has become as much of a hero to Bayern fans as was the great Sepp Maier in the 1970s when the club won the European Cup three years in a row. Maier was feted, rich and famous. But not as rich as Kahn is already - and that modern commercial edge is reflected in his words when he talks about the European Championship.
Germany were not expected to end Euro 2000 as they began it, as holders. But the national team has always had the ability to talk themselves down and then surprise technically superior, complacent opposition.
Kahn, outsta
nding in Bayern's run to the Champions League Final against Manchester United last year, possesses a healthy streak of self-confidence.
He made his senior international debut against Switzerland in 1995 but not until after France 98 did he make the position his own. Not that everyone agreed with his promotion. Jens Lehmann, now with Borussia Dortmund, went public with his belief that he, not Kahn, had the experience and talent for the job. Kahn rose to the challenge. That’s why I have chosen him as my number one goalkeeper in the world.
The first defender I have chosen is undoubtedly a world class legend and he is ROBERTO CARLOS of Brazil and Real Madrid. Roberto Carlos began his career as a forward at Uniao Sao Joao at 16 and represented Brazil for the first time at 18 in the 1992 Olympic qualifying tournament. Endowed with a very powerful shot, he moved to Palmeiras. As a full-back he has won more plaudits for his attacking play than his defending yet he was unhappy for four months at Inter Milan where the club's English coach Roy Hodgson moved him up into midfield. Roberto Carlos overlooked for the 1994 World Cup finals where Branco and Leonardo were preferred, in his position. Paris St Germain could have had him for about $3 million in 1995. Instead he went to Inter for some $7 million. After one season he moved on to Real, joining another of the Spanish club's Italian signings, coach Fabio Capello. Quick in turning defence into attack down the left, the Brazilian international is a fine corner taker and has a devastating shot at set pieces. A free kick specialist remembered for his spectacular goal against France in a summer international, Roberto Carlos says he works at his free kicks every day and the only secret is concentration. I have chosen Roberto Carlos because I think he must be quite a player to overcome all of them position changes and still be a world class talent.
The next defender I have chosen has been sai
d to be the best defender in the world which is a compliment but also a kind of threat to his playing career as he has so much expectations, but I think he has been able to live up to all of these. The amount of praise leveled at LILIAN THURAM at the end of his first season in Serie A is usually reserved for strikers but such was the quality of his defending he was hailed as the best defender in the World. It's ironic that Thuram gained notoriety at the World Cup not because of his flawless defensive displays but due to an unlikely match winning performance. With the hosts trailing to Croatia, Thuram surged forward from defence and scored the two goals that earned France a place in the final.
Domestic success continued to evade Parma and following talk of moves to
Inter and Milan, Thuram ended speculation about his future by signing a new
contract on the eve of the European Championship finals. He put mixed
league displays behind him and was once again immaculate as France
added the European Championship to their World Cup crown though this
time there were no goalscoring heroics. Considered to be one of the best defenders in the World, Thuram combines tremendous speed and power with precision tackling. He forms a fantastic
partnership with Paolo Cannavaro at Parma in central defence and plays equally well at right back for France. Is likely to be considered one of the all time great defenders at the end of his career.
The next player I chose is Frank de Boer. He arrived along with his twin brother, Ronald, in January 1999 at Barcelona FC. This had been one of Van Gaal's dreams, and after a period of long and intense negotiations between the directors of Ajax and Barcelona, which had started back in August of the previous year, they were finally able to come here to Barcelona. After an enormous effort by the President and the whole Board of Directors to ensure the services of these two great Dutch footballers, they were fi
nally signed at a total cost, for both, of almost 3,500 million pesetas.
Frank de Boer is primarily a defender, although he likes going up into the attack, especially in dead-ball situations, where, on more than one occasion, he has shown just how powerful he is in the air. His versatility is another of his strong points, and the wearer of the number 25 shirt shows he is totally at home playing in all defensive positions, ranging from a central marking defender to sweeper or even left-back. He has undeniable technical quality and another of his many virtues is his ability to bring the ball out of defence with great elegance and control. He, more than anyone else, takes charge of the defence and in a one-to-one situation with a forward he is practically unbeatable. There have been very few players in history as good as Frank, possibly the only modern-day player of a similar standing would be Real Madrid's Fernando Hierro. Frank de Boer started his career playing for a modest team, De Zouaven, but he soon made his way to Amsterdam, where he turned professional. With Ajax he won 5 Dutch Leagues, 1 UEFA Cup, 4 Dutch Super Cups, 2 Dutch Cups, 1 European Cup, 1 European Super Cup and 1 Intercontinental Cup. In his first season with Barcelona Football Club he won the 1998-99 League and proved to be a vital part of Louis Van Gaal's system. Frank has also been a part of the Dutch national team that reached the semi-finals of both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.He has continued to be the pillar of the Barca defence under new coach Llorenc Serra Ferrrer.
The last defender I chose in what I feel is a world class defence, is JAAP STAM. He began his football career with unknown, FC Zwolle. His move to Cambuur Leeuwarden in 1994, was his first step up the professional ladder - not a big one, but a start. Stam's talents were very quickly noticed and within the year he was playing the first division Dutch side Willem II. Then, just over a year later, PSV E
indhoven made their successful bid for Stam. Jaap Stam has made his mark in the Dutch International side as well - he is their number 1 defender, making 25 international appearances up to the end of 98. His childhood dream then came true when he signed a 7 year contract with United in May 98. The fee of £10.75 million was the world record for a defender. Manchester United had tried on two previous occasions to lure Stam from PSV, bit without success. Part of the problem was the £15 million valuation which was being asked for Stam, and also the fact that Stam was under contract to 2003. But in the end, United got their way and at much reduced price tag. That is the end of what I think is a quality defence.
