SlotBadger
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- Jul 24, 2013
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Voted for by 140 journalists from around the world:
Greatest Players of All Time (France Football)
- Thread starter SlotBadger
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Rocksuperstar
Isn't this fun? Isn't fun the best thing to have?
- Jun 6, 2005
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Xavi in the first team squad, Zidane in the second? C Ronaldo over Cruyff? Yeah, alright 
Switch them four around, I can see the arguments for the rest of that squad but, for me, fat Ronaldo, Maradona, Beckenbauer and Pele are the only guaranteed starters.
Switch them four around, I can see the arguments for the rest of that squad but, for me, fat Ronaldo, Maradona, Beckenbauer and Pele are the only guaranteed starters.
C0YS
Just another member
- Jul 9, 2007
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mmm I think you have to have Messi. The original Ronaldo has a lot of tough competition. I only saw him play properly post 2001 injury, and I know that before that was his best period, but post-injury he was very good but effective more than anything super exciting. Pre that I know he was a little different, but there you go.Xavi in the first team squad, Zidane in the second? C Ronaldo over Cruyff? Yeah, alright
Switch them four around, I can see the arguments for the rest of that squad but, for me, fat Ronaldo, Maradona, Beckenbauer and Pele are the only guaranteed starters.
Zidane is the most talented footballer I have ever seen play football, but maybe not actually the best player. Zidane for me is more of a stonewall pick than original Ronaldo, but people kind of forget that Zidane wasn't always the most consistent of players, though he'd always turn up when it mattered. I mean, players like Zidane don't really exist anymore, he'd probably be pushed up to play behind the striker these days, people would complain that he doesn't score enough as well, in this stats obsessed world.
The actual teams, quite clearly have a modern bias. I like that Pirlo is there, like a fine wine he still gets better even when he is not playing, and I always think that he was good enough to be in this debate and him, as well as Xavi, Sneijder and possibly Robben and even RIbery, should have all won ballon d'or's but everyone got obsessed with the Messi v Ronaldo show, that it sort got wrapped up with certain marketing and promotion between the two.
I'm not so sure about Ramos, who has won a lot, but really? Ahead of say Moore, loads of Italians etc. I get why he's picked but, not sure about that. Feel it's strange that there are no Hungarians in the team either. And Nuer probably shouldn't be there, arguably Buffon should be lower too, but I dunno. There are a lot of excellent keepers that could be picked. A lot of Brazilians left out too.
I'd probably get Di Stefano, Cruyff and Zidane into my main team. Probably removing Xavi, Cristiano and Ronaldo and maybe Garrinchia in for Matthaus. But this is so based on collective myth of the sport and a few highlight videos of past world cups. Di Stefano only because people who watched him play insist he was the GOAT.
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These sorts of things are silly. How many players from older generations are included ? Not enough. Di Stefano is in but there so many from the 50’s and earlier that deserved to be included but they weren’t on TV regularly so get ‘over looked’.
dontcallme
SC Supporter
- Mar 18, 2005
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These lists and teams always create a lot of debate and arguing.
Was surprised by Rijkaard being so high. He was slightly before my time but I don't remember him being that highly regarded.
Was surprised by Rijkaard being so high. He was slightly before my time but I don't remember him being that highly regarded.
SlotBadger
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- Jul 24, 2013
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Exactly. That's pretty much all they ever are. Only reason I posted this one is because so many journalists of different nations got involved.
As has been said, there's always going to be a bias towards the current/previous generation due to age. How many of these journalists are old enough to remember some of the greats of yesteryear?
C0YS
Just another member
- Jul 9, 2007
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Yes, exactly, I mean it has to be seen as just a bit of fun really. And it is nice to look back at some great names.
I agree, however, football has changed pretty radically. Counting before, say the modern offside rule in the 1920s would be a stretch. Similarly, the internationalisation of the game took a while, which obviously limits quality throughout the game. 1925 is a good place to start, but then the war interrupted things, and at that point, you have a decade or so before you are in the 50s already.
Gassin's finest
C'est diabolique
- May 12, 2010
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Platini should be in that first team.
No Stanley Matthews?
No Stanley Matthews?
mattyspurs
It is what it is
- Jan 31, 2005
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O
I was just gonna say that surely Stanley Matthews has to be in there somewhere
spud
Well-Known Member
- Sep 2, 2003
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Cruyff goes in the first team in midfield with Pele up front and C. Ronaldo dropping out. Zidane instead of Matthaus. I'd argue that Jennings or Banks should be in goal.
Jimmy Greaves should be in one of those teams. Biggest fuck-up though: no Bobby Moore anywhere.
Jimmy Greaves should be in one of those teams. Biggest fuck-up though: no Bobby Moore anywhere.
ohtottenham!
Well-Known Member
- Aug 15, 2013
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Just opinions in the end. For me, loved Platini but he wouldn't get anywhere near the first XI imo. Honestly think Hoddle was a better player at the time, but Glen just didn't have a Tigana, Giresse, Bossis, Amoros around him in the team. I was in Paris in '84 and saw Platini play in the game that Amoros got sent off in the first game against Denmark. What a team!
Syn_13
Fly On, Little Wing
- Jul 17, 2008
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Baresi in the second team is a travesty. Maldini was legendary but Baresi has always been the best Italian defender of all time, closely followed by Scirea. Maldini 3rd.
All 3 of them are easily good enough to be in that first team but I understand the symmetry of having Maldini left and Cafu right. I'd have Baresi cente over Beckenbauer, but he was around when I was watching football so I can't say for definite.
Zidane should be in the first team over Xavi and Sergio Ramos shouldn't be anywhere near this. Not even questionable. Just from Spain Puyol and Hierro were better defenders, and even from outside of Spain players like Thuram, Stam, Ferdinand, Vidic were all better defenders than him. Okay, maybe it's about trophies and winning because you can't deny his success rate. He's a great footballer don't get me wrong but when you consider Cannavaro doesn't make that list, and he's an actual Ballon d'Or winner, one of the rare times a defender has won it, then that just confuses me.
All 3 of them are easily good enough to be in that first team but I understand the symmetry of having Maldini left and Cafu right. I'd have Baresi cente over Beckenbauer, but he was around when I was watching football so I can't say for definite.
Zidane should be in the first team over Xavi and Sergio Ramos shouldn't be anywhere near this. Not even questionable. Just from Spain Puyol and Hierro were better defenders, and even from outside of Spain players like Thuram, Stam, Ferdinand, Vidic were all better defenders than him. Okay, maybe it's about trophies and winning because you can't deny his success rate. He's a great footballer don't get me wrong but when you consider Cannavaro doesn't make that list, and he's an actual Ballon d'Or winner, one of the rare times a defender has won it, then that just confuses me.
I'd have Gerd Muller ahead of Henry, Best and Ronaldinho (Garrincha too, maybe, but I've never seen him play).
Three European Cup wins (scored in two of the finals). Won the Euros in 1972 (scored two in the final). World Cup in 74 (You guessed it, scored in the final). Scored ten in Mexico in 1970. Averaged close to a goal a game for Bayern for twelve or thirteen seasons - 565 in 607 games. No flair or tricks, just a goal-scoring machine.
For all their skill/achievements those three don't come anywhere close to Muller as players or serial winners. Now I think of it I would happily put him in the first XI ahead of Ronaldo who was a phenomenon at Barcelona but a much reduced force at Inter after his injury and decent but not spectacular at Madrid.
Three European Cup wins (scored in two of the finals). Won the Euros in 1972 (scored two in the final). World Cup in 74 (You guessed it, scored in the final). Scored ten in Mexico in 1970. Averaged close to a goal a game for Bayern for twelve or thirteen seasons - 565 in 607 games. No flair or tricks, just a goal-scoring machine.
For all their skill/achievements those three don't come anywhere close to Muller as players or serial winners. Now I think of it I would happily put him in the first XI ahead of Ronaldo who was a phenomenon at Barcelona but a much reduced force at Inter after his injury and decent but not spectacular at Madrid.
CantSmileWithoutYou
Well-Endowed Member
- May 20, 2015
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Greaves says Hi.
@Bobby__Lucky
Well-Known Member
- Aug 20, 2013
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He was incredible for Milan in that era. That Milan team was special, very very very special. It was a shame he left one year in think before milan beat a full strength barca that included sirs Romario and stoickov 4 - 0 in the champions league final. But Rijkaard was incredible in that team with gullit, van Basten, costacurta, baresi, Maldini dessailly... One of the best teams of all time with rijkard right in the center. I'd love to see full strength Milan of that era vs the recent famous barca team of Messi, xavi, busquets and Co. I'd back Milan too.