The first player I have chose in my midfield is LUIS FIGO. I have chosen him because of his superb skill and the accuracy of his passes makes him one of the greatest wingers in the world. Luis Figo was one of the best signings from the Johan Cruyff era. The Dutchman brought this young Portuguese player to Barca to replace a person who had left a profound mark on the club: Michael Laudrup. He's a skilful Portuguese international who is at home either on the left or right wing. Figo has a powerful shot but more often makes his mark as a provider than a scorer. He is considered one of the finest players in the world. Endless stamina and can thoroughly bamboozle the best of defenders with his dribbling.
Figo was immediately able to win over the Barca fans. His sprints up the wing, his beautiful crosses and his generous running for his teammates soon meant that 'Laudrup' was forgotten. He arrived at Barcelona Football Club when he was only 22 years old, after twelve years with Sporting Lisbon. He won his cap for the Portuguese national side at an early age. When only 19 he was world champion with the under-20 team and two years earlier had been European champion at under-16 level.
He made his debut in the Portuguese First Division in the 199
0-91 season with Sporting Lisbon when he only was 17 and continued playing with them until the 1995-96 season when he came to Barca. However, signing Luis Figo was not at all simple. His ability as a player had awakened interest amongst a number of the big European clubs. To get their man Barcelona had to fight off rival bids from Italian giants Juventus and Parma, but finally it was Barcelona who got their man. Luis Figo is one of the few players in the present squad who has 'experienced' a large number of different managers: Cruyff's attacking style; Bobby Robson's anarchy and the mechanical precision of Van Gaal.
Nevertheless, Luis Figo has more than demonstrated his superb capacity to adapt, a capacity which has been recognized and praised on more than one occasion by all of them. The Portuguese player is, as a consequence, a key point of reference in the Real Madrid attack and I am sure, has a great future ahead of him at whatever club he is at.
The next player I have chosen is a Republic of Ireland international, and he is, ROY KEANE. Manchester United's Mr. Versatile, Roy Keane has played at right-back, in central defence and in every midfield position for Alex Ferguson since he was signed from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 1993 for a then record between British clubs of £3.75 million. His favoured position is in the centre of midfield where he can drive United from penalty area to penalty area with his non-stop play. A former amateur boxer, Keane has been in trouble with referees throughout his career, culminating in the public shame that came with his FA Cup semi-final sending-off in 1995, when he stamped on Gareth Southgate, at a time when football was appealing for calm heads on and off the field following the death of a Palace supporter. Ferguson saw Keane as the ideal replacement for Bryan Robson and gave Forest a huge profit on the £25,000 they paid Irish side Cobh Ramblers, when he came to England in the summer of
1990. When United put in their bid it took Cork-born Keane little time to make up his mind despite interest from European giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. His performances earned respect from managers and players throughout Europe. Keane wrote unsuccessfully to English clubs, including Forest, before being picked up by Cobh Ramblers but once he arrived at the City Ground, Brian Clough quickly pushed him into the first team, with a debut against Liverpool. A product of the Irish equivalent of the School of Excellence, he was one of three United players to feature in the World Cup finals in 1994, after winning his first cap for the Republic of Ireland in 1991, emerging with a crop of other youngsters, including Jason McAteer, Gary Kelly and goalkeeper Alan Kelly. Roy has now a healthy collection of medals from his time at United and two ‘doubles under his belt. Mick McCarthy recently named Keane the captain of the Republic of Ireland, and with his improved disclipinary record, the captaincy of Manchester United is not beyond him.
My next midfielder in my squad is from Australia. Harry Kewell was born on 22 September 1978 in Smithfield, Sydney. He has always had the ambition of playing professional football for England even at a young age. He began his career with the local team, Smithfield Hotspurs soccer team. At the age of 15 he won a scholarship through the New South Wales Soccer Federation, allowing him to spend four weeks in England. Leeds were one of a handful of clubs to show an interest in his playing talents, and Kewell was invited for a trial. They were soon hooked on the young superstar. So, at 16, Kewell left his family and friends in Sydney to live in another country, adrift from family support; a situation that can prove too demanding for some young players. The final months of 1997 were tumultuous times for Kewell. In December, a left foot screamer against Uruguay put Australia into the final of the Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia.
He was scoring regularly for Leeds, his goals helping the club eventually qualify for the UEFA Cup. The issue of allegiance came to a head in March 1998 when Kewell was selected for Australia's under 23 Olyroos for a three match friendly series against Brazil. Leeds were furious as Kewell would be unavailable for several weeks, and for what? From their point of view, a few meaningless friendlies. When, just before he was due to fly out, Leeds announced he was unfit and would therefore stay at home. Soccer Australia responded by enacting FIFA regulations. Kewell was banned from playing club football until after the Brazil series had been completed.
At just 22, Kewell has already played in one World Cup campaign. He can expect to play in at least two more. At an age when most players are still struggling for recognition, he's an established star in the Premier League. Kewell will be back to lead Australia's challenge in the Olympics next year, even if it does fall in the middle of the Premier League season. I feel he is a potential world superstar.
(I have not quite finished my opinion for my best world Xl but read it now and see what you think, I will try and finish it a.s.a.p.)
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